Universal Television Entertainment is responsible for world-class television entertainment. The division programs and markets content across leading entertainment brands Bravo, NBC and Peacock, and produces over 3,000 hours of television annually through Universal Studio Group, the studio business comprised of Universal Television, UCP, Universal International Studios and Universal Television Alternative Studio. Together, these teams align NBCUniversal’s content and production expertise to inspire global audiences with television that entertains and shapes culture.
We are looking for an experienced HR Director to serve as the HR leader for the Universal International Studios team based in London, with additional responsibility supporting our portfolio of international production companies.
Reporting to the VP, Human Resources (Los Angeles), this position is high-impact and high-visibilty. You will operate as the HR leader on the ground in London — trusted to act with significant autonomy while remaining closely connected to and aligned with the broader global HR organisation. You will sit at the heart of a dynamic, production-led business, partnering daily with Studio and Production leadership teams to influence decisions that shape our business.
You will be a strategic advisor, thought partner, and coach to senior leaders — guiding them through moments of growth, change, and complexity, and ensuring the people strategy enables both creative ambition and commercial success.
Success in this position requires confidence navigating ambiguity, comfort operating in grey areas, and the judgment to balance local business realities with global frameworks. Highly collaborative by nature, you will lead a team of HR professionals, foster strong cross‑functional partnerships, and play an active role in the global HR leadership community. Above all, you will help build environments where creativity thrives, leaders perform at their best, and people feel connected, supported, and inspired to do their best work.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic HR & Planning
- Act as the HR leader for Universal International Studios in London, providing strategic HR leadership and independent decision-making while collaborating closely with the VP of HR in Los Angeles.
- Develop and deliver people strategies that support Studio and Production business priorities across international markets, ensuring alignment with broader global HR principles.
- Partner closely with executive and senior leaders to shape culture, enable high performance, and drive organisational effectiveness in a creative, production-led environment.
- Operate effectively in complex and evolving business contexts, using sound judgment to navigate grey areas and competing priorities.
Leadership & Culture
- Partner with leaders to design and implement organisational structures that support growth, creative excellence, and operational effectiveness across Studios and Production entities.
- Lead cultural and engagement initiatives that reflect both the creative nature of the business and Universal’s values, adapting approaches to local and regional contexts.
- Leverage employee data, feedback, and insights to inform decision-making and continuously improve the employee experience.
- Collaborate with cross-functional partners to ensure belonging is embedded in ways of working and leadership expectations.
- Lead a team of HR employees to execute across business plans while supporting individual growth and development.
- · Be a valued and active partner to the EVP Studio, forming a part of the UIS SLT and leading by example across the International teams.
Talent Management & Recruitment
- Own workforce planning, talent identification, and succession planning for the International Studio team and supported production companies.
- Partner with Talent Development and Learning teams to create meaningful development pathways for creative, production, and corporate talent.
- Coach and advise leaders and employees at all levels, providing thoughtful, pragmatic guidance that balances empathy with business needs.
- Support hiring initiatives in partnership with Talent Acquisition, ensuring strong selection, onboarding, and integration practices globally.
Employee Relations
- Lead complex and high-risk employee relations matters, applying strong employment law knowledge and sound judgment to deliver fair, timely, and appropriate outcomes.
- Serve as a trusted advisor to leaders on sensitive people issues, conflict resolution, performance management, and change management.
- Identify themes and trends across employee relations matters and proactively address root causes through leader capability building and process improvement.
- Partner closely with Employment Legal, global HR colleagues, and external advisors as needed.
Collaboration & Global Connectivity
- Work closely with global HR partners to ensure consistency, collaboration, and best practice sharing.
- Be an active member of the local NBCU UK HR community, sharing information and contributing to joined team initiatives.
- Balance global consistency with local nuance, ensuring solutions are practical, relevant, and culturally informed.