Head of People & Culture

Job Description

Are you looking for an exciting opportunity to join Elgin Energy as Head of People & Culture on a 12-month maternity cover contract, leading people strategy and building a high-performing, inclusive and values-led culture?

The Head of People and Culture plays a key leadership role in driving a high-performance, inclusive, and values-led culture across the organisation. Reporting to the People and Culture Director, you will lead the operational delivery of the People and Culture strategy, ensuring alignment with business goals while embedding best practice across all people functions. You will manage and develop a high-performing HR team and act as a trusted partner to senior leaders, supporting organisational growth through effective people strategies.

What you will do

People Strategy & Leadership

• Support the People and Culture Director in delivering the overarching people strategy that enables business success and growth.
• Lead the design and execution of core people initiatives, including workforce planning, employee experience, performance management, and succession planning.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the senior leadership team (SLT), advising on organisational design, workforce capability, and change management.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement and innovation in HR service delivery.

Reward, Recognition & Compliance

• Manage compensation and benefits frameworks, ensuring competitiveness, fairness, and alignment with business needs.
• Conduct benchmarking and internal reviews to ensure reward programs remain compliant and effective.
• Provide expert guidance on employee relations matters including grievances, disputes, and disciplinary actions, ensuring legal and ethical compliance.
• Maintain up-to-date knowledge of employment legislation and ensure all HR practices align with current laws and internal policies.

Organisational Development & Culture

• Lead culture initiatives that support the organisation's mission, values, and diversity goals-embedding inclusion, equity, and psychological safety in day-to-day practices.
• Support change management efforts, including communication planning and workforce transition support during restructures, growth phases, or strategic shifts.
• Partner with the People and Culture Director to develop and implement organisational design changes, ensuring structures support future readiness and agility.

Team Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Lead, mentor, and grow the HR team, fostering a collaborative and accountable working environment.
• Identify future team needs and structure, aligned to the company's scale and ambitions.
• Partner cross-functionally with Finance, Legal, and Operations to integrate people strategies across the organisation.
• Analyse people metrics and prepare reporting that supports data-informed decision-making at SLT level.

Your profile

What you will need

• Bachelor's degree in human resources, business administration, or related field. Master's degree or HR certification (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR) preferred.
• Significant progressive HR experience, including leadership roles, preferably in a similar industry.
• Deep knowledge of HR laws and regulations, including employment law, benefits regulations, and HR best practices.
• Strong strategic thinking and ability to align HR initiatives with overall business strategies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence at all levels of the organisation.
• Proven ability to lead, develop, and mentor a team of HR professionals.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills with the ability to analyse complex situations and provide effective solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and manage multiple priorities.