Director of People and Culture

Health Innovation Research Alliance Northern Ireland; Belfast; On-site; GBP 75,000 - GBP 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent health research organization in Northern Ireland is seeking a Director of People & Culture. The successful candidate will spearhead the people agenda, aligning it with commercial objectives and driving a high-performance culture. With over 15 years of experience in HR and a strategic mindset, you will provide foundational leadership in talent management, and organizational change, and act as a trusted advisor to the senior leadership team. This role is crucial in shaping the culture and ensuring the organization thrives in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in a HR role with senior strategic experience.
• Proven track record in resolving complex people issues.
• Strong understanding of leadership frameworks and team effectiveness.

Responsibilities

• Drive and support change and transformation initiatives.
• Act as a strategic advisor to the executive team.
• Design and deliver people strategies aligned to business goals.
• Lead a high-performance, inclusive culture.
• Provide leadership across core HR disciplines.

Skills

CIPD Certification

HR Business Partnering

Organisational Change Management

Executive Coaching

Performance Management

Education

Postgraduate qualification

Higher-level qualification in business or related subject

Job description

The Director of People & Culture will be a trusted strategic partner to the C-Suite and senior leadership team, playing a pivotal role in shaping the organisation’s people agenda, in line with its commercial objectives and growth ambitions.

This is a senior, influential role for an experienced People and Culture leader who combines strong commercial acumen with a practical, delivery-focused approach. You will operate as both a strategic advisor and a hands-on change leader, translating business priorities into people solutions that drive performance, engagement, and long-term sustainability.

Working closely with Heads of Department and the HR team, you will embed a high-performance culture, strengthen leadership capability, and ensure the organisation is equipped with the talent, structure, and ways of working required to succeed in a fast-moving environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive and support change and transformation initiatives, working closely with senior leaders to plan and deliver effective change
• Act as a strategic advisor and coach to the executive team, providing pragmatic, commercially grounded HR and Cultural insights that support sound decision-making.
• Design and deliver people strategies that are clearly aligned to business goals, enabling growth, innovation, and operational effectiveness.
• Lead and embed a high-performance, inclusive culture, ensuring leaders are equipped to engage, motivate, and develop their teams.
• Take ownership of organisation design, workforce planning, and talent strategies, ensuring the right structures and capabilities are in place for both current and future needs, and implement change effectively.
• Provide hands-on leadership across core HR disciplines, including performance management, succession planning, leadership development, and employee relations.
• Use data, insight, and external perspective to inform decisions, challenge assumptions, and continuously improve people practices.
• Build credibility through strong business acumen, influencing at senior level with confidence, clarity, and integrity.
• You will bring fresh thinking, challenge the status quo where appropriate, and have the confidence to work independently while building strong, trusted relationships across the business.

Essential Criteria & Qualifications

• CIPD Certification
• 15 years plus postgraduate experience in a HR role, with 5 years plus progressive experience in a senior or equivalent strategic People and Culture role, with depth across talent management, organisational development, performance management, and succession planning.
• A proven track record in HR Business Partnering, including resolving complex people issues and influencing senior stakeholders to improve organisational performance.
• Demonstrable experience leading and enabling organisational change and transformation, with a practical understanding of change methodologies.
• Strong understanding of leadership frameworks, executive coaching approaches, and team effectiveness.

Desirable Criteria & Qualifications

• Hold a higher-level qualification in business or related subject
• Proven track-record in developing Company culture and scaling headcount in a high-growth environment
• Experience in developing and implementing employee performance management and development frameworks
• Experience in a HR/People and Culture leadership role within a Life Sciences or Pharma focused organization
• Track record in designing a consistent, human-centred employee experience

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