Head of People & Culture

Application Deadline: 14 July 2026

Department: HR

Location: Shalford

Description

We are looking for a Head of People & Culture to lead the people agenda across Gordon Murray Group at a pivotal moment of growth and transformation. This is a rare opportunity to shape a People function, strengthening the strategic foundations the business needs while staying close enough to the detail to make things happen day to day.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will operate as a true partner to the senior leadership team, translating commercial and operational priorities into a coherent people strategy. At the same time, you will be comfortable rolling up your sleeves: getting involved in core HR activity, supporting your team through complex cases, and personally driving change projects when capacity or urgency demands it.

This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment, is energised by ambiguity, and enjoys building structure and capability where it doesn't yet exist. You will be leading change across organisational design, HR systems and processes, and culture, often simultaneously, so resilience, pragmatism and the ability to prioritise are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leadership team, shaping and delivering a People & Culture strategy aligned to Group's commercial objectives.
• Act as the communication channel between the senior leadership team and People team to ensure timely decision making and effective delivery of People team tasks.
• Lead the design and evolution of organisational structure across GMG, GMA and GMAE, including job architecture, grading and reporting lines, to support a scaling, multi-entity business.
• Define and embed a clear culture and values framework that reflects the pace, innovation and engineering excellence the Group is known for.
• Own the People function's budget, KPIs and reporting, providing the CEO and Board with clear, data-led insight into workforce trends and risk.
• Personally drive change management activity where needed, including stakeholder engagement, communication planning and manager coaching.
• Provide hands-on support when needed and oversight across the full employee lifecycle: recruitment, onboarding, performance management, employee relations, and offboarding.
• Oversee reward, benefits and pay structures, ensuring the Group remains competitive and equitable as it scales.
• Champion employee engagement and wellbeing initiatives, using pulse surveys and other listening mechanisms to track sentiment and act on feedback.
• Build career development, progression and succession frameworks that support retention of key talent through a period of rapid change.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Significant senior HR leadership experience, ideally gained in a fast-paced, scaling, or multi-entity business; engineering, manufacturing experience is advantageous.
• Proven track record of leading organisational change: restructuring, systems implementation, process redesign or M&A-related people integration.
• Strong generalist HR background, with hands-on experience across employee relations, employment law, reward, talent acquisition and HR operations.
• Experience building or evolving a People function, including owning or implementing the HR tech stack.
• Comfortable operating across both strategic and hands-on levels; equally at ease presenting to the CEO and rolling up sleeves on day-to-day casework.
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to connect people strategy directly to business outcomes.
• Resilient, adaptable and energised by change and ambiguity, with the judgement to prioritise effectively in a fast-evolving environment.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills across all levels of the business.
• Sound, up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law and best practice.

Benefits

As well as the opportunity to work with a fantastic team, the position comes with:

• Competitive Base Salary
• Private Medical Scheme
• Life Assurance
• Holiday Loyalty Bonus Scheme
• Enhanced Personal Pension Plan
• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Pay
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Salary Sacrifice Car Lease Scheme
• Parking Onsite

Gordon Murray Group is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history, race, marital status, genetic information or parental status. We strive to promote a workplace that celebrates diversity and encourages individuals to express their opinions and beliefs.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch should you require any reasonable adjustments to assist with your application.

All applicants must have the Right to Work in the UK.

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