HR Director

Join the People Puzzles Community!

Commercial. Dynamic. Energetic. Creative. Curious. Pragmatic. Influential. Inspiring. Kind. If this sounds like you, then you could be the next standout People Director to join our exceptional community of HR leaders at People Puzzles.

Where will you work?

Based within easy reach of Belfast (Co. Antrim, Down, Armagh), you’ll support ambitious clients across Northern Ireland’s main business hubs.

Who are you?

You’re an accomplished CPO, CHRO, HR/People Director or Senior HR Consultant, passionate about helping businesses unlock their full potential through people. You thrive on partnering with entrepreneurial leaders and SME organisations, bringing clarity, structure and transformation to fast‑growing businesses.

Perhaps you’re looking for something different from corporate life—more freedom, more variety, more impact. Maybe you’ve already dipped a toe into consulting and are ready to dive in fully.

You bring:

• Strong, up‑to‑date technical HR expertise
• A solid commercial mindset and strategic acumen
• The ability to design and deliver people strategies aligned with business goals
• Confidence working at board level and building trusted advisory relationships
• Outstanding stakeholder management and the ability to “wow” clients with exceptional delivery

You enjoy shaping your own work-life balance and want control over how many days you work—combined with the ability to earn in line with your value and impact.

Above all, you are a catalyst for positive change: engaging, energising, commercially savvy, and driven to make things happen.

And what about us?

We are an award‑winning fractional HR consultancy, home to over 80 of the UK’s most trusted people experts, chosen by more than 1,000 ambitious business leaders. Through proven people strategies and deep expertise, we deliver real business transformation—together.

If you're ready to collaborate with a supportive network of brilliant, like‑minded People Directors—and to make a genuine difference to growing businesses across Northern Ireland—then we’d love to meet you.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the delivery of high‑impact HR solutions across your portfolio of People Puzzles' clients—spanning strategic people planning, culture change, organisational development, leadership capability, change management, D&I, wellbeing, L&D and talent.
• Own your People Puzzles client portfolio end‑to‑end, ensuring an exceptional standard of service and acting as a trusted strategic partner to each business.
• Collaborate closely with our Regional Director and marketing team to support outreach, attract new clients, and shape the growth of People Puzzles in Northern Ireland.
• Drive business transformation by aligning people strategy with commercial objectives, ensuring clients can scale, adapt and thrive.

Skills & Experience

• Strategic HR leadership experience, with a proven track record of shaping business direction and partnering with Boards and Senior Executive teams.
• Strong consultancy skills—you spot opportunities quickly, influence effectively, and confidently guide leaders through decisions.
• Ideally CIPD Level 7 (or equivalent experience).
• A natural people person who builds trust, nurtures relationships and inspires confidence.
• Ability to connect with SME business owners, bringing both credibility and relatability.
• Autonomous, organised and tech‑savvy—you enjoy modern ways of working and embrace technology to deliver efficiently.
• Commercial to your core: a business leader who happens to do HR, always with an eye on the bigger picture.
• Pragmatic and sleeves‑rolled‑up—you operate strategically but aren’t afraid to get stuck in.
• An exceptional listener and incisive question‑asker; you start each day thinking, “How do I add value and elevate the impact for my clients today?”

What It’s Like to Work With Us

At People Puzzles, Team really means something. We attract People Directors who genuinely enjoy being part of a supportive, collaborative community—locally and nationally. When you join us, you’re never on your own.

Alison is one of our fractional People Directors, read her story here.

“I felt I was short-changing all aspects of my life and so my big driver for joining People Puzzles was to improve my work-life balance.”

A Powerful Network

You’ll be part of an inspiring community of experienced People Directors who actively support, challenge and uplift one another. Alongside this, we work with carefully selected national partners who enhance our offer and provide specialist support—creating genuine #winwin value for both you and your clients.

Continuous Learning & Development

We’re huge believers in growth. Our CPD programme keeps you energised, curious and continually upskilling. #StillLearning is more than a hashtag—it’s our mindset.

A Culture We’re Proud Of

Our culture is built on four core values that guide everything we do:

• Win/Win
• Always Passionate
• Still Learning
• Be Pragmatic

We look for People Directors who naturally live these values and thrive in a collaborative, commercial, and down‑to‑earth environment.

Marketing, Sales & Business Growth Support

Our creative marketing team works hard behind the scenes to raise brand awareness and create opportunities for you.

Meanwhile, our Regional Directors play a key role in helping you grow your portfolio, and, as with any fractional or portfolio career, the more you put in, the more you get out, and we’re with you every step of the way. #WinningTogether

Ways of Working

While some client work offer the flexibility to be executed remotely, most of the delivery will require your presence on-site. Therefore, being conveniently located near the specified areas for this role is essential.

What to Expect in the Process

If you’re shortlisted, you’ll complete a behavioural assessment as well as standard background and identity checks.