Talent Country Lead - UK & Ireland

UCB S.A.; Slough; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global biopharmaceutical company is looking for a Talent Country Lead based in Slough, UK. This role requires strategic oversight of talent-related activities, leading the talent strategy during the Slough site relocation. Ideal candidates should have experience as a country lead or senior talent partner, a Bachelor's Degree, and strong influencing and communication skills. This position offers a hybrid work model.

Benefits

Hybrid work model

Supportive culture

Growth opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience as a country lead or senior talent partner in a similar role.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships and influence senior stakeholders.
• Demonstrated curiosity and continuous learning.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic partner to UK Site Management and leadership.
• Understand business context to shape talent solutions.
• Oversee all talent processes—recruitment, onboarding, career development.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Influencing skills

Collaboration

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Conflict management

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Make your mark for patients

We are looking for a Talent Country Lead who is strategic, influential, and collaborative to join our Talent team at UCB, based out of Slough, UK.

About the Role

As the Talent Country Lead, you will have strategic oversight of all talent-related activities in the UK and Ireland, ensuring local consistency and alignment with global and local initiatives. You will shape and deliver the local talent philosophy and framework, enabling organisational and cultural initiatives that benefit both employees and patients. You will act as a strategic influencer, understanding business imperatives and priorities, and lead or contribute to key projects.

A key priority for this role is leading the talent strategy for the Slough site relocation to Windlesham, ensuring a world‑class employee experience and supporting the retention and attraction of talent during this transition. You will also serve as the Talent Partner for a key UK‑based research team and be the external engagement face of Talent within the country.

Who You’ll Work With

You will be an influential member of the UK Site Management Team and a strategic Talent Business Partner to business leadership. You’ll collaborate with Global Talent Partners, Talent Reward & Operations, Talent COEs, and local management, as well as support and coach team members across the country.

What you’ll do

• Serve as a strategic partner to UK Site Management and leadership, guiding talent matters and ensuring alignment with local and global priorities.
• Understand business context and objectives to proactively shape and deliver talent solutions that drive organisational success and benefit patients.
• Contribute the formulation and execution of the UK and Ireland Talent Strategy, collaborating with Global Talent Partners and Talent Reward & Operations for consistency.
• Oversee all talent processes—recruitment, onboarding, career development, performance management, and employee relations—to ensure a seamless employee experience.
• Lead the talent strategy for the Slough site relocation, focusing on employee experience and supporting retention and attraction of top talent.
• Guide and coach Global Talent Partners and TRO team members, facilitating meetings and supporting continuous improvement.
• Communicate organisational changes clearly to global and local management, ensuring all stakeholders are informed and engaged.
• Partner with Talent Centres of Excellence to support local roll‑out and follow‑up of new processes, systems, and knowledge, ensuring best practices.
• Maintain strong understanding of local legislative environment, advising on risks and ensuring compliance with regulations.
• Collaborate with business leaders to identify workforce needs, develop talent strategies, and align with organisational goals.

Interested? For this role, you’ll need:

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Experience as a country lead or senior talent partner in a similar role.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships and influence senior stakeholders in a matrix organisation.
• Strong communication, conflict management, and negotiation skills across all organisational levels.
• Demonstrated curiosity, continuous learning, and proactive knowledge sharing for improvement.
• Track record of championing cultural change and motivating teams to excel.

Are you ready to ‘go beyond’ to create value and make your mark for patients? If this sounds like you, then we would love to hear from you!

About us

UCB is a global biopharmaceutical company, focusing on neurology and immunology. We are over 9,000 people in all four corners of the globe, inspired by patients and driven by science.

Why work with us?

At UCB, we don’t just complete tasks, we create value. We aren’t afraid to push forward, collaborate, and innovate to make our mark for patients. We have a caring, supportive culture where everyone feels included, respected, and has equal opportunities to do their best work. We ‘go beyond’ to create value for our patients, and always with a human focus, whether that’s on our patients, our employees, or our planet. Working for us, you will discover a place where you can grow, and have the freedom to carve your own career path to achieve your full potential.

At UCB, we’ve embraced a hybrid‑first approach to work, bringing teams together in local hubs to foster collaborative curiosity. Unless expressly stated in the description or precluded by the nature of the position, roles are hybrid with 40% of your time spent in the office.

UCB is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions will be made without regard to any characteristic protected by applicable laws.

Should you require any adjustments to our process to assist you in demonstrating your strengths and capabilities contact us on [e-mail]. Please note should your enquiry not relate to adjustments; we will not be able to support you through this channel.