HR Director (Temporary)

Dovetail & Slate; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 87,000 - 116,000; Part time

Job summary

Dovetail & Slate Ltd in the North West is seeking an experienced HR Director for an interim assignment starting November 2026. You will lead the people function, work with senior leaders on workforce priorities, and deliver strategic HR leadership during an interim period.

This hands-on role requires strengthening employee relations, driving organisational development, and ensuring HR policies are current and consistently applied across the provision.

Qualifications

• Senior HR leadership experience required.
• Experience leading and managing an HR team.
• Strong employee relations and complex casework experience.
• Experience with workforce planning and organisational change.
• Ability to step into an interim leadership role and make an immediate impact.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing the HR team and wider people function.
• Providing strategic HR advice and support to senior leaders.
• Overseeing employee relations casework and complex people matters.
• Leading on recruitment, retention and workforce planning.
• Supporting organisational change, restructures and consultation.
• Ensuring HR policies, procedures and practice remain current and consistently applied.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

HR team leadership

Employee relations

Complex casework

Workforce planning

Organisational change

Interim leadership

Job description

HR Director

Temporary

Location: the North West

Day Rate: £550

Start date: November 2026

Are you an experienced HR leader looking for an interim opportunity within further education?

About the Role

As HR Director, you'll provide strategic and operational leadership of the people function for a further education provider in the North West, working closely with senior leaders on workforce priorities.

This is a hands-on leadership role. You'll lead the HR team day to day while keeping a clear focus on employee relations, organisational development and the standards expected across the provision.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading and developing the HR team and wider people function.
• Providing strategic HR advice and support to senior leaders.
• Overseeing employee relations casework and complex people matters.
• Leading on recruitment, retention and workforce planning.
• Supporting organisational change, restructures and consultation.
• Ensuring HR policies, procedures and practice remain current and consistently applied.

What We're Looking For

Essential:

• Significant senior HR leadership experience
• Experience leading and managing an HR team
• Strong employee relations and complex casework experience
• Experience of workforce planning and organisational change
• The ability to step into an interim leadership role and make an immediate impact

Desirable (but not essential):

• Experience within further education or the wider public sector
• CIPD qualification

This could suit a current or recently serving HR Director, Head of HR or Deputy Director of People ready to take on an interim appointment.

If you're an experienced HR leader available for an interim opportunity in the North West, we'd love to hear from you.