HR Operations Director UK&I
9 days ago
Village
\n The Opportunity\n As HR Director, UK & Ireland Hotels, you will be the senior strategic people leader for one of IHG's most significant markets. \n In this role, you’ll lead the HR strategy for IHG’s UK & Ireland division, partnering closely with the UK & Ireland Managing Director and leadership team. You’ll work across both the managed and leased estate, while also partnering with owners and third-party management companies across our franchised hotels to protect the IHG brand and support a consistent, compliant colleague experience. \n This is a highly visible role that combines strategic leadership, commercial influence and operational excellence. You'll play a leading role in shaping workforce strategy, organisational effectiveness, leadership capability, talent development and employee engagement whilst helping the business navigate a rapidly evolving employment and technology landscape. What You'll Be Responsible For Driving Business Performance Through People\n \n • Partner with the UK & Ireland Managing Director and leadership team to shape and deliver the people strategy for the division.\n, • Influence organisational effectiveness, workforce planning and leadership capability across a complex portfolio of hotels.\n, • Coach and challenge senior stakeholders to drive performance, engagement and talent outcomes.\n Leading a High-Performing HR Function\n \n, • Lead and develop a team of 35 HR, Learning & Development and Talent professionals.\n, • Drive succession planning, talent development and performance management across the division.\n, • Create an environment where colleagues can perform at their best and grow their careers.\n Partnering Across a Diverse Hotel Estate\n \n, • Build trusted relationships with hotel owners, franchisees and third-party management companies.\n, • Support the delivery of a consistent and compliant colleague experience across more than 380 franchised hotels.\n, • Represent IHG externally with industry bodies, trade associations and relevant stakeholder groups.\n Shaping the Future of Hospitality HR\n \n, • Lead the people implications of major business and organisational change initiatives.\n, • Ensure readiness for evolving employment legislation and changing workforce expectations.\n, • Support the continued evolution of HR technology, digital transformation and the application of AI to improve colleague and business outcomes.\n What We’re Looking For\n We’re looking for a commercially minded HR leader who combines strategic thinking with strong operational execution. \n You’ll likely bring: \n \n • Significant senior HR leadership experience within a large, complex and customer-focused environment such as hospitality, retail, leisure, travel, FMCG or a similarly people-intensive sector.\n, • A proven track record of partnering with Executive and Senior Leadership teams to deliver measurable business outcomes.\n, • Experience leading large HR teams and developing high-performing talent functions.\n, • Strong stakeholder management skills, including influencing senior external partners, owners, franchisees or third-party operators.\n, • Deep expertise in employment law, employee relations, organisational design and change leadership.\n, • Experience leading people strategies across multi-site operations.\n, • Outstanding communication, influencing and relationship-building capabilities.\n, • Flexibility to travel regularly throughout the UK & Ireland.\n What Makes This Role Different\n This is a rare opportunity to lead people strategy at scale, with the chance to influence thousands of colleagues across one of the UK & Ireland’s largest hotel portfolios. \n You’ll have the opportunity to: \n \n • Shape the people agenda across the UK & Ireland for one of the world’s most recognised hospitality companies.\n, • Influence the employee experience across more than 400 hotels.\n, • Partner with a broad network of owners, operators and business leaders.\n, • Lead transformational initiatives across talent, culture, technology and organisational effectiveness.\n, • Play a key role in defining the future of hospitality employment in the UK & Ireland.\n \n Closing Date for applications: 19th August 2026 \n #LI-KW1 \n #LI-HYBRID \n #J-18808-Ljbffr