Job Specification: Director of People and Culture
MCS Group is delighted to be partnering exclusively with a Belfast-based Public Sector organisation as they seek to appoint a Director of People and Culture on a full-time, permanent basis. This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for a visionary leader to step into a truly unique Director role, shaping the future of the organisation and making a meaningful impact on society in Northern Ireland.
The role of Director of People and Culture is critical to the successful delivery of the organisation’s overall strategy, requiring exceptional leadership skills to inspire, support and develop their people in the realisation of its goals, in particular their ongoing organisational transformation and culture shift.
About the Organisation
The organisation is committed to being a values-led entity, with a focus on integrity, impartiality, openness, accountability, and respect. The organisation works to ensure transparency and fairness in all its processes. Through a commitment to high ethical standards and a trauma-informed approach, it aims to foster trust, engagement, and healing within affected communities.
Role Overview
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Director of People and Culture is responsible for developing and implementing the organisation’s people strategy. This pivotal role supports the ambition to be an ‘Employer of Choice’ by fostering a values-led culture, ensuring effective workforce planning, and overseeing all aspects of HR leadership and organisational development.
As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, the Director will lead on HR policies, employee engagement, talent management, and culture transformation to ensure a motivated, high-performing workforce.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and implement a comprehensive People & Culture strategy aligned with the organisation’s strategic objectives.
- Lead on workforce planning, talent acquisition, and employee retention strategies.
- Oversee performance management and professional development frameworks.
- Promote an inclusive, engaged, and high-performance organisational culture.
- Establish effective employee relations, including working with trade unions.
- Provide strategic HR advice and leadership to the Executive Leadership Team.
- Ensure compliance with legal and governance requirements regarding HR matters.
- Oversee reward, benefits, and compensation frameworks to attract and retain talent.
- Lead initiatives for organisational change, learning, and leadership development.
This list is not intended to be exhaustive regarding the duties associated with the role.
Personnel Specification:
To be considered for the role, candidates must be able to demonstrate, by the closing date for applications, experience in the following criteria.
Essential qualifications
- Minimum of CIPD Level 5, or equivalent level qualification is essential, with a demonstrable commitment to continuous professional.
Essential experience, skills and experience
- Has operated at a senior management level* (for a minimum of 5 years) in a large and complex** organisation, with responsibility for people and culture.
- Experience of operating successfully within a complex organisation, forging collaborative relationships and building coalitions to ensure successful implementation and promoting a culture of continuous improvement.
- Strong evidence of Values-based leadership, supporting diversity & inclusion and improving capability within multi-disciplinary teams.
- Demonstrable experience of strategic human resource management including employee engagement.
- Experience of developing effective people strategies and supporting deliver of organisational change
- Understanding and demonstrable knowledge of employment legislation together with extensive recruitment and employee relations experience.
- Experience of collaborating formally and informally with trade union representatives.
*Defined as "Director" Or Senior Manager level in a large organisation supporting decisions of Chief Executive or Board.
** A large and complex organisation is defined as having a head count of a minimum of 200 staff, a turnover gross revenue of £15m and requiring constructive engagement with trade unions**
Desirable Criteria
- Chartered Fellowship of the CIPD (FCIPD).
Benefits
- The salary range for this opportunity will range between £100,000 - £105,000
- Generous pension scheme.
- 30 days’ annual leave, plus 10 public holidays.
- Health and well-being support, including occupational health services.
- Investment in professional development, including study leave and secondment opportunities.
Select ‘Apply Now’ to request a Candidate Pack for this Director of People & Culture opportunity, or email s
Applications will close on Monday 31st March 2025 at 12pm. Please allow enough time to complete the cover letter, along with an up-to-date CV if you meet the essential criteria for this Director of People and Culture opportunity.
To speak in absolute confidence about this opportunity please send an up-to-date CV via the link provided or contact Rebekah Mulligan, Senior HR Recruitment Consultant at MCS Group on
MCS Group is committed to Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion for all, being the first recruitment agency in NI to achieve Bronze Diversity Mark accreditation, if you have a disability which means you require a reasonable adjustment to be considered at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us and we will endeavour to facilitate the request.