HR Director – People & Culture

At Hearst UK, there’s always more to the story. Join us as our new HR Director of People & Culture to start the next chapter in your career. You will foster a positive work environment, develop a strong organisational culture and directly align people practices with the company’s vision, mission & values. This includes partnering with the Chief Executive Officer and the Executive Leadership Team in a truly commercial and strategic capacity to drive employee engagement, satisfaction and overall experience, ensuring an inclusive environment where employees can thrive and contribute to the organisation’s success.

We’re the UK’s leading premium publisher, and the people behind iconic media brands such as Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and Country Living. We’ve created a working environment that encourages everyone to pull together. We never stop looking for brave new ideas. We’ll always try to develop and improve, we trust each other to do our best, and we have fun as we build on our heritage to make history.

ABOUT THE ROLE 

 

Strategic Leadership: Developing and executing HR strategies & people plans that align with the Hearst’s goals and culture. This includes workforce planning, talent management, and organisational design and development.

 

Commercial Partnering: Being an influential partner to leaders, helping them create great experiences for their teams and inspire strong, consistent performance from their people. Coaching leaders to facilitate HR components of their role such as career development, coaching, and sustaining a high performing team culture. Offer innovative and creative solutions to HR problems.

Culture Development: Being an ambassador for fostering a positive workplace culture that reflects the company’s values. This involves creating programs that support diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as ensuring the company’s performance & growth led culture is embodied in all HR practices.

 

Employee Engagement & Wellbeing: Leading initiatives to enhance employee satisfaction, motivation, and retention. This can include surveys, feedback systems, and employee recognition programs. Implementing initiatives to create a work environment that supports employees’ physical and mental wellbeing. 

 

Talent Management: Overseeing the recruitment, development, and retention of talent. This involves managing processes like performance management, succession planning and leadership development.

 

Employee Relations: Ensuring that HR practices comply with labour laws and regulations. Manage HR-related risks and legal matters to protect the organisation. Escalation for employee concerns and mediating conflicts.

 

Learning and Development: Creating and managing training programs to support employee growth and skills development. This is key to ensuring that employees are equipped to meet the company’s evolving needs.

 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): Accountability for DEI initiatives to ensure that the organization is inclusive and diverse, and that it provides equitable opportunities for all employees. Accountability for the strategic management of Employee Resource Groups. 

 

HR Policy and Compliance: Ensuring that all people policies are up-to-date, legally compliant, and reflective of the company’s culture. This includes overseeing payroll, benefits and compensation programs.

 

Organisational Design & Change Management: Leading change management efforts, particularly when the organisation undergoes significant transitions or restructuring. Guiding the organisation through change initiatives, ensuring that cultural and people aspects are considered and managed effectively and in line with regulations.

 

Data & Analytics: Continuous review of HR metrics & analytics to measure the effectiveness of HR programs and make data-driven recommendations for people plans, or to improve HR processes, policies or initiatives. 

 

Budget & Cost Management: Cost-effective and timely delivery of HR programs and services. Manage the People department budget and allocate resources effectively.

 

Additionally, you will collaborate with other departments, such as finance and legal to align HR initiatives with broader organizational goals. Maintain confidentiality in HR matters and uphold high ethical standards.

 

ABOUT YOU

• Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (Masters/MBA or certification in HR desirable).
• Substantial experience in HR management, preferably in the media, creative or journalistic industry, ideally with a background of strategically partnering with business leads.
• Strong knowledge of labour laws and HR best practice, with the experience of handling a range of Employee Relations matters
• Experience in organisational development, change management & culture development.
• Ability to coach, develop and maintain positive workplace culture.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and leadership skills
• Comfortable working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment with the ability to deal with rapidly changing business conditions.

 

 

WHAT WE OFFER

At Hearst UK, you can choose from a huge range of perks and benefits that can help you learn well, work well and live well including:

 

• 25 days’ holiday (with the option to buy up to 5 additional holiday days) - pro rated for part-time or fixed-term employees
• Discounted gym membership
• Healthcare cash plan
• Spend a charity day with your favourite good cause
• Life assurance and pension scheme
• Regular socials and more!

 

There’s more to your story than you imagine. And the next chapter begins right here. 

 

Hearst UK is deeply committed to using our influential brands to reflect the world we want to live in – one that respects, protects, represents and uplifts the voices and opinions of all people. As a business, we recognise the significant benefits of creativity, collaboration and innovation that comes with diverse teams. Not only is diversifying the voices in our organization the right thing to do, but it also helps us to make powerful and exciting content that can be enjoyed by many more people. This is why we’re working to build a sense of true belonging within our business and foster a culture in which everyone feels heard.