Interim Head of People (Day Rate / FTC Equivalent)Location: Manchester (MediaCity)Contract: Interim - 4-5 monthsRate: Equivalent to £100,000 salary (day rate dependent on experience)Start: ASAP / Short notice preferredWorking model: On-site / hybrid (as required)
Client Details
We are recruiting an Interim Head of People to support one of the UK's most dynamic and fast-paced creative and media-led environments, based at MediaCity in Manchester.
This role sits at the heart of a nationally significant creative hub and operates at the intersection of a high-growth media ecosystem and a well-established, FTSE-listed parent organisation. The interim will play a critical role during a period of transition and momentum, working closely with senior leadership to ensure stability, progression and cultural alignment.
Reporting jointly to the site CEO and a Group People Director, this is a visible, influential assignment requiring a confident, commercially minded senior People leader who can operate at pace and add immediate value.
Description
- Lead the People agenda for a complex, creative business environment, enabling growth and organisational capability.
- Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leadership team.
- Build and sustain a collaborative, inclusive and high-performance culture aligned with creative and media-sector expectations.
- Operate with a group-wide perspective, aligning local people practices with established governance, policies and standards.
- Lead on employee relations, managing complex and sensitive ER matters with confidence and pragmatism.
- Support broader group activity as required, including acquisitions, TUPE and change programmes.
- Partner closely with senior People leadership on governance, reward, workforce planning and people analytics.
- Ensure people policies remain compliant and fit for purpose in line with current and evolving employment legislation.
- Champion modern, data-led and innovative people practices appropriate to a fast-evolving creative and media landscape.
- Provide leadership and direction to the local People team, ensuring continuity and engagement during the interim period.
Profile
This role will suit an experienced interim Head of People / People leader who is comfortable working in visible, ambiguous and fast-moving environments.
Essential experience includes:
- Proven experience operating at Head of People / HR Director level in a complex organisation.
- Strong grounding in UK employment law, ER, governance and policy development.
- Experience leading and developing high-performing People teams.
- Track record of supporting organisational change, transition or transformation.
- Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, with evidence of embedding inclusive practices.
- Confident working with people data, analytics and HR systems (e.g. Workday or similar).
- High levels of integrity, judgement and discretion.
- Ability to balance commercial pragmatism with cultural sensitivity in creative or fast-paced sectors.
Backgrounds in media, creative industries, real estate and property, leisure, or similarly matrixed organisations would be advantageous, though not essential.
Job Offer
Why This Assignment?
- A high-profile interim leadership role in one of the UK's most recognisable creative destinations.
- Exposure to senior stakeholders at local and group level.
- Opportunity to make a tangible impact over a defined 4-5 month period.
- Backed by the scale, stability and governance of a major UK corporate owner, while operating in an agile, creative setting.
- Fantastic location - role is located in the heart of Salford in Media City.
