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HR Director UK & Ireland

Established in 1998 and floated on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM in 2013, Keywords (KWS) is the world’s leading provider of technical services to the fast-growing, global video games market. Our 9,000 employees in 50+ production centres in 21 countries provide graphic art asset production, game development, audio, testing, localization, and customer support services to most of the leading video game developers and publishers. We have a proven track record of organic and acquisition-led growth and have successfully acquired and integrated 50+ acquisitions since 2014.

Reporting to the Chief Culture Officer in collaboration with the Global HR Leadership Team, the HR Director – UK & Ireland supports and oversees all people and cultural processes across the Region which includes more than 17 Keywords Studios.

This role will lead a team of HR Managers, Specialists and Generalists across the UK & Ireland and will collaborate with other key groups in the HR organization, to deliver high quality, seamlessly integrated operational HR support for the diverse range of businesses with more than 1,000 employees and leaders in the Region.

Requirements

Key Responsabilities & Activities

• Provide direction, guidance and leadership for the UK & Ireland HR Managers, Specialists and Generalist to support HR Service delivery to businesses, leaders and employees located in UK & Ireland
• Work with Chief Culture Officer in defining standard HR work processes and implement them in the UK & Ireland in line with all applicable laws and regulations
• Provide expert advice and interpretation on UK & Ireland employment law matters in partnership with Global Legal team and external advisors
• Partner with regional HR Management team (Chief Culture Officer, Regional HR Director Europe, HR Directors and Managers) to help develop optimal HR support strategies, infrastructures and resources in areas of promoting Keywords Culture, Performance Management, Talent Development, Employee Retention, Succession Planning, Orientation, and other people initiatives.
• Guide Studio leaders and managers on the development performance goals, metrics, and targets that support company goals.
• Oversee employee performance evaluations process and provide guidance to managers and employees.
• Turn strategic People Plans into operational HR service delivery plans and actions.
• In alignment with the Europe-wide HR Services teams, help support the delivery of key HR services
• Provide input for the design of HR programs in specific areas (e.g. labour relations, talent, compensation, training), and to support the delivery of programs
• Support the continuing transformation of HR via global HR policies and processes implementation
• Implement a system of HR metrics and KPIs to measure progress on goals and understand effectiveness of support provided
• In collaboration with the Studio Heads and Finance Dept., work on the preparation of the annual budgets
• Implement programmes including benefit enhancements that maximise the synergies of the combined buying power of the various regional entities
• Drive integration of new and existing studios to maximise benefits for new companies joining Keywords Group
• Play a leading role in all acquisition transactions from due diligence to integration
• Contribute to the development of a culture of diversity & inclusion where employee experience is at the centre of HR service delivery

Behavioral Skills

• Strong customer service focus
• Excellent project management and organizational skills
• Demonstrated solid experience of delivering standard work processes as well as tactical/operational expertise in delivering HR solutions to help support complex business problems
• Proven leadership and people management skills
• Exposure to cutting edge HR management concepts and techniques delivered in complex business environments to a multi-business/discipline workforce, preferably within a large global organization
• Proven ability to build strong relationships across all levels of the business, including senior leaders and executives
• Initiative and responsibility: willingness to act pro-actively by identifying opportunities and anticipate changes
• Excellent communication skills and ability to create good and strong relationships with different kind of local and international stakeholders
• Demonstrated problem solving and analytical capability
• Skills in data, metrics and managing performance delivery
• A high degree of cultural sensitivity, demonstrated ability to work effectively with multi-cultural and business teams, preferably within a large global business

Technical Skills

• 10 years of previous experience gained in an HR department, preferable in multinational context and in IT/Entertainment companies.
• Ideally Masters degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or related field.
• Proven knowledge of the labour law and regulations in UK and Ireland
• Strong technical expertise and knowledge of all HR areas, to design and manage HR policies and programs
• Strong knowledge in Microsoft Office (especially Excel) and at least one HRS (Workday, Netsuite, etc.)
• Travel as appropriate to implement strategic HR initiatives (approximately 30% of time).