HR Director - Leeds

HR Director Jobs

In large companies, human resources is now too important a role to leave to line managers and general directors. Legal issues from employment rights to anti-discrimination policy can cause unprepared companies problems, and compliance within certain sectors requires a high degree of specialist knowledge. That is why there needs to be HR representation at board level in large companies, hence the requirement for HR directors.

And of course, HR is not just about compliance – it’s about ensuring the best possible people are located, assessed and given appropriate packages to attract them away from other roles and to remain contented in their current role. This has to be done at a strategic level, in concert with the rest of the board. Dedicated HR board members ensure that staffing is seen to be an important aspect of the company.

Growing companies too find the need for HR directors can arise at a certain point in their development. Becoming a company’s first HR director can be challenging but hugely rewarding.

The skills required

A thorough understanding of human resources is clearly a must at HR director level, but they will also need to be an exceptional people manager, as they might not be involved in the day-to-day business of HR, but will instead be overseeing an HR team, supervising training of new recruits and personal development of staff. Ultimately, they will be tasked with ensuring maximum employee engagement.

The HR director needs to see the bigger picture, and will have access to the internal workings of the business at executive level, including financial aspects, and to be able to make decisions based on financial, as well as operational factors.

HR Director Jobs in Leeds

A thriving city in West Yorkshire, Leeds has a long history going back to the Middle Ages, when it was a market town in a highly agricultural region. Textiles including wool and broadcloth were regularly traded and during the late 1700s, exports were becoming increasingly important to the city's economy.

The building of various railways and canals helped the city grow and by the mid 1800s it was well connected with the rest of the country.

During the Industrial Revolution, Leeds was responsible for a variety of innovations and it was home to a number of factories and mills. Meanwhile, agriculture continued to flourish in the region as well.

Since the 19th century, the city has changed significantly. Manufacturing has declined and the textiles industry has all but disappeared. These days, Leeds is known for its corporate and legal sectors, as well as a number of retail, luxury goods, media and finance companies - making it a great choice for those seeking HR Director roles.

Various big-name businesses are based in Leeds, including Asda, Carlsberg UK, Optare and Capita. Yorkshire Post Newspapers Ltd and regional television stations like the BBC and ITV also call the city home, as well as some small commercial production companies.

The Bank of England's only UK subsidiary office is located in Leeds, while other financial institutions include Leeds Building Society and Yorkshire Bank. An array of call centres can also be found in the city.

Popular locations

Find HR Director Jobs with Cast UK

Cast UK is one of the UK’s most forward-thinking specialist recruiters, and we take great pride in the way we develop and nurture our advisors. Businesses and employees come back to us as they meet their own staffing and career needs, respectively, and we have great long-standing relationships with some of the UK’s most exciting employers.

As our portfolio of specialisms grows, so do the opportunities to help match up people with positions, and we have placed some impressive HR directors in equally impressive roles.

Call us today on 0333 121 3345 to find your perfect executive level position.

Contact us