Director of People and Culture

Job Description ARC's purpose is to expedite access to precision medicine clinical trials for patients globally. We fulfil our purpose through our dedicated team of experts with unparalleled domain knowledge, and the important relationships we have developed with our global clients.We are a Belfast-based Clinical Research Organisation that specialises in delivering compliance excellence for companies in the precision medicine sector. We support many of the world's leading pharmaceutical R&D companies in implementing unapproved diagnostics in their clinical development programmes for patient selection or stratification, working as a strategic and integrated expert partner, taking full sponsor ownership of the IVD study being conducted in parallel with our clients' IND/IMP trial.ARC's team of experts cover IVD regulatory compliance, study design and approvals, quality assurance including vendor due diligence and management along with a team of clinical research experts who manage the IVD study, ensuring it is conducted in compliance with local and global GCP, and that the biomarker data is robust and reliable.To further support our growing client base and to expedite patient access to life-saving experimental medicines, ARC has developed and launched our SaaS platform, ARC360. ARC360 is transforming how organisations access regulatory intelligence and tailor study-specific information for using in vitro diagnostics to select and manage patients in IND trials. Powered by cutting-edge technologies and supported by a team of regulatory, quality, and clinical operations experts, ARC360 is designed to accelerate the initiation of complex clinical trials.Job PurposeThe Director of People & Culture will be a trusted strategic partner to the C-Suite and senior leadership team, playing a pivotal role in shaping the organisations people agenda, in line with its commercial objectives and growth ambitions.This is a senior, influential role for an experienced People and Culture leader who combines strong commercial acumen with a practical, delivery-focused approach. You will operate as both a strategic advisor and a hands-on change leader, translating business priorities into people solutions that drive performance, engagement, and long-term sustainability.Working closely with Heads of Department and the HR team, you will embed a high-performance culture, strengthen leadership capability, and ensure the organisation is equipped with the talent, structure, and ways of working required to succeed in a fast-moving environment.Key ResponsibilitiesDrive and support change and transformation initiatives, working closely with senior leaders to plan and deliver effective changeAct as a strategic advisor and coach to the executive team, providing pragmatic, commercially grounded HR and Cultural insights that support sound decision-making.Design and deliver people strategies that are clearly aligned to business goals, enabling growth, innovation, and operational effectiveness.Lead and embed a high-performance, inclusive culture, ensuring leaders are equipped to engage, motivate, and develop their teams.Take ownership of organisation design, workforce planning, and talent strategies, ensuring the right structures and capabilities are in place for both current and future needs, and implement change effectively.Provide hands-on leadership across core HR disciplines, including performance management, succession planning, leadership development, and employee relations.Use data, insight, and external perspective to inform decisions, challenge assumptions, and continuously improve people practices.Build credibility through strong business acumen, influencing at senior level with confidence, clarity, and integrity.You will bring fresh thinking, challenge the status quo where appropriate, and have the confidence to work independently while building strong, trusted relationships across the business. Essential Criteria & QualificationsUndergraduate degreeCIPD Certification15 years plus postgraduate experience in a HR role, with 5 years plus progressive experience in a senior or equivalent strategic People and Culture role, with depth across talent management, organisational development, performance management, and succession planning.A proven track record in HR Business Partnering, including resolving complex people issues and influencing senior stakeholders to improve organisational performance.Demonstrable experience leading and enabling organisational change and transformation, with a practical understanding of change methodologies.Strong understanding of leadership frameworks, executive coaching approaches, and team effectiveness.Desirable Criteria & QualificationsHold a higher-level qualification in business or related subjectCIPD Level 7 CertificationProven track-record in developing Company culture and scaling headcount in a high-growth environmentExperience in developing and implementing employee performance management and development frameworksExperience in a HR/People and Culture leadership role within a Life Sciences or Pharma focused organizationTrack record in designing a consistent, human-centred employee experienceNB: This role is based full time in our Belfast office.We are an equal opportunity employer; applications are welcome from all and appointment will be made on the basis of merit.

Created: 2026-02-06