Head of People

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership
• Develop and implement a people strategy aligned to MCR's growth and investment objectives within Flow Student.
• Partner with senior leadership to influence organisational design, workforce planning, and business structure
• Drive performance-led initiatives that embed accountability and commercial focus across teams
• Lead and evolve recruitment strategy across construction, property, and corporate functions
• Develop succession planning and leadership capability across the organisation
• Implement robust performance management frameworks aligned to business outcomes
• Culture & Employee Engagement
• Shape and embed a high-performance, delivery-focused culture
• Drive initiatives to improve employee engagement, retention, and productivity
• Act as a trusted advisor on complex employee relations matters
• HR Operations & Compliance
• Mobilisation & TUPE Expertise - Lead all people-related mobilisation activity across new site acquisitions and operator transitions
• Oversee TUPE processes, consultation, and integration of transferring employees
• Ensure smooth cultural and operational integration into the Flow Student model
• Partner with Operations to deliver Day 1 readiness from a people and structure perspective
• Data, Systems & HR Tech
• Own and develop HR systems and data strategy (HRIS, reporting dashboards, integrations)
• Use data to drive decision-making across attrition, performance, recruitment, and cost
• Align HR systems with wider business platforms (e.g. operations, CRM, finance)
• Commercial & Cost Control Accountability
• Multi-Site / Operational Workforce Strategy
• Develop scalable workforce models across multi-site operations
• Standardise role structures, job descriptions, and operating models across the portfolio
• Support regional and site-level leadership with workforce planning and performance
• Risk, Governance & Audit Readiness
• Leadership Behaviour & Culture Definition
• Report of Success Measures
• Creating a reduction in staff turnover (target to be defined)
• Time-to-hire and quality-of-hire metrics
• Agency cost reduction
• % of roles filled internally (succession pipeline strength)
• Employee engagement scores (with year-on-year improvement)
• Successful mobilisation delivery (on-time, zero major ER issues)
• Payroll accuracy and HR compliance audit scores
• Employee Lifecycle Ownership
• Attraction Recruitment Onboarding Performance Development Retention Exit
• Ensure full compliance with UK employment legislation across a multi-site portfolio
• Oversee HR policies, procedures, and governance frameworks
• Optimise HR systems and processes to support operational efficiency
• Compensation & Benefits
• Design and implement competitive reward and benefits strategies
• Oversee payroll and benefits administration across the business
• Benchmark compensation structures in line with market and sector expectations
• Leadership & Team Development
• Lead, mentor, and develop the HR function
• Build a proactive, commercially aware HR team capable of supporting rapid growth
• Ensure HR is seen as a value-driving function, not just a support service
• Candidate Profile

Requirements

• 8-12+ years' progressive HR experience, with significant time spent in senior leadership roles
• Proven track record operating within fast-paced, growth-focused environments
• Experience within property, construction, real estate, or a related sector is highly advantageous
• Degree in HR, Business, or related discipline
• CIPD Level 7 (or equivalent) preferred but not mandatory.
• Core Competencies
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to align people strategy to business performance
• Confident operating at board level, with the ability to influence

Additional Information

?Head of Human Resources Location: Manchester Permanent About MCR Property Group MCR Property Group is a leading independent real estate investment and development company with a strong UK presence across London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow. With a multi-billion-pound portfolio spanning residential, commercial, industrial, and student accommodation assets, MCR is entering a significant phase of growth. The business is entrepreneurial, fast-paced, and performance-driven, with a clear focus on delivering value through acquisition, development, and active asset management. This is an opportunity to join a business where decisions are made quickly, standards are high, and individuals are empowered to make a tangible impact. Role Overview We are seeking a commercially astute Head of Human Resources to build and lead the people strategy during a critical phase of expansion of our Flow Student brand. This role will operate at senior leadership level, partnering directly with key stakeholders across the Flow Student business to ensure the organisational structure, talent capability, and culture are aligned to support continued growth. You will be responsible for shaping a scalable, high-performance HR function, capable of supporting a dynamic property business operating across multiple sectors and locations.

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