Head of HR - Scotland (Forth Ports)

FWB; Grangemouth; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Forth Ports is seeking a Head of HR – Scotland Region to lead the people strategy for Scotland, translating the Group People Plan into regional priorities and delivering a high-performance, safe workforce.

You will provide strategic leadership, manage employment and industrial relations across multiple sites, and partner with senior leaders to shape organisational design and capability in line with group governance.

Qualifications

• Significant senior HR leadership experience in a large, unionised, multi-site environment.
• Proven expertise in employment law and industrial relations.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and executives.
• Strong track record of change and organisational transformation.
• Fellow or Chartered CIPD qualification or equivalent senior professional experience.

Responsibilities

• Translate the Group People Plan into regional priorities for Scotland.
• Provide strategic people leadership and ensure operational delivery.
• Lead employment and industrial relations and multi-site workforce capability.
• Collaborate with Regional Director and senior leaders to shape priorities.
• Sponsor Group-wide people projects and ensure governance alignment.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

Employment law

Industrial relations

Stakeholder management

Executive influence

Change management

CIPD qualification

Education

CIPD qualification

Job description

Forth Ports is one of the UK’s largest port operators and a major piece of Scotland’s transport, logistics, and industrial infrastructure. They own and operate eight commercial ports across Scotland and England, handling cargo, logistics, marine services, offshore energy projects, and property development.

About the Role

Forth Ports are looking for an exceptional Head of HR – Scotland Region to join their leadership team and play a pivotal role in delivering their people strategy across Scotland.

The Head of HR – Scotland Region is accountable for translating the Group People Plan into clear regional priorities and delivering a people agenda that supports the safe and sustainable delivery of the business strategy. Reporting to the Chief People Officer, the role is a key member of the Scotland Regional Leadership Team and works in close partnership with the Regional Director and senior leaders to shape and deliver the region’s people priorities.

The role provides strategic people leadership and ensures strong operational delivery. It offers constructive challenge and expert guidance, shapes organisational and job design and workforce capability, and ensures regional priorities are delivered effectively.

The role is accountable for all Scotland HR activity, including employment relations, industrial relations, trade union engagement and collective bargaining, in line with Group policies, governance requirements and agreed ways of working. It also contributes to Group people priorities and leads or sponsors relevant Group-wide activities and projects

Person Specification

• Significant senior HR leadership experience within a large unionised, complex, multi-site environment
• Proven expertise in employment law, industrial relations, organisational change and workforce transformation
• Strong track record of building productive relationships with trade unions and employee representatives
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and operating at Executive leadership level
• Demonstrated success leading change, improving organisational effectiveness and driving business performance through people
• Fellow or Chartered CIPD qualification (or equivalent senior professional experience)

Why Join Forth Ports?

This is an outstanding opportunity to shape the future workforce of a business where people, safety and performance are at the heart of everything we do. You’ll have the autonomy and influence to make a meaningful impact across a major region while contributing to wider Group people priorities and strategic projects.