Head of Human Resources

Consult; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Consult seeks an Interim Head of HR for a maternity cover contract, responsible for day-to-day HR, recruitment, payroll and benefits. You will report to the HR Director and lead a multidisciplinary team, while partnering with partners, practice heads and business services leaders.

The role blends strategic direction with hands-on delivery, manages complex ER matters, oversees annual people cycles and maintains compliance with UK employment law.

Qualifications

• Broad HR operations experience within a professional services environment.
• Ability to lead across HR, recruitment, payroll and benefits teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and allocate work across HR, recruitment, payroll and benefits teams.
• Manage complex employee relations matters, including investigations and restructures.
• Oversee core HR operations, data, and service standards across the employee lifecycle.
• Lead annual appraisal, salary review, bonus and benefits processes.
• Advise partners and senior leaders on people decisions and organisation change.
• Review policies to improve consistency, efficiency and employee experience.
• Use HR data to identify trends and support decision-making.
• Maintain compliance with UK employment law and governance.

Skills

HR leadership

Employee relations

People management

UK employment law

Job description

We are working with an established professional services firm to recruit an Interim Head of HR for a maternity cover contract. This is a broad operational leadership role with responsibility for the day-to-day delivery of HR, recruitment, payroll and benefits.

Reporting to the HR Director, you will lead a multidisciplinary HR team and work closely with partners, practice heads and business services leaders. The remit combines team leadership, complex employee relations, HR operations and the delivery of annual people processes. It will suit someone who is comfortable setting direction while remaining close to the detail.

The role will include:

• Leading, coaching and allocating work across the HR, recruitment, payroll and benefits teams
• Managing complex and high-risk employee relations matters, including investigations, grievances, performance, restructures and exits
• Overseeing core HR operations, systems, employee data and service standards across the employee lifecycle
• Leading annual appraisal, promotion, salary review, bonus and benefits processes
• Advising partners and senior leaders on people decisions, employment risk and organisational change
• Reviewing policies, processes and ways of working to improve consistency, efficiency and the employee experience
• Using HR data and management information to identify trends and support decision-making
• Maintaining compliance with UK employment law, regulatory requirements and internal governance

About you

You will have led a broad HR operations function within a professional services environment and managed teams spanning HR business partnering, recruitment and operations. You should be confident handling sensitive employee relations matters, advising senior stakeholders and managing annual people cycles. Sound judgement, a practical approach and a strong working knowledge of UK employment law are essential.

Equal Opportunities

As a responsible business, it is important that we represent the diversity of our people, our clients and our communities. We believe that the firms that thrive are those with the most diverse team; that's why we work so hard to source the best talent from the broadest pool possible. As an equal opportunities employer we strive to accommodate anyone who may have specific needs. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the selection process, please talk to a member of the recruitment team so that any required adjustments can be made in advance.