Stepping up to the HR Director position

Skills

Article

For those who are ready to take the next step to HR Director level in the UK, this shift will place a greater need for agile thinking, strategy, guidance and performance. And a big dose of leadership in times of change.

Our experts shine a light on the current role of HR Director, the challenges they face, and those trends that will influence the way this role will adapt in the future.

They also explore key duties and responsibilities of tomorrow’s HR Director and highlight the vital skills needed to help you step up.

Today’s HR Director

Harnessing the collective power of people delivers competitive advantage. But that is a complex challenge in a complex world. Today’s HR Director is a strategic partner to hiring managers and the Board, a culture and engagement expert, and a compliance pro all rolled into one. They balance the emotional intelligence for people leadership with data-driven insight and action.

AI is accelerating and supporting business thinking and process. Equally, we know it will have an enormous impact on the workforce of tomorrow. HR Directors need to be aware of, and prepared for, this revolution in workforce planning to stay ahead.

Trends that are shaping the HR Director role

AI and Automation in the workplace means that HR Directors need to be tech translators and people advocates. And with Generative AI and upskilling needs, they now have to be a Chief Learning Strategist too. With data comes privacy and HR leaders must speak legal and compliance fluently.

Remote and hybrid workforce planning has introduced a permanent structural shift which impacts many aspects of the HR role. Not least employee experience. ‘One size fits all’ HR is yesterday. Customisation is the future. HR Directors know the importance of culture. It’s no longer a ‘soft’ concern - it’s a recruiting and retention lever.

And HR Directors are positive drivers of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging (DEIB) agenda and Mental Health and Wellbeing programmes.

The increase in leadership and value that HR Directors deliver to business performance has also seen a change in remuneration. The Robert Half 2025 Salary Guide is a great barometer of salary trends for HR Directors.

The skills needed for tomorrow’s HR Director

The HR Director of tomorrow will need a powerful blend of human, strategic, digital, and analytical skills - because the role is becoming more interdisciplinary than ever. And they will need these essential skills to thrive and lead:

Business Acumen

Digital Fluency

People Advocacy

Strategic Vision

Change Leadership

The HR Director of tomorrow will blend these with those all-important soft skills that combine insight with empathy. Have a look at ‘The UK’s most in-demand soft skills for 2025 according to recruiters’ to discover the Robert Half view on this subject.

HR Director job description

HR Directors lead strategic HR planning across regions or functions. They advise senior leadership and/or report to the CEO. They ensure compliance with UK employment law, and possibly international labour laws (if overseeing global teams). And they represent HR in the Executive Committee or Board.

To take the next step to HR Director, you’ll need to:

Broaden your business acumen Understand full business P&L, not just HR metrics.

Lead cross-functional initiatives Show your capability to drive change at scale.

Build a leadership narrative Articulate how HR drives performance.

Mentor others Grow your leadership pipeline.

Get sponsorship From executive leaders who see your readiness.

Stepping up to HR Director is an exciting time in your HR career and our human resources experts are here to help. You can browse open HR Director roles now or upload your CV to be matched with opportunities that could develop your career.

Alternatively, If you are looking to hire an HR Director, get in touch with us today.

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