Head of People & Culture

Role overview

Gordon Murray Group is hiring a Head of People & Culture to steer the organisation’s people agenda during an important phase of growth and transformation. This is a distinctive opportunity to build and shape the People function, establishing the strategic basis the business needs while remaining close to operational detail so plans are executed effectively.

Reporting to the CEO, you will work as a genuine partner to the senior leadership team, turning commercial and operational priorities into a joined-up people strategy. You will also be comfortable handling day-to-day HR work, supporting the team on complex matters, and personally leading change initiatives whenever urgency or capacity requires it.

This role suits a practical leader who performs well in a fast-moving, changing environment and is motivated by ambiguity. You will help create structure and capability where little exists today, while leading change across organisational design, HR systems and processes, and company culture at the same time. Strong resilience, a pragmatic mindset, and the ability to prioritise are essential.

Key responsibilities

• Partner with the CEO and senior leadership team as a dependable advisor, developing and delivering a People & Culture strategy that supports the Group’s commercial goals.
• Act as the link between the senior leadership team and the People team so decisions are made quickly and work is delivered smoothly.
• Lead organisational design across GMG, GMA and GMAE, including job structure, grading and reporting relationships, to support a growing multi-entity organisation.
• Shape and implement a culture and values framework that reflects the speed, innovation and engineering quality associated with the Group.
• Take ownership of the People function’s budget, KPIs and reporting, giving the CEO and Board clear, data-informed insight into workforce trends and risk.
• Lead change activity directly when needed, including stakeholder engagement, communication planning and coaching managers through transitions.
• Provide practical support and oversight across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, performance management, employee relations and offboarding.
• Manage reward, benefits and pay frameworks to ensure competitiveness and fairness as the business expands.
• Drive employee engagement and wellbeing activity, using pulse surveys and other listening tools to understand sentiment and respond to feedback.
• Create development, progression and succession frameworks that help retain key people during a period of rapid change.

Requirements

• Substantial senior HR leadership experience, ideally within a fast-moving, scaling or multi-entity business; background in engineering or manufacturing is an advantage.
• Demonstrated success in leading organisational change such as restructuring, system rollout, process redesign or people integration following M&A activity.
• Broad generalist HR expertise with practical experience in employee relations, employment law, reward, talent acquisition and HR operations.
• Experience building or evolving a People function, including ownership or implementation of HR technology.
• Ability to operate strategically and hands-on, with confidence presenting to the CEO while also handling day-to-day casework.
• Strong commercial awareness and the ability to connect people decisions to business outcomes.
• Resilient, adaptable and comfortable with change and uncertainty, with sound judgement for prioritisation in a fast-evolving setting.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing ability across all levels of the business.
• Current, practical knowledge of UK employment law and accepted HR best practice.
• All applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Benefits

• Competitive base salary.
• Private medical scheme.
• Life assurance.
• Holiday loyalty bonus scheme.
• Enhanced personal pension plan.
• Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme.
• Onsite parking.

Additional information

Department: HR

Location: Shalford, Surrey, England, United Kingdom.

The company is committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of age, sexual orientation, gender, pregnancy, religion, nationality, ethnic origin, disability, medical history, race, marital status, genetic information or parental status. The workplace is intended to support diversity and encourage individuals to express their opinions and beliefs.

Reasonable adjustments can be discussed if needed to support the application process.