About the Business
We are an established and growing UK business operating as a single group with three distinct types of business:
- Test Equipment Distribution (Purchasing / Warehousing and distribution functions)
- Calibration & Service (UKAS Calibration Laboratories)
- Training (Training Instructors and administration)
Each area has its own operational workforce profile and considerations, while operating under a shared culture, leadership team and strategic direction.
Over the past four years, the group has experienced significant growth, with headcount doubling during that time. As the organisation has scaled, the focus has shifted towards strengthening leadership capability, embedding consistency and developing a sustainable people and training strategy that works across three different business models.
The Opportunity
This is a genuine Director-level role, intentionally designed as part-time.
We are seeking an experienced People & Culture Director to provide senior leadership across people, culture and training for a group of three distinct but interconnected businesses, while working closely with — and further developing — our small HR team.
Reporting directly to the Managing Director and sitting as a core member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will have real influence, autonomy and visibility across the group.
The Role
You will hold full ownership of the people lifecycle across the group — from attraction and recruitment, through onboarding and development, to leadership progression and retention.
The role balances strategic leadership with hands-on involvement, particularly in recruitment, interviewing, onboarding design and early-stage integration of new hires.
Your focus will be on ensuring the group has:
- The right people, recruited and selected to a high standard
- A strong, consistent onboarding experience that accelerates contribution and embeds culture
- Capable, confident leaders across all business areas
- Clear, proportionate people practices that flex appropriately between the three businesses
- A structured, future-focused training strategy supporting technical, operational and leadership capability
- A strong, values-led culture that unites different business models
The role is primarily based at our Thornaby site, with occasional travel to other locations if required.
Key Responsibilities
People, Culture & Training Strategy
- Own and deliver the People, Culture and Training strategy across the group
- Act as a trusted adviser to the Managing Director and Senior Leadership Team
- Provide leadership, direction and development support to the HR team
Recruitment, Onboarding & Talent Integration (Hands-On)
- Take personal ownership of recruitment quality and standards across the business
- Be actively involved in senior, specialist and business-critical recruitment, including:
- Role scoping and job design
- Selection methodology
- Interviewing and assessment
- Final appointment decisions
- Design, implement and continuously improve onboarding strategies that:
- Reflect the differing needs of the three business types
- Embed culture, values and expectations early
- Accelerate competence and confidence
- Improve early retention and engagement
- Ensure onboarding aligns with training, compliance and operational readiness
- Build strong hiring and onboarding capability within the leadership team
Training & Capability Development
- Design, lead and evolve a coherent group-wide training strategy reflecting the needs of distribution, technical service and training environments
- Ensure training supports:
- Technical competence
- Operational effectiveness
- Leadership and management capability
- Develop structured learning pathways, succession pipelines and progression frameworks
- Ensure training provision remains practical, scalable and commercially aligned
Leadership & Management Development
- Lead the development of senior managers and future leaders across all business areas
- Design and embed leadership development, coaching and mentoring frameworks
- Strengthen accountability, consistency and confidence across the management population
People Governance & Operations
- Provide Director-level oversight of employee relations and complex people matters
- Ensure people policies, processes and governance are robust, compliant and fit for purpose
- Oversee workforce planning, reward and pay review frameworks
- Support the HR team in day-to-day delivery where appropriate
Culture, Engagement & Organisation Design
- Shape and protect a strong, grounded culture that works across different operational environments
- Lead employee engagement activity and ensure insight translates into action
- Support organisational design and change initiatives where required
This role is about owning the full people lifecycle, setting standards and building capability.
Qualifications & Professional Requirements
- CIPD Level 7 qualification (or equivalent) preferred
- Equivalent senior-level experience considered where supported by a strong track record
- Strong, current knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
Experience & Expectations
You will be expected to bring:
- Experience as a People Director / HR Director or equivalent senior role
- Demonstrable experience of being hands-on in recruitment, interviewing and onboarding design
- Experience operating across multi-business, multi-site or mixed-operational environments
- A strong track record in people, training and leadership strategy development
- Experience leading and developing HR teams
- Confidence operating as part of a Senior Leadership Team
- A pragmatic, commercially aware and measured leadership style
This role is not suited to someone seeking their first Director appointment or a purely strategic, arms-length HR role.
Location: Thornaby (with occasional travel to other UK sites if required)
Working Pattern: Part-time – 3 days per week
Package: Commensurate with a part-time, Director-level People & Culture role
Holiday Entitlement: 25 days per annum (full-time equivalent), pro-rated for part-time working
Business Size: c.140 employees across 7 sites
Job Types: Part-time, Permanent
Benefits:
- Company events
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
Application question(s):
- • CIPD Level 7 qualification (or equivalent) preferred
- Equivalent senior-level experience considered where supported by a strong track record
- Strong, current knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
Work authorisation:
- United Kingdom (required)
Work Location: In person
