Head of Talent

Shape the future of talent in a fast-growing retail business A well-known and highly successful retail business is looking for an exceptional Head of Talent to lead its Recruitment and Learning & Development functions and play a key role in shaping its future people strategy. Reporting to the People Director, this is a high-profile leadership role with significant scope and influence.

You’ll take ownership of the talent agenda across attraction, development, engagement and retention, creating an approach that not only supports ambitious growth but strengthens the culture and capability of the organisation. This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded talent leader who enjoys having a genuine impact, building high-performing teams and turning talent strategy into meaningful action.

The Role You will lead the strategic direction across Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development and broader talent initiatives, ensuring the business has the people, skills and leadership capability it needs for the future. Key responsibilities will include:
Define and deliver the Talent, Recruitment and L&D strategy, aligned to business priorities and growth. Lead leadership development, succession planning and talent programmes across the organisation. Oversee recruitment delivery, executive search, EVP and DE&I initiatives, ensuring a compelling candidate and employee experience. Build meaningful career pathways and development opportunities to support internal mobility and retention. Use data, insight and market intelligence to continually improve talent outcomes and inform decision-making.

Lead, coach and develop high-performing Resourcing and L&D teams. Partner closely with senior stakeholders to understand future capability needs and translate these into impactful talent solutions. Continue to evolve the organisation’s approach to culture, engagement and organisational development. About You We’re looking for an experienced and credible talent leader who can operate strategically while remaining close enough to the detail to make things happen.

You’ll bring:
Strong experience across Talent, Talent Development, Recruitment and Executive Search. Proven experience leading teams and influencing senior stakeholders. A strong track record of designing and delivering L&D and leadership development programmes. Commercial awareness and the ability to connect people strategy to wider business objectives. A data-driven, pragmatic and solutions-focused approach. A genuine passion for people, culture, engagement and organisational growth.

Ideally, experience in a similar senior talent role within retail or another fast-paced, customer-focused environment. The Opportunity This is much more than a traditional Head of Talent role. You’ll have the opportunity to shape the talent agenda, build on existing foundations and make a visible impact across the organisation. With strong senior-level exposure, an ambitious growth agenda and significant scope to influence how talent is attracted, developed and retained, this is an exciting opportunity for someone ready to take their career to the next level.

We regret that due to volume, only successful candidates will be contacted. Head of Talent London | Hybrid