Group Head of HR

Direct Report Responsibilities: Rewards Analyst

Reports to: Chief Executive

Location: Theale, Reading

To be the central point of expertise on HR matters within the Group, to provide HR and remuneration advice to the Board and executives, and to provide HR support to the Group Headquarters team.

• Advise the Cohort plc senior executive team and Board on HR matters affecting the Group, including legislative changes in the Group’s operating territories and wider HR trends.
• Provide HR data and statistics as required by legislation, regulatory requirements or as requested by the Cohort plc Board or executives.
• Advise the Cohort plc Board and Remuneration Committee on senior remuneration matters including emerging public company remuneration issues. Draft the Remuneration Report in the Group’s Annual Report for approval and sign off by the Remuneration Committee Chairman.
• Draft the workforce related disclosures for the Annual Report.
• Support the Chair of the Remuneration Committee and be responsible for the preparation of timely, concise and accurate papers for the Committee including but without limitation, in consultation with the Group’s executive team, an annual paper setting out recommendations on bonus and LTIP payouts, and bonus schemes for the following year.
• Manage the communication of the in-year bonus, LTIP and share schemes with the Group Board and executives, and subsidiary Managing Directors in a consistent, clear and timely manner.
• Manage the process for senior executive recruitment and selection in the Group HQ and operating companies.
• Develop and maintain succession plans for senior management positions in Group and the subsidiary companies, in conjunction with the Cohort executive team and subsidiary Heads of HR and Managing Directors, reporting regularly to the Board.
• Chair the Group HR Forum, comprising the HR leads of the Group’s operating businesses, leading on good practice, and assisting with the implementation of Group initiatives.
• Monitor changes in employment legislation and advise managers on the impact to group companies through the Group HR Forum.
• Support subsidiary Heads of HR as required, providing expert advice on difficult/complex subsidiary HR matters.
• Manage the Group’s all-employee and executive share schemes, ensure the schemes are effectively communicated to employees and assess their ongoing effectiveness as a tool for employee engagement.
• Provide HR leadership and expertise on Group change initiatives, acquisitions, restructuringand other matters, as required.
• Develop and maintain group HR policies ensuring compliance with employment legislation and good practice and ensure that our policies and legislative requirements are effectively implemented across the Group.
• Manage the Group’s HR and benefits supplier relationships (e.g. Pensions, PMI, Life Assurance, Income Protection, XpertHR, Skillcast, Safecall)
• Develop, monitor and support the Group-wide Leadership Development Programmes, working closely with suppliers.
• Work with the General Counsel on management of the Group’s third-party whistleblowing facility and ensure reports are handled in accordance with our procedures.
• Provide operational HR service to the 20 head office employees (e.g. recruitment, on-boarding, learning and development, maintaining the Cohort employee handbook, annual salary review process).

• Undertake learning and development activities as agreed.
• Exploit opportunities to keep up to date with areas of expertise/profession, e.g background reading, meetings with local HR networks, attendance at seminars.
• Undertake other duties and tasks that from time to time are appropriate to the role.
• Comply with all relevant internal rules, policy and procedures,…