Job description template
HR Director Job Description
HR director job description template: human resources director duties, skills and qualifications, plus how the role differs from HR manager and CHRO.
The role in brief
An HR director (human resources director) leads an organisation's HR function, sets its people policies and advises senior leaders on workforce, organisation and employee relations decisions. In a mid-sized company the HR director is usually the most senior HR person and reports to the CEO or managing director; in a large group the HR director may lead HR for a division or country and report to a chief human resources officer (CHRO). The role combines strategy with hands-on leadership of HR managers, business partners and specialists. In the UK, people director and head of people are common alternative titles.
- Lead the HR function and its team of HR managers, business partners and specialists
- Build and deliver the HR plan that supports the business plan, covering hiring, development, reward and retention
- Advise the CEO or managing director and senior leaders on organisation design, leadership hiring and change
- Own HR policies and make sure they comply with employment law in each country where you employ people
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Applying for a role like this? Practise the assessment free →Responsibilities
- Lead the HR function and its team of HR managers, business partners and specialists
- Build and deliver the HR plan that supports the business plan, covering hiring, development, reward and retention
- Advise the CEO or managing director and senior leaders on organisation design, leadership hiring and change
- Own HR policies and make sure they comply with employment law in each country where you employ people
- Oversee employee relations, including complex grievances, disciplinary cases, consultations and dealings with unions or employee forums where they exist
- Run the annual cycles: performance reviews, pay and benefits reviews, talent and succession planning
- Set the HR budget and choose and manage HR systems, payroll interfaces and HR suppliers
- Report people metrics such as headcount, attrition, absence and time to hire to the leadership team and act on them
Required skills
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Nice to have
Qualifications
- 1Degree in human resources, business, psychology or a related field; some employers prefer a master's degree
- 2Substantial HR experience, including several years managing HR teams
- 3Experience as the senior HR adviser to a leadership team
- 4Professional HR qualification or certification preferred in many markets
Work environment
Work environment
Career growth
HR directors move to larger HR director roles, group HR director or CHRO and chief people officer positions. Some take non-executive or advisory roles.
Common questions
What does an HR director do?
An HR director leads the HR function, sets people policy and advises senior leaders. The job covers HR strategy, employee relations, reward, talent and succession, HR operations and the HR budget.
What is the difference between an HR director and an HR manager?
An HR manager usually runs HR operations for a site, team or smaller company. An HR director sets HR strategy for the whole organisation or a large part of it, leads HR managers and sits close to the executive team.
Is an HR director the same as a CHRO?
Sometimes. In many mid-sized companies the HR director is the top HR role and does a CHRO's job. In large groups the CHRO leads HR across the enterprise and HR directors lead divisions or countries under them.
Who does an HR director report to?
Usually the CEO or managing director in a standalone company, or the CHRO or group HR director in a larger organisation. State the reporting line in the job description because it signals the role's seniority.
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