People Director

People DirectorHands-On | Scale-Up Operator | Hiring, Organisation & PerformanceCompany OverviewWe are a growing data technology business in the Customer Data Platform (CDP),analytics & data activation space. We have 55+ staff and partner with leading UK andinternational brands to transform how they understand and monetise their data.Our proprietary CDP platform, Horizon, enables clients to gain deep customer insightand activate data to drive measurable commercial outcomes. XCM delivers a full solutionacross data, technology, people and partnership, offering a high-touch, “white glove”service that differentiates us in the market.Following recent investment, we are entering a critical phase of growth and scaling thebusiness significantly across product, platform, delivery and commercial functions.Our growth is guided by three strategic pillars: World-Class Technology, DeepExpertise, and Exceptional Relationships.Reporting to: CEOWorks closely with: CTO, Leadership Team and Talent ManagerLocation: North of England (preferred), with regular travel required. Role will require attending meetings in Leeds.Role PurposeThis is a critical leadership hire for XCM and will play a central role in determining howsuccessfully we scale.The primary purpose of this role is to build and manage the organisation required tosupport XCM’s next phase of growth - ensuring we attract, hire, develop and retain high qualitytalent, whilst building a high-performance, accountable and well-managedculture.This role balances both talent acquisition alongside the current Talent Manager andbroader people leadership, ensuring the business scales effectively without losingperformance, structure or culture.Core FocusDeliver a high-quality hiring engine across all functions alongside the talentmanagerTranslate growth plans into a clear, prioritised and realistic hiring roadmapBuild a well-structured, well-managed organisation where people perform,develop and stayDefine and enforce a high talent bar aligned to XCM’s strategic pillarsSupport leadership in designing a scalable organisational structureEstablish clear performance expectations and accountabilityKey ResponsibilitiesHiring & TalentExecute the hiring plan across product, platform, sales and delivery alongsideexisting talent managerTake ownership of hiring outcomes (speed, quality and consistency)Ensure high-quality hiring decisions through clear evaluation frameworksChallenge hiring decisions where standards are not metOrganisation Design & Leadership SupportPartner with CEO on team structure and role definitionsEnsure organisation design supports delivery against the strategic pillarsIdentify gaps, overlaps and inefficiencies and drive improvementsPerformance, Retention & People Management (Primary Focus)Build and implement effective performance management processes whererequiredSupport managers in managing, developing and retaining their teamsEnsure underperformance is addressed clearly and effectivelyIdentify, develop and retain high-performing individualsBuild a culture of accountability, feedback and continuous improvementEmployee Experience & CultureEnsure the organisation scales without losing clarity, engagement or cultureBuild clear communication, feedback and engagement mechanismsSupport leadership in maintaining a consistent, high-performance cultureIdentify retention risks and proactively address themEnsure employees understand expectations, progression and developmentopportunitiesEssential ExperienceExperience scaling a business (circa 50 → 100+ employees)Experience in hiring across engineering, commercial and delivery functionsStrong generalist HR background & experience with recognised qualifications(e.g. CIPD Level 7 or equivalent)Experience in a client-facing, supplier-led technology or services businessExposure to ARR-based business models with multiple clientsExperience working closely with founders and senior leadershipStrong hands-on involvement in both hiring and people managementExperience supporting multi-location or distributed teamsStrongly DesiredExperience in CDP, data, martech or SaaS environmentsExperience working in businesses delivering a blend of technology and servicesExperience operating in client delivery environmentWhat Success Looks Like (First 6–18 Months)XCM scales from circa 60 to 85+ employees with consistently high-quality hiresHiring is structured, efficient and predictableNew hires ramp quickly and contribute effectivelyClear organisation structure supports growth and decision-makingLeadership team strengthened with high-calibre hiresHigh levels of employee engagement, performance and retentionA more structured organizational model is achieved that is ready for scale andgrowthWhy This Role Matters at XCMXCM is entering a critical scaling phase following investmentThe quality of hiring and people management will directly determine successXCM operates a solution-led, client-facing model, where team quality impactsrevenue and deliveryScaling without structure risks performance, delivery and cultureThis role is central to building a high-performing, scalable organisationClosing StatementThis is an opportunity to take real ownership and build a high-performing organisation ina scaling, investor-backed technology business, working directly with the CEO andleadership team.