Head of HR

Head of HR – Chorley/Warrington with UK travel What’s In It For You…

• 25 annual leave plus bank holidays with the option to buy more
• Hybrid working
• Group Personal Pension Plan
• Career development & progression with the opportunity to earn professional qualifications
• 24/7 access to a virtual GP and mental health support & counselling services
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Discount club – supermarkets, phone bills, gyms & more!
• Life assurance cover
• Long service recognition
• Active local social committees
• Regular social events
• Paid volunteering opportunities in your community

The UK’s utilities and infrastructure sector is growing fast—and so are we. At Ipsum, we deliver tailored power and electrical solutions, from maintenance to major installations, all supported by smart technologies. Our vision is to be the leading customer‑focused provider of specialist utility and infrastructure solutions across public and private networks.

As Head of HR, you’ll play an important role in shaping our people strategy. You will implement HR initiatives that drive performance, talent management, succession planning, engagement, and retention across the division. Acting as a key strategic partner within the Senior Leadership Team, you’ll influence stakeholders and operate effectively at both strategic and operational levels. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead impactful projects, champion cultural change, and make a real difference to business success.

• Working with the HR Director and in partnership with senior leaders, you will drive the delivery of the HR strategy across Group resource functions, ensuring alignment with business goals.
• Lead organisational change to support growth while maintaining a positive culture and engagement.
• Drive integration of acquisitions and provide strategic leadership to the operational HR team.
• Design and implement initiatives to build leadership capability and improve performance.
• Act as escalation point for complex people issues and ensure compliance with HR processes.
• Champion employee experience, engagement, and retention strategies across the division.
• Lead succession planning, talent reviews, and development programmes.
• Ensure competitive pay, benefits, and progression structures to attract and retain talent.
• Use HR metrics and insights to drive performance and prepare divisional reports for leadership.
• Motivate and lead a high‑performing HR team, ensuring continuous improvement of systems and practices.

We’re looking for a Head of HR to support our Group functions & projects who has extensive senior‑level experience. You’ll have a proven track record of leading HR teams, building trusted partnerships with business leaders, and delivering commercially focused, solutions‑driven advice. Expertise in cultural and organisational change management is essential, along with strong knowledge of talent management, succession planning, and engagement strategies.

You should be confident using HR systems and data insights, with excellent stakeholder management and communication skills to influence at all levels.

The ideal candidate will combine strategic thinking with a hands‑on approach, experience in talent management, succession planning & employee engagement strategies. Strong employment law knowledge, commercial awareness, and the ability to navigate complex challenges are key. CIPD Level 7 qualification and Chartered membership are preferred, along with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification.

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