People Director – Southern Europe

Location: Southern Europe (Milan, Barcelona, Bochum, Madrid, or Lisbon)

Reports to: Managing Director Southern Europe & Group Chief People Officer

Direct Reports: SE Country People Business Partners & People Development Team

Job Purpose:

The People Director has responsibility for delivering a people strategy and plan for the territory that builds organizational performance, culture and leadership capability in line with the overall business strategy and enhances the commercial success of the business. They will work closely with the Group People team to ensure the development and delivery of best people practices. This role will be a key member of the territory leadership team and the Group People team.

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead the delivery of the People strategy within the territory business to support the development of a high-performance culture and drive the company’s vision.
• Develop and implement an annual people plan for the SE territory in line with the European People strategy and agreed budget.
• Provide insight on people metrics data and use it to inform the development of People strategy and direction of key People activities.
• Champion communication that supports and reinforces the company’s vision, culture and values to proactively build colleague engagement.
• Work closely with the Group People team across all territories to create and deliver the right products.
• Build close working relationships with leaders and key stakeholders across the wider European business.
• Contribute as a key leader and business partner within the territory senior management team to challenge thinking/ways of working and proactively engage them to drive the People agenda with their teams.
• Proactively equip leaders to take a structured approach to leadership development and succession planning.
• Plan, direct, and oversee all territory HR operational activities including performance and talent management, recruitment and selection, learning and development, reward and recognition, and employee relations.
• Ensure robust and efficient People processes and insightful business reporting is delivered across the business.
• Maximize People team and individual performance by leading through effective performance management.
• Build great People practices and capability in the People team and wider leadership group.
• Ensure culture and values alignment within all territories under their responsibility.

Required Qualifications:

• Proven experience as an HR Director or in a similar senior HR role, preferably in a multinational organization.
• In-depth knowledge of labour laws and HR best practices in the Southern European region.
• Strong leadership and people management skills with the ability to influence and drive change.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in HR software and MS Office applications.
• Fluent in one Southern European language (e.g Italian, Spanish and German) and English (our business language)

Desired Skills:

• Strategic thinker with the ability to align HR initiatives with business goals.
• Experience in managing diverse and remote teams.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• High level of cultural sensitivity and adaptability.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with integrity.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive Salary package.
• Make an Impact: Drive innovation and shape the future of our company.
• Lead Across Borders: Work in a collaborative, multi-country environment.
• Cinema Perks: Free movie tickets, exclusive previews, and discounts on F&B.
• Flexible Work: Hybrid model with a mix of office and remote work.

Company Values:

At ODEON Cinemas Group, everyone is welcome. We make movies better by bringing all our incredible differences and our different ways of thinking together with our passion for cinema, to deliver inspiring entertainment experiences for our guests. We are all individuals, and we recognize that everyone brings something special to our team.

Starting from the moment you apply, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is embedded into all parts of the colleague journey, and we welcome individuals from all backgrounds. We select colleagues based on merit and the passion they show for their role.