Fractional People Director

Build a portfolio career. Transform businesses. Join an award-winning community.

Are you an experienced HR Director, People Director, CPO, CHRO or Senior HR Consultant looking for greater flexibility, autonomy and impact?

People Puzzles is looking for an exceptional People Director to join our established West Midlands team, supporting ambitious business leaders across Birmingham, Coventry, Wolverhampton and the surrounding areas.

This is an opportunity to step away from the constraints of corporate life and build a rewarding portfolio career, helping business owners solve their most important people and organisational challenges while enjoying the support of an established national brand and a collaborative network of trusted experts.

Our clients range from growing mid-sized businesses to larger, established organisations seeking experienced People leadership to support growth, transformation and organisational performance.

Whether you're already operating as a consultant, exploring a portfolio career, or ready to take the next step away from corporate life, we would love to hear from you.

Why Join People Puzzles?

Build a Successful Portfolio Career With the Support of an Established Network

Many experienced HR leaders are drawn to consulting and fractional working but are unsure about making the move from corporate life.

At People Puzzles, you'll enjoy the flexibility and variety of a portfolio career while benefiting from the support, opportunities and collaboration that come from being part of an award-winning team.

Requirements

This Could Be Right For You If...

You are:

✅ An experienced HR Director, People Director, CHRO, CPO or Senior HR Consultant

✅ Commercially minded and confident operating at Board level

✅ Passionate about helping business leaders unlock business performance through their people

✅ Looking for more flexibility, autonomy and control over your working life

✅ Curious, pragmatic and action-oriented

✅ Comfortable building trusted client relationships and influencing senior stakeholders

✅ Excited by the opportunity to develop your own portfolio while being part of a supportive community

✅ Someone who enjoys collaborating with like-minded professionals and sharing ideas, challenges and successes

✅ Comfortable using technology and AI to improve business performance, people outcomes and decision-making

What You'll Be Doing and the Experience You'll Bring

As a trusted advisor to senior leaders, you'll help organisations navigate growth, transformation and complex people challenges. You'll bring a proven track record of delivering similar outcomes and be comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels.

You'll have experience of:

• Developing and executing people strategies that support business growth and organisational performance
• Partnering with Boards, Executive Teams and senior stakeholders to shape business direction
• Leading organisational change, transformation and culture initiatives
• Improving leadership capability and building high-performing teams
• Designing effective organisational structures and operating models
• Developing talent, succession and workforce plans
• Enhancing employee engagement, wellbeing and performance
• Building trusted relationships and influencing stakeholders at all levels
• Using commercial insight and people data to support business decision-making
• Balancing strategic thinking with hands-on delivery to achieve measurable outcomes

You'll be naturally curious, commercially minded and comfortable challenging thinking to help leaders make better decisions.

AI and Technology

Technology is rapidly reshaping the world of work, and our clients increasingly look to us for guidance.

You'll be confident embracing technology and AI, with the ability to:

• Use AI and digital tools to enhance productivity, insight and decision-making
• Leverage people data and analytics to inform workforce and organisational decisions
• Support leaders in understanding the opportunities and implications of AI in the workplace
• Stay informed about emerging trends and help clients apply technology in practical, commercially valuable ways

Most importantly, you'll understand that great People leadership combines commercial acumen, human insight and the intelligent use of technology to drive business success.

Better people. Better business. Better life.™

Benefits

• Earnings potential of £60,000 to £135,000+, with the flexibility to shape your own working week and client portfolio

• An established and trusted brand, chosen by over 1,000 ambitious business leaders across the UK
• A collaborative community of 80+ experienced People Directors, sharing expertise, ideas and support
• Marketing and lead generation support from a dedicated team focused on building awareness and creating opportunities
• Business development support to help you grow your portfolio and maximise your success
• Referral opportunities through the wider People Puzzles network
• Ongoing CPD and professional development, including access to carefully selected strategic partners
• Proven tools, methodologies and resources that help deliver exceptional client outcomes
• Independence without isolation, giving you the autonomy of self-employment whilst remaining part of a supportive, high-performing team

People Puzzles provides the infrastructure, support and community to help you build a rewarding and sustainable portfolio career while focusing on what you do best: helping organisations thrive through their people.

To learn more about working with People Puzzles and our recruitment process, we invite you watch our Talent Team's short FAQs videos.