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)

Client Details

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.

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.

Profile

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.

Job 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