HR & Talent Director Manchester, England
Job description
A bit about us
We are Zeal, the UK’s most effective brand activation agency. We help the world’s biggest brands to engage, inspire and motivate consumers into action.
We’re proudly independent with teams based in the vibrant areas of Clerkenwell, London and MediaCity in Salford, and we’re proud to say one of Campaign Magazines Top Agencies to Work.
Our principles around talent are pretty simple where we value brilliant, self-motivated people with natural Zeal. We invest in their training and long-term personal development and give them the resources they need to be the best at what they do.
We’re passionate about creating an inclusive place to work that celebrates and values diversity and inclusion, and ultimately enriches our culture.
Role in summary
Zeal Creative has an exciting new opportunity for a Creative or Digital Agency experienced, pro-active and agile professional to develop the people strategy for this growing, dynamic, owner-managed brand activation agency.
As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will lead and direct all people centric initiatives, as well as advise the business across a range of subjects in line with UK legislation and Company policy.
Our ideal candidate is an innovative and multifaceted HR professional with exceptional knowledge of employment law and its practical application, and someone who has designed and delivered a range of initiatives across L&D, wellbeing and career development. You will also lead on discussions around reward & recognition, having insight into our industry and what individuals are looking for in a modern interpretation of a benefits package.
As a fast moving business, attracting, rewarding and retaining talent is key. An important part of your role will be in driving talent strategy, devising new and innovative ways to attract new talent where you’ll be supported by the Talent Acquisition Manager who will be responsible for sourcing candidates.
This is a pivotal role helping the business achieve success through its people, and having proven experience in a variety of real life situations will be imperative in providing well honed, up to date advice to the Managing Director and members of the SLT.
Given the nature of our business this role would be we are looking for someone with previous experience within a Creative or Digital Agency environment, and someone who has ideally led a HR function. The role is offered on a permanent basis to candidates looking for either full-time, or a more flexible / part-time working arrangement of no less than 4 days pw.
Role in detail
- Advising and guiding managers and employees in line with UK employment law and Company policy across a range of topics including maternity/SPL/adoption, paternity, flexible working requests, redundancies and terminations.
- Acting as a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, attending monthly meetings to own and deliver people related agenda items.
- Support the changing shape of the agency through a talent lens, conducting regular skills gap analysis. Identify the need for new roles, crafting role and responsibilities documents.
- Coaching Managers to deliver effective, timely and robust onboarding, probation and performance management processes.
- Advising on and administering the full array of Company benefits, exploring new and innovative benefit options on a regular basis.
- Leading the delivery of new people related projects, creating new policies, devising new work processes and employing good project management skills. Ensuring the adoption of any new processes are fit for the agency, creatively thought out, effective and have the ability to be reported on.
- Engaging with employees across various touchpoints, devising engagement surveys and analysing results to inform people focused projects and policy.
- Lead the Learning and Development strategy for Zeal:
- drive the success of the Zeal Academy of learning
- across the business identify L&D needs, source providers and organise training sessions
- keep creativity and inspiration running throughout the programme, as well as the output of budgetary spend in line with the company’s vision and mission.
- Working with the Board to advise on and administer salary reviews, supporting the process with rigorously interrogated market data.
- Managing monthly salary adjustments eg. periods of unpaid leave, maternity pay, leavers and starters, pay for interns and other ad hoc benefit changes.
- Managing the delivery of the personal development review programme, providing guidance and coaching to Managers.
- With support from the Talent Acquisition Manager drive and deliver the talent attraction strategy in line with the annual business plan and vision:
- devise innovative ways to source and engage quality candidates through the power of social media and direct recruitment, focusing on direct hires in order to control spend
- adopt rigorous processes to ensure we always have well interrogated salary benchmark data
- manage offer negotiations
- creating recruitment frameworks including scoping the role, writing the brief, devising interview questions, engaging with headhunters and devising scoring matrix
- at times of absence such as holidays or sickness you will take on the role of Talent Acquisition Manager to ensure seamless support to the business.
- Managing the HR Advisor who will support on day-to-day administration including onboarding new employees, managing benefits, administering the ‘People database’, logistics management of training courses and other duties.
- In the role of Manager, provide situational leadership to your direct report enabling them to achieve their career aspirations whilst delivering excellent levels of performance.
Skills and experience we’re looking for
- Previous experience working in a Senior HR management advisory role
- Excellent knowledge of current employment law and its practical application
- Worked in an agile and forward thinking Creative or Digital Agency
- First class interpersonal skills and knowing how to flex your approach depending on your audience
- Excellent written communication skills
- Insightful and creative
- Agile, tenacious and a problem solver
- Exceptional project management and organisation skills
How we will reward you...
- Competitive Salary
- 24 days holiday, plus Bank Holidays and a further 3 days off over Christmas
- 3 additional paid "ZEAL days" off per year
- Contributory pension scheme
- Annual company bonus scheme
- Private Medical Insurance
- Life Assurance
- Continuous learning and development
- Great work-life balance
- Enhanced parental benefits
