Head of HR

www.findapprenticeship.service.gov.uk - Jobboard; England; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A prestigious organisation in Poole, Dorset is looking for a Head of HR and Payroll to lead their people strategy. You will be responsible for driving cultural engagement, ensuring compliance with UK employment law, and managing the payroll function. The ideal candidate will have strong HR leadership experience in a complex organization and excellent interpersonal skills. The role offers benefits such as a company car allowance, medical cover, and a flexible working arrangement.

Benefits

Company car/car allowance

BUPA medical cover

Profit sharing scheme

Pension via salary sacrifice

Cycle to work scheme

1 day/week working from home

Qualifications

• Proven HR leadership experience in a complex, multi-site UK organisation.
• Strong payroll knowledge and understanding of HMRC requirements.
• Full knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a forward-looking HR strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Advise the Board and senior leadership team on people matters.
• Oversee end-to-end recruitment and workforce planning.

Skills

HR leadership experience

Payroll knowledge

Interpersonal skills

Stakeholder management

Emotional intelligence

Education

CIPD Level 7

Tools

Sage

Job description

The CMA HR Division is excited to be partnering with a prestigious organisation in Poole, Dorset to recruit a Head of HR and Payroll in a newly created role.
Reporting directly to the Finance Director, you will lead the organisation’s people strategy, driving cultural engagement, ensuring legal compliance, and modernising HR processes as the company enters an exciting growth phase.

What will the Head of HR and Payroll role involve?

• Develop and deliver a forward-looking HR strategy aligned with business objectives.
• Advise the Board and senior leadership team on people matters and champion diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Oversee end-to-end recruitment, workforce planning, and succession strategies.
• Ensure full compliance with UK employment law, HMRC, ACAS, GDPR.
• Lead and manage the payroll function, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance (using Sage).
• Design and implement performance management, learning, and development programmes.
• Modernise HR systems and progress from paper-based to digital processes.

Suitable Candidate for Head of HR vacancy:

• Proven HR leadership experience in a complex, multi-site UK organisation.
• Strong payroll knowledge and understanding of HMRC requirements.
• Full knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice (CIPD Level 7 preferred but not essential).
• Exceptional interpersonal, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
• High integrity, discretion, and emotional intelligence, with a hands-on approach.

Additional benefits and information for the role of Head of HR:

• Company car/car allowance, BUPA medical cover, Profit sharing scheme
• Pension via salary sacrifice
• Cycle to work scheme
• 1 day/week working from home

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