Group Talent & Culture Executive

Red Ember Recruitment is seeking to appoint an experienced and visionary Talent & Culture Executive based in the Somerset West area. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the organisation’s people strategy across a high-volume, multi-market restaurant environment. This role will drive workforce transformation, organisational culture, leadership capability, employee engagement, and HR digitisation aligned to business growth and operational excellence Talent Strategy & Workforce Transformation Build a multi-year people and talent strategy aligned to business growth and digital transformation goals. Lead workforce planning for a high-volume, multi-market restaurant ecosystem driven by automation, data, and AI. Develop future-fit leadership pipelines and succession planning with emphasis on operational excellence and digital fluency. Re imagine talent acquisition for scale by leveraging employer branding, social platforms, workforce analytics, and digitised recruitment. Culture, Purpose & Organisational Health Shape and embed a culture that embraces innovation, diversity, operational discipline, and customer obsession. Strengthen organisational values and behavioural standards to build pride and belonging across thousands of employees. Lead transformation initiatives that strengthen inclusivity, equity, and career mobility, particularly within restaurant operations. Learning, Capability & Digital Upskilling Build a modern learning ecosystem that blends digital learning, AI-driven skills pathways, and hands-on operational training. Develop capability frameworks for restaurant and leadership roles aligned with future operational models. Oversee the design of academies, certification pathways, and continuous development programmes at scale. Employee Experience & Engagement Design an end-to-end employee experience that boosts retention, performance, and engagement. Oversee compensation, benefits, wellness, and recognition programmes that drive motivation and operational excellence. Build real-time employee listening and analytics capabilities to inform decision-making. HR Technology, Data & Operational Excellence Drive the digitisation of all HR systems, including HRIS, workforce management, recruitment, and learning and development platforms. Implement people analytics to optimise workforce deployment, retention, performance, and growth. Ensure streamlined, compliant, and scalable HR operations that enable leaders and frontline employees. Strategic Leadership & Change Management Advise Exco on organisational design, transformation, and leadership strategies. Lead major change initiatives across the group with clear communication, adoption plans, and cultural alignment. Serve as a culture champion through visible, authentic, and empathetic leadership. Requirements Qualifications & Experience 10+ years of senior HR leadership experience, with multi-site restaurant, Quick Service Restaurant (QSR), or hospitality experience preferred. Master’s degree (MBA or HR-related qualification) combined with SABPP registration at CHRP or MHRP level. Proven track record of leading large-scale people transformation initiatives. Extensive experience in digital HR technologies, workforce analytics, and modern talent systems. Strong grounding in leadership development, cultural transformation, and operational workforce management. Demonstrated success navigating large, complex, and diverse organisations.