People Lead - William Grant & Sons

FWB; Cumbernauld; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Private Healthcare

Defined contribution pension plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance cover

Cycle to Work scheme

Learning resources

Job summary

FWB in Cumbernauld is seeking an experienced People Lead to drive HR functions and the People and Organisation pillars. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of HR operating models and processes across the employee lifecycle. This role involves developing a high-performing organization focused on employee empowerment and collaboration. Competitive salary, generous holiday, and a range of benefits are offered, alongside opportunities for professional development.

Qualifications

• Experienced HR Professional with a strong grasp of modern HR delivery.
• Experience integrating Business Partnering, Centres of Expertise, and Shared Services.
• Strong understanding of people processes across the full employee lifecycle.

Responsibilities

• Own all matters relating to the People and Organisation pillars.
• Develop a high-performing organisation with a collaborative culture.
• Support the Supervisory Board in people development and CSR initiatives.

Skills

Data driven mindset

Deep understanding of HR operating models

End-to-end employee lifecycle expertise

Policy design & governance

Change & organisation design experience

Job description

Opportunity

The Contribution & Development (C&D) Office is an independent entity, reporting to the Supervisory Board. It has been set up to help ensure the long‑term success of William Grant & Sons as a family business.

The Company’s operating model, the William Grant Way (WGW) provides the framework for how the business works at its best. There are five key pillars – Organisation, People, Business Processes, Technology and Ways of Working. The WGW provides a well organiser structure to allow activities to happen in a coordinated way to ensure the long‑term success of the Company.

While the business owns and drives the WGW, the C&D Office monitors how well it’s set up to optimally achieve the Company’s objectives. This includes ensuring it is well understood and considering how effectively it is working, and where it can keep improving.

The C&D Office also supports the Supervisory Board in monitoring and accelerating the progress of people development and Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced People Lead to own all matters relating to the People and Organisation pillars in order to sustain and optimise their content and application, to ensure the most effective and efficient possible outcomes for the Company.

The People Lead will also work with the business in developing a high‑performing organisation with an employee‑oriented, open and collaborative culture that emphasises empowerment and promotes team working. The role will also ensure that the business is building the necessary capabilities to deliver the long‑term growth to the highest performance standards.

What we’re looking for

We are seeking an experienced HR Professional with a strong grasp of modern HR delivery and a clear understanding of “what good looks like” in a high performing people function. The ideal candidate will blend strategic thinking with operational discipline, bring a data driven mindset, and a clear appreciation of how HR enables business success.

Modern HR Operating Model

• Deep understanding of contemporary HR operating models – including Business Partnering, Centres of Expertise, and Shared Services – and how these components integrate to deliver value.
• Knows when HR should standardise vs. differentiate, striking the right balance between strategic partnering and operational excellence.
• Able to position HR as an enabler of business outcomes, not as an administrative function.

End-to-end Employee Lifecycle Expertise

• Strong understanding of people processes across the full employee lifecycle: workforce planning, attraction, onboarding, development, performance, reward, engagement and exit.

Data Driven HR Delivery

• Experience using leading measures, not just lagging indicators, to drive HR performance (e.g. quality of hire, time to productivity, leader capability, engagement drivers).
• Skilled in using data and insight to diagnose issues, prioritise interventions and demonstrate HR’s impact on business outcomes.

Policy Design & Governance

• Experience designing and implementing clear, pragmatic HR policies.
• Able to balance risk mitigation with creating a positive employee experience.

Change & Organisation Design

• Experience leading or contributing to change and organisational design programmes, bringing structure, clarity and people‑focused thinking to periods of transformation.
• Strong understanding of modern leadership models and the behaviours required for a high performing organisation.

What we can offer

• We offer a competitive salary and benefits which are designed to promote our employees’ financial wellbeing. Employees are also eligible to participate in a bonus plan.
• Our employees enjoy a generous holiday entitlement and an opportunity to ‘buy’ or ‘sell’ some holiday entitlement.
• Private Healthcare and Doctor at Hand (remote GP service).
• Our employees can join a defined contribution pension plan. Employees contribute either 4% or 5% of salary, the company contributes 8% or 10% depending on the employee contribution. Employee contributions can be made through salary sacrifice.
• Our Employee Assistance Programme offers practical, impartial support on everyday matters ranging from medical, financial and legal to home and family issues.
• Our Life Assurance cover is a multiple of eight times your annual basic salary.
• Product allocation so that you can enjoy our fantastic portfolio of brands.
• Our Cycle to Work scheme allows you to hire a bike for an agreed length of time, and then snap it up for a fraction of its original value. All while making savings (at least 25%) and spreading the cost.
• Every employee has the opportunity to claim up to £1,000 per year for a charity or charities for which they have raised money, volunteered their time or personally donated.
• Learning resources to help you be your best self.