Human Resources Director | Education Group

Direct Recruitment; Greater London; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Direct Recruitment is seeking an experienced HR Director to lead the UK HR function for a group of nurseries, schools and colleges. You will work closely with the CEO and Board to shape people strategy and drive engagement across head office and multi-site operations.

You will oversee HR Business Partners, ensure compliance, and deliver data-driven insights while fostering an inclusive culture and strong leadership development.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading HR at a senior level in a fast-moving, board-facing environment.
• Strong ability to translate people strategy into tangible organisational outcomes.
• Track record of managing employee relations, tribunals, and compliance across multiple sites.

Responsibilities

• Act as the senior people leader for the UK business, partnering with the CEO and Board.
• Shape and deliver a multi-year people strategy aligned with vision and growth.
• Provide the Board with data-led insights on culture, health, and risk.
• Lead strategic projects including organisational design and cross-site integration.
• Oversee the full HR function and manage a team of HR Business Partners across HR Operations and data reporting.
• Maintain high compliance standards and manage complex employee relations, including tribunals when needed.
• Review reward and benefits structures to balance competitiveness with financial realities.
• Champion diversity, wellbeing, and inclusive workplaces across teaching and operations.
• Oversee leadership development, succession planning, and engagement to improve retention.

Skills

HR leadership & strategy

Board communication

Employee relations

Diversity & inclusion

Multi-site operations

Education sector experience

Job description

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced, thoughtful, and energetic HR Director to lead the UK HR function for a UK-based group of independent nurseries, schools and colleges.

Managing all staff across our head office and our diverse footprint of operating sites, you will work closely with the CEO and Board to support a high-performing and engaged workforce.

This is a senior, high-impact role suited to someone currently operating at HR Director level who thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

You should be comfortable working closely with executive leadership while also ensuring the day-to-day people agenda runs smoothly across a rapidly moving organisation.

Working directly with the CEO and Board, you’ll play a key role in shaping and delivering a people strategy that supports both our cultural ambitions and our commercial success.

What you will be doing

• You will act as the senior people leader for the UK business, partnering closely with the CEO and Board.
• You will shape and begin to deliver a clear, multi-year people strategy that aligns with our vision and wider growth plans.
• You will provide the Board with thoughtful, data-led insight on areas such as culture, organisational health, and risk.
• You will lead several important strategic projects, which may include organisational design, supporting integration across sites, and helping to develop a coherent framework around culture and social responsibility.
• You will oversee the full HR function across the group, directly managing a team of HR Business Partners and ensuring strong delivery across People Partnering, HR Operations, and data and reporting.
• You will maintain high standards of compliance and manage complex employee relations matters, including direct experience handling employment tribunals when necessary.
• You will review current reward and benefits structures, ensuring they remain competitive and fair while balancing the financial realities of the organisation.
• You will champion an inclusive and supportive working environment, embedding wellbeing and diversity initiatives across both teaching and operational teams.
• You will oversee leadership development, succession planning, and initiatives that strengthen engagement and retention across the group.

What we are looking for

We’re looking for someone who has operated successfully at HR Director level and is comfortable working in a board-facing environment. You’ll be a credible, resilient, and grounded leader, able to think strategically while staying close to the practical, fast-moving realities of running a complex organization. You should be confident advising senior stakeholders, leading experienced HR Business Partners, and translating people strategy into meaningful organisational outcomes.

To be successful in this role, you should bring:

• A proven track record of thriving within fast-paced, high-growth, or agile environments.
• Experience managing staff and HR operations across a diverse footprint, including corporate head offices and operational or multi-site locations.
• Experience within education environment - nurseries, schools or colleges
• Experience leading multi-disciplinary HR teams and managing HR Business Partners across Employee Relations, Learning & Development, and HR Operations.
• Strong employee relations expertise, including a proven track record of managing employment tribunals.
• A background in building and delivering people strategies in complex, high-performing organisations, showing how strong people practices contribute to performance and growth.
• A genuine commitment to diversity, inclusion, and creating supportive workplaces.

This role is based in Central London - there is some flexibility but you will likely be in the office 4 days a week on average