Skip to main content

Latest Opportunity

Head of People

  • Type: Permanent
  • Location: East Midlands , Hybrid Working with 3 /4 days a week on-site/travelling
  • Reference: HoP

There’s a special kind of energy that comes from leading people in a business that never stands still – one that blends deep-rooted values with innovation, ambition, and a genuine commitment to its people. Our client’s leading division, home to around 4,000 colleagues across multiple sites, is at the forefront of this momentum. As Head of People, this is your opportunity to shape how that energy is channelled – how leaders engage, inspire, and develop their teams in an environment defined by pace, transformation, and purpose.

This division sits at the heart of a respected and growing group, and the Head of People will play a central role on the Senior Leadership Team, working alongside an experienced Managing Director and a high-performing executive team. It’s a role that demands both strategic vision and hands-on leadership – someone who can bring clarity through complexity, guide others through change, and ensure that people remain at the centre of every decision. With ongoing commercial restructuring and transformation initiatives underway, the ability to align people strategy with evolving business priorities will be essential.

The business is proud of its culture – one that celebrates its people, champions internal progression, and nurtures talent at every level. Engagement scores continue to rise, reflecting a workplace where colleagues feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow. The incoming Head of People will build on this strong foundation, helping leaders unlock potential, strengthen capability, and create an environment where everyone can thrive – even as the business evolves and adapts to new commercial realities.

This is not a role for the passive or the cautious. It calls for a thought-leader – someone who thrives in a high-energy, fast-paced environment and who brings a proven track record of leading transformation, embedding change, and supporting commercial restructuring from a people perspective. Strong change management credentials are essential, as is the ability to help the organisation navigate complexity while maintaining engagement and momentum. Experience from the FMCG sector or similarly fast-paced, commercially driven environments would be highly valued, as would a background in unionised settings and the ability to balance strategic influence with operational credibility and commercial acumen.

For the right person, this is a rare opportunity to make a lasting impact – to shape the future of a business that’s moving forward with confidence, while staying true to the values that have made it so successful. If you’re motivated by the challenge of leading through change, energised by collaboration, and passionate about helping people succeed, our client would love to hear your story.

Apply Apply

VANA HR Resourcing

Date Posted: 09/02/2026

Closing date: 20/02/2026

Client testimonials
quote marks

After securing my own role through Vana and having an excellent candidate experience, I partnered with Debbie to hire a Global Talent Lead. Debbie at VANA had an excellent understanding of the organisational culture; my requirements and what we're looking for as a business. She has excellent judgement, challenges in all the right ways and genuinely works in partnership. I would immediately recommend Vana to any business leader looking to fill critical HR roles with exceptional individuals.

Guy Youll, CHRO