Head of HR (4237)

Wade Macdonald; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Wade Macdonald is recruiting for a Head of HR - Hospitality in Central London with hybrid working (2 days in office) and occasional travel across the UK. You will lead a small HR partnering team and shape the people agenda for a multi-site hospitality operation.

You will bring substantial HR leadership and strong knowledge of UK employment law, ER and coaching. CIPD Level 7 or equivalent is required, along with excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Qualifications

• Significant HR leadership or operational partnering experience in hospitality or multi-site environments.
• CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent experience.
• Strong UK employment law and complex ER knowledge.
• Excellent coaching, stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Proficiency with HR systems, Excel and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Leading HR Operations and Training Partners across different UK regions.
• Creating a consistent and commercially effective HR partnering approach across multiple locations.
• Acting as a senior point of escalation for complex employee relations and operational people matters.
• Advising and challenging senior stakeholders to ensure people plans support wider commercial objectives.
• Coaching managers on employee relations, performance, engagement and effective team leadership.
• Ensuring HR policies and processes are applied consistently throughout the operation.
• Leading and contributing to strategic people projects, including performance management and HR system implementations.
• Driving succession and workforce planning activities to strengthen future leadership capability.
• Using people trends and emerging risks to identify opportunities for improved engagement and operational effectiveness.
• Supporting the continued development and delivery of appraisal and performance processes.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Coaching

Communication

HR systems

Excel

PowerPoint

HR strategy

Education

CIPD Level 7

Tools

HR systems

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

Head of HR - Hospitality

Central London – 2 days WFH with occasional travel required

£65,000-£75,000

About the Client

Our client is a well-established organisation within the Hospitality sector, operating across multiple locations throughout the UK.

With a fast-paced and people-focused environment, the organisation places considerable importance on creating strong workplace cultures and developing its people. They are a team of enthusiastic individuals who support each other's growth and celebrate shared successes.

About the Successful Applicant

You will bring significant HR leadership or operational partnering experience gained within hospitality, retail or another fast-moving, multi-site environment. A CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent experience is required, alongside strong UK employment law and complex ER knowledge. You will be an accomplished coach and stakeholder manager, combining commercial judgement with empathy, resilience and excellent communication skills. Confidence using HR systems, Excel and PowerPoint is also important.

About the Job

This is a senior HR leadership opportunity with responsibility for shaping and delivering the people agenda across a multi-site hospitality operation. Reporting into the UK HR Director, you will lead and develop a small HR partnering team while working closely with senior operational stakeholders.

The position combines hands‑on operational HR leadership with broader strategic responsibilities, including leadership development, succession planning, performance, learning and organisational development. Regular travel across the UK estate will form an important part of the role.

Duties will include:

• Leading, coaching and developing HR Operations and Training Partners covering different UK regions.
• Creating a consistent and commercially effective HR partnering approach across multiple locations.
• Acting as a senior point of escalation for complex employee relations and operational people matters.
• Advising and challenging senior stakeholders to ensure people plans support wider commercial objectives.
• Coaching managers on employee relations, performance, engagement and effective team leadership.
• Ensuring HR policies and processes are applied consistently throughout the operation.
• Leading and contributing to strategic people projects, including performance management and HR system implementations.
• Driving succession and workforce planning activities to strengthen future leadership capability.
• Using people trends and emerging risks to identify opportunities for improved engagement and operational effectiveness.
• Supporting the continued development and delivery of appraisal and performance processes.Working collaboratively with colleagues across the wider UK and international People function.
• Providing additional operational HR support where necessary to maintain an effective service across the business.

What You Will Receive in Return

This is an opportunity to take on a highly visible HR leadership position within a sizeable, multi-site organisation, influencing both the day-to-day employee experience and longer-term people strategy.

You will have considerable scope to develop HR capability, partner with senior operational leaders and lead strategic projects across performance, succession, learning and organisational development. The role also provides exposure to a wider international HR team and an environment where professional development, collaboration and building a strong workplace culture are actively encouraged.