HR director recruitment

An HR Director is responsible for leading the human resources function within a business, providing strategic direction and overseeing key operational HR activities. Often part of the senior leadership team, they ensure the people strategy supports and enables business growth.

HR Directors play a vital role in building an engaged workforce, embedding company culture, and ensuring the effective delivery of core HR services.

Role overview

HR Directors have a broad and strategic remit. Responsibilities often include:

  • Developing and executing the HR strategy in line with business objectives

  • Leading HR functions including talent acquisition, employee relations, and learning & development

  • Advising senior leadership on workforce planning and employee engagement

  • Ensuring compliance with employment law and internal policies

  • Managing compensation and benefits frameworks

  • Leading HR transformation, including digital enablement and organisational design

  • Overseeing performance management and succession planning processes

Typical role requirements

Successful HR Directors typically have:

  • A strong background in senior HR leadership

  • Experience managing teams and delivering results across the employee lifecycle

  • Commercial insight and the ability to partner with business leaders

  • Robust understanding of employment law and HR operations

  • Excellent communication and leadership skills

  • A track record of leading change and building high-performing teams

A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is usually expected, with CIPD qualifications (Level 7) or international equivalents seen as a strong advantage.

Recruit your next HR director with Elliott Scott

At Elliott Scott, we work with companies of all sizes to recruit HR Directors who lead with confidence and align people strategy with business success. Whether you’re navigating change, scaling up, or strengthening your leadership team, we can help you find the right person for the job.

Contact our team

FAQs

HR Directors oversee the planning and execution of the HR strategy within their organisation. On a day-to-day basis, they may be involved in leading talent acquisition, advising leadership on people issues, overseeing performance management, managing ER cases, and ensuring compliance with employment law.

HR Directors are common in mid-sized to large companies, where HR is a dedicated function that supports broader business strategy. In smaller businesses, the HR Director may be the most senior HR role, while in larger firms, they might sit beneath a CHRO or CPO.

HR Directors need broad HR experience, strong leadership and people management skills, and the ability to deliver results across the employee lifecycle. They must be commercially aware and capable of translating business needs into practical HR strategies. A CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent is often expected.