International HR Director - London base, well funded startup enterprise

ROLE FILLED - HIGH PERFORMANCE LEADER COMMENCED AFTER SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT OFFER

This company is “coming of age” after experiencing rapid growth and success from its relatively recent founding. They have already carved out a healthy niche in their market, and have further plans for aggressive expansion, both organic and through acquisition. To enable these growth plans, they need a pragmatic and dynamic HR leader, to build and implement frameworks that will enforce the “this is how we do it here” theme, whilst ensuring consistency of practices, efficiency and fairness in their operations, engagement and retention of new hires - all without losing the innovative, passionate and supportive culture that has already been key in contributing to their entrepreneurial success.

As a result, we’re seeking a pragmatic leader with advanced knowledge of UK, European and potentially Middle East markets, to take on a newly created Regional HR Director role with this company. Reporting into both Business Executives and a Corporate HR leader, this person will focus on:

• building HR frameworks to enable diverse and commercially sustainable company growth,

• risk management for employment legislation compliance and labor law interpretation,

• due diligence and integration support for acquisitions and joint venture enterprises

• building and implementing HR policy, process and talent management plans tailored to suit stakeholders in a variety of countries, and

• building structures to manage fairness for pay and performance management.

This person will need to hire, lead and inspire a team of regionally scattered HR managers, who in turn will need to provide pro-active support to business leaders in these emerging markets. Ensuring that this team is motivated, technically proficient, consistent and pro-active with their advice, and able to provide accurate data and talent market intelligence in short time frames - this is just another of the many priorities in this role.

Corporate HR frameworks are still in the infancy stages, giving this person an unusual opportunity to help develop global standards of HR service delivery.

A significant number of employees globally have advanced IT and finance savvy, so this role will particularly suit the HR professional who can offer solutions with reasoning and influence through facts and data, rather than the HR leader who prefers a “policy police” and/or emotive approach in their communications.

Again, as with many companies still early in their life-cycle, there is a need for this person to have a “jack of all trades” mindset - there will be no shortage of change, ambiguity, critical projects and “all hands to the pump” moments. Bonus and benefits plans haven’t yet been developed, HR systems are only just being rolled out, and the very new Talent Acquisition team will undoubtedly need support to achieve their significant hiring targets.

Ideally (post-Covid restrictions) this person will be based from the company’s central London offices, with some flexibility in the long term for a flex work arrangement. We are mindful that the culture of the company may take many iterations as the company continues with an aggressive growth trajectory, so “water cooler” moments are particularly critical for the foreseeable future. It is expected that this person will be regularly traveling, often at short notice to provide “troubleshooting” support in new markets, so a current passport and full Covid vaccination status will be essential.

The “wish list” for hiring criteria is very reasonable, inclusive of:

• Fluent English written and verbal language skills. Any additional European or Arabic languages would be useful but are not essential.

• A working knowledge of multi-jurisdictional labor laws, ideally across Europe, the UK and the Middle East

• Work history of providing support within food services and/or retail companies

• A track record for successfully working through the complex matrix and reporting structures of a multinational company, and knowing how to pick the best of that and apply it within the ambiguity and “everything yesterday” demands of a startup company culture

• Advanced commercial savvy with an ability to find solutions that match business needs

• Courage to influence and stand your ground whilst demonstrating a high degree of emotional intelligence

• The role will require current EU or UK citizenship and current UK residency.

This high profile role will attract a base salary of circa £165,000 plus a hefty performance bonus, and if the company continues on its growth trajectory, there is no shortage of opportunity for the role to broaden further in scope and/or for this person to be moved to new regional locations.

If this sounds like the challenge you've been seeking for your next career move, please do make contact directly and in confidence via solutions@cartermorris.com; quoting CMTS00276. Interviews are being scheduled currently with a view to an employment offer being extended in the coming weeks.

ROLE FILLED - HIGH PERFORMANCE LEADER COMMENCED AFTER SUCCESSFUL EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT OFFER

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