HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR - Mandatory Mandarin and English Speaking

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Robert Half is exclusively partnering with a leading organisation in the online marketplace space to recruit a high-calibre HR Director, fluent in both English and Mandarin, based in London.

HR Director – People & Culture | Fluency in Mandarin & English is essential

Location: London | Full-Time | Reports to: CEO

Shape the Future of a High-Growth, Global Organisation

Are you a visionary HR leader fluent in both Mandarin and English, passionate about scaling people, culture, and performance in an international business? We’re seeking an exceptional HR Director to join our client’s executive team and lead the people agenda during an exciting phase of growth and transformation.

As the HRD, you’ll drive strategic initiatives across talent, culture, transformation, and compliance, while acting as a key business partner to the CEO and executive leadership team. You’ll champion a modern, inclusive, high-performing workplace across the UK and China, ensuring our people and organisational strategies are not just aligned—but future-proofed.

Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership & Business Partnership

• Act as a core member of the executive team, advising the CEO, Chair, and investors on people strategy, workforce insights and organisational health.
• Design and deliver a 3–5 year People Strategy aligned with business growth, scalability and global expansion.
• Lead transformational change programmes, workforce and succession planning, organisational design, and post-M&A integration.

Talent Acquisition, Development & Employer Brand

• Oversee high-impact recruitment and retention strategies to attract top talent across global markets.
• Champion our employer brand to remain competitive and compelling in both UK and Chinese markets.
• Drive a comprehensive learning and development strategy that supports high performance and talent growth throughout the employee lifecycle.

Culture, Engagement & Global Collaboration

• Lead company culture initiatives, embedding values that drive belonging, innovation and collaboration.
• Conduct engagement surveys and action plans that elevate employee experience and cross-functional effectiveness.
• Foster strong UK-China team collaboration, leveraging cultural intelligence and inclusion.

Compensation, Benefits & Total Rewards

• Develop equitable, competitive compensation strategies that align with market benchmarks and internal fairness.
• Oversee bonus, incentive, and benefits programs, ensuring transparency, inclusivity and financial sustainability.
• Lead wellbeing, flexible working and pension initiatives to support a thriving workforce.

Compliance, ER & Risk Management

• Ensure all HR practices are fully compliant with UK employment law, GDPR, and company policies.
• Handle complex ER issues, escalated investigations, and high-stakes disciplinary processes with integrity.
• Act as a key risk guardian, protecting the business from legal, reputational and financial consequences.

Coaching, Leadership Development & Stakeholder Engagement

• Partner closely with senior leaders and managers to build leadership capability and organisational resilience.
• Provide coaching, conflict resolution and change support to empower effective decision-making.
• Support succession planning and career pathways to fuel long-term growth and development.

HR Tech, Analytics & Budget Oversight

• Lead the evolution of HR systems and processes, including HRIS, automation and AI integration.
• Use people analytics to shape data-driven strategies and continuously improve HR impact.
• Own the HR budget, ensuring efficient, compliant, and impactful people operations.

Experienced required:

• Proven experience as an HR Director or similar senior HR leadership role in a fast-paced, multi-national environment.
• Fluent in Mandarin and English (spoken and written) – essential for cross-border collaboration.
• Deep expertise in strategic HR leadership, talent management, culture building, compliance, and change management.
• Experience working closely with CEOs and Boards, including investor-facing HR reporting and strategic planning.
• A strong understanding of both UK employment law and international HR best practices.
• A track record of leading HR transformation and digital innovation (HRIS/AI/Automation).
• Commercially savvy, emotionally intelligent, and culturally aware.

Why Join the team?

My client is not just building a company - we’re building a culture where people thrive. You’ll have the opportunity to make a real impact at executive level, working with visionary leaders and international teams. We offer autonomy, influence, and the chance to shape the future of work in a high-growth, purpose-led organisation.