Head of HR/People

DCBL (Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd); Runcorn; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

30 days holiday

Employee Assistance Programme

Free parking

Company social events

Training provided

Career progression

Job summary

DCBL (Direct Collection Bailiffs Ltd) in Runcorn is seeking a Head of HR / People to sit on the Leadership Team and own the employee lifecycle end-to-end. You will drive talent acquisition, shape culture, ensure governance and act as a trusted advisor to the leadership team during our growth.

You will lead strategic HR, workforce planning and development initiatives, partnering with the Board and senior leaders.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior HR leadership role (Head of People/Head of HR or equivalent).
• Experience developing and delivering people strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Proven coaching and influencing of senior leaders and exec stakeholders.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience leading organisational change, workforce planning and engagement initiatives.
• Experience building and developing HR teams.
• Strong data-driven mindset with ability to use people data to influence decisions.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own a People Strategy aligned to company objectives and growth.
• Advise the Board and senior leaders on people-related issues.
• Lead workforce planning, design and capability development for future growth.
• Champion learning and development, succession planning and career progression.
• Drive engagement, retention, and strong organisational culture.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

UK employment law

People analytics

Strategic HR

Education

CIPD Level 5 or Level 7

Job description

Title: Head of HR / People
Location: Runcorn (On-site)
Reporting to: Managing Director
Direct Reports: Head of Shared Services
Salary: Up to £60k DOE

We are part of the Direct Group, one of the UK’s leading providers of debt recovery and legal enforcement services. Through DCBL and DCB Legal, we deliver a fully integrated service, from pre-legal collections through to litigation and enforcement.

Due to continued growth, we are looking to appoint a Head of HR / People. As the Head of HR / People, you will sit on the Leadership Team and report directly to the Managing Director. You will own the entire employee lifecycle end-to-end, balancing high-level business strategy with hands-on execution. You will drive talent acquisition, further shape company culture, ensure robust HR governance and compliance, and act as a trusted advisor to the leadership team during our next phase of growth.

Strategic Leadership

• Develop, own and deliver a People Strategy that supports the organisation's objectives, culture and future growth ambitions.
• Work closely with the Board of Directors and Senior Leadership Team to provide expert advice, challenge and support on all people-related matters.
• Lead the development of effective people plans, policies, processes and frameworks that support both employees and business performance.
• Ensure equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing considerations are embedded within business planning and decision-making.
• Maintain a strong understanding of external market trends, employment legislation and best practice, translating insights into practical action.

Organisational Development & Workforce Planning

• Lead workforce planning, organisational design and capability development to ensure the business is equipped for future growth.
• Champion learning and development initiatives, creating clear opportunities for employees to develop and progress their careers.
• Support succession planning and talent management activities to build future organisational capability.
• Drive initiatives that strengthen employee engagement, retention and organisational culture.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with stakeholders across the organisation, acting as a trusted advisor and partner to leaders at all levels.
• Develop effective working relationships with external partners, suppliers and professional advisers to support the delivery of the People Strategy.
• Lead, coach and develop the HR team, creating a high-performing function focused on excellence, continuous improvement and exceptional service delivery.

Qualifications & Experience

• Significant experience in a senior HR leadership role, such as Head of People, Head of HR, Senior HR Business Partner or similar.
• Demonstrable experience developing and delivering people strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Proven experience coaching, influencing and challenging senior leaders and executive stakeholders.
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience leading organisational change, workforce planning and employee engagement initiatives.
• Experience managing and developing HR teams.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to use people data and insights to drive decision-making.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• CIPD Level 5 or Level 7 qualified (or equivalent experience).

Personal Attributes

• Commercially minded with a strong understanding of business operations.
• Strategic thinker with a pragmatic, hands-on approach.
• Confident, resilient and comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment.
• Passionate about developing people and creating high-performing teams.
• Strong ethical standards and commitment to confidentiality.
• Able to balance process, compliance and governance with a genuinely people-focused approach.

The package

• Monday - Friday schedule (36.5 hours per week)
• 30 days holiday (including Bank Holidays)
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Free parking
• Company social events
• Full training provided.
• Career development and progression opportunities
• Rapidly expanding multi-functional operation