Interim Head of People

Salford Temporary View Job Description
Interim Head of People (Day Rate / FTC Equivalent)Location: Manchester (MediaCity) Contract: Interim - 4-5 months Rate: Equivalent to £100,000 salary (day rate dependent on experience) Start: ASAP / Short notice preferred Working model: On-site / hybrid (as required)
  • Interim Day Rate Opportunity - £££
  • Located in Salford's MediaCity

About Our Client



We are recruiting an Interim Head of People to support one of the UK's most dynamic and fast‑paced creative and media-led environments, based at MediaCity in Manchester.

This role sits at the heart of a nationally significant creative hub and operates at the intersection of a high‑growth media ecosystem and a well‑established, FTSE‑listed parent organisation. The interim will play a critical role during a period of transition and momentum, working closely with senior leadership to ensure stability, progression and cultural alignment.

Reporting jointly to the site CEO and a Group People Director, this is a visible, influential assignment requiring a confident, commercially minded senior People leader who can operate at pace and add immediate value.

Job Description

  • Lead the People agenda for a complex, creative business environment, enabling growth and organisational capability.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leadership team.
  • Build and sustain a collaborative, inclusive and high‑performance culture aligned with creative and media-sector expectations.
  • Operate with a group-wide perspective, aligning local people practices with established governance, policies and standards.
  • Lead on employee relations, managing complex and sensitive ER matters with confidence and pragmatism.
  • Support broader group activity as required, including acquisitions, TUPE and change programmes.
  • Partner closely with senior People leadership on governance, reward, workforce planning and people analytics.
  • Ensure people policies remain compliant and fit for purpose in line with current and evolving employment legislation.
  • Champion modern, data-led and innovative people practices appropriate to a fast-evolving creative and media landscape.
  • Provide leadership and direction to the local People team, ensuring continuity and engagement during the interim period.



The Successful Applicant



This role will suit an experienced interim Head of People / People leader who is comfortable working in visible, ambiguous and fast‑moving environments.

Essential experience includes:

  • Proven experience operating at Head of People / HR Director level in a complex organisation.
  • Strong grounding in UK employment law, ER, governance and policy development.
  • Experience leading and developing high-performing People teams.
  • Track record of supporting organisational change, transition or transformation.
  • Strong commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, with evidence of embedding inclusive practices.
  • Confident working with people data, analytics and HR systems (e.g. Workday or similar).
  • High levels of integrity, judgement and discretion.
  • Ability to balance commercial pragmatism with cultural sensitivity in creative or fast-paced sectors.



Backgrounds in media, creative industries, real estate and property, leisure, or similarly matrixed organisations would be advantageous, though not essential.

What's on Offer



Why This Assignment?

  • A high-profile interim leadership role in one of the UK's most recognisable creative destinations.
  • Exposure to senior stakeholders at local and group level.
  • Opportunity to make a tangible impact over a defined 4-5 month period.
  • Backed by the scale, stability and governance of a major UK corporate owner, while operating in an agile, creative setting.
  • Fantastic location - role is located in the heart of Salford in Media City.
Contact
Donna Bannon
Quote job ref
JN-042026-6992790
Phone number
+44 161 829 0463

Job summary

Job function
Human Resources
Subsector
Head of HR
Sector
Media & Agency
Location
Salford
Contract type
Temporary
Consultant name
Donna Bannon
Consultant phone
+44 161 829 0463
Job reference
JN-042026-6992790