People & Culture Director

People & Culture Director

Artemis executive search has been successfully retained to appoint a commercially minded People & Culture Director to build and lead the people function from the ground up.

This is a pivotal executive leadership role responsible for designing and delivering a scalable people strategy to support a business targeting 4x growth over the next five years, primarily through acquisitions and multi-site expansion.

The successful candidate will create the HR infrastructure, systems, culture and leadership capability required to integrate acquisitions, professionalise operations, and build a high-performance organisation at scale.

Key Responsibilities Strategic People Leadership

• Develop and implement a People & Culture strategy aligned to the company's ambitious growth plan.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board on organisational design, capability, culture, and succession.
• Build workforce plans aligned to acquisition pipeline and organic growth.
• Establish governance, policies and people processes suitable for a scaling, multi-entity business.

Build the HR Function from Scratch

• Design and implement the target HR operating model.
• Recruit and develop a high-performing HR team as the business scales.
• Implement core HR infrastructure including:
  • HRIS and reporting capability
  • Payroll and compliance frameworks
  • Performance management systems
  • Reward and benefits structures
  • Talent acquisition frameworks
• Establish scalable processes that can flex through rapid growth and M&A activity.

M&A and Integration

• Lead the people workstream for acquisitions, including:
  • Due diligence
  • Risk assessment (TUPE, employment liabilities, pensions, cultural risks)
  • Integration planning and execution
• Harmonise terms & conditions where appropriate while protecting engagement and retention.
• Design cultural integration strategies that preserve value and minimise disruption.

Culture & Organisational Development

• Define and embed a clear company purpose, values and behavioural framework.
• Drive leadership capability across multi-site management teams.
• Develop succession planning and internal talent pipelines.
• Build engagement strategies to retain key talent during periods of change.
• Lead change management initiatives as the business evolves.

Talent & Performance

• Design scalable recruitment strategies to support aggressive site expansion.
• Implement structured performance management aligned to commercial KPIs.
• Develop reward frameworks that attract and retain talent while maintaining cost discipline.
• Introduce leadership development and management capability programmes.

Employee Relations & Risk

• Ensure full compliance with employment legislation across all operating regions.
• Build robust ER frameworks for a multi-site environment.
• Proactively manage risk in a fast-growing, acquisitive structure.
• Establish appropriate policies, documentation, and governance frameworks.

What do we look for

• Proven People/HR Director experience in a multi-site, scaling business
• Experience building HR infrastructure from an early-stage or fragmented platform
• Strong M&A integration experience
• Experience operating in high-growth environment preferred
• Track record of supporting significant headcount and revenue growth

Next steps

If you wish to hear more on this opportunity and receive a full candidate pack please contact: