Head of HR / HR Director

Are you an experienced HR leader who can build structure, strengthen compliance, and create a people-first culture across multiple countries? Are you looking for a role where you can lead HR across a fast-growing, purpose-led international insurance business? If so please read on. 

Diaspora Insurance is looking for a hands-on, strategic HR leader to develop and lead a consistent, compliant, and commercially focused HR function across our growing international footprint.

This is a rare opportunity to shape HR at group level, working directly with the CEO and senior leadership team to support business growth, regulatory confidence, and a culture built on accountability, integrity, teamwork, and customer care.

About Diaspora Insurance

Diaspora Insurance provides specialist insurance solutions for transnational citizens, expatriates, and diasporan communities. The company offers products including funeral cash plans and group schemes, with a focus on giving families peace of mind, flexible protection, and support across borders. Diaspora Insurance states that it has served clients since 2012 and is authorised and regulated by the FCA under registration number 795897.

Today, Diaspora Insurance supports African diasporan communities across key markets including the UK, Europe, USA, and Australia, and continues to expand its reach and impact.

Why this role matters

As Head of HR / HR Director, you will lead the development of a scalable HR function that enables the business to stabilise, protect, and deliver.

You will set the framework, standards, and direction for HR across the group, while working closely with in-country teams to make sure policies, processes, and people practices are implemented effectively and in line with local employment law.

This is not an “HR from the sidelines” role. You will be close to the business, close to the leadership team, and close to the detail.

What you’ll be doing

Strategy and leadership

• You will develop and deliver a group HR strategy aligned with Diaspora Insurance’s business goals. Acting as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive team, you will guide decisions around organisational design, workforce planning, culture, and people risk.
• You will also standardise HR policies, processes, and systems across countries, balancing consistency with local legal and cultural requirements.

HR operations and compliance

• You will oversee payroll, benefits, contracts, employee lifecycle processes, and HR governance to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance.
• You will manage HR risk, employee relations, investigations, and regulatory requirements, including FCA SMCR obligations where applicable. Your role will be central to protecting both employees and the business.

Talent, culture, and performance

• You will lead recruitment, onboarding, retention, performance management, and learning and development initiatives that help Diaspora Insurance attract, develop, and retain high-performing people.
• You will play a key role in embedding the company’s values of customer centricity, teamwork, respect for time, and integrity across the organisation.

Data, systems, and reporting

• You will implement and improve HR systems and reporting processes, giving leadership clear visibility of workforce data.
• You will track key people metrics including headcount, turnover, absenteeism, time-to-hire, engagement, and workforce planning risks.

Stakeholder management

What we’re looking for

You will need:

• At least 8 years’ experience in HR leadership roles
• At least 3 years’ experience managing multi-country or multi-jurisdiction HR operations
• Experience in a regulated industry, ideally insurance, financial services, or fintech
• A strong track record of building or scaling HR functions during periods of growth
• Deep knowledge of UK, EU, and international employment law and HR best practice
• Understanding of FCA SMCR and governance standards, which would be highly advantageous
• Experience implementing HRIS platforms and using HR analytics
• Strong stakeholder management, negotiation, and influencing skills
• High cultural intelligence and the ability to work across diverse international teams

Qualifications

Ideally, you will have:

• CIPD Level 7, SHRM-SCP, or equivalent
• A degree in HR, Business, Law, or a related discipline
• The kind of person who will thrive here

You will be: 

• Accountable — you take ownership and expect the same from others.
• Practical — you understand how to balance compliance with commercial reality.
• People-first — you know HR exists to help people do their best work.
• Discreet and ethical — you handle sensitive matters with professionalism and integrity.
• Adaptable — you are comfortable working in a fast-moving, multi-country environment where priorities can change quickly.

What success looks like in your first 90 days

In your first three months, you will be expected to:

• Stabilise — audit current HR policies, contracts, processes, and compliance across all countries, identifying and closing key gaps.
• Protect — strengthen SMCR and local employment law compliance, ensuring HR risk is actively managed.
• Deliver — implement one standardised onboarding and performance process across the group.

Benefits

• Salary of £35,000 – £40,000 per annum, depending on experience
• Paid annual leave
• Funeral expenses policy
• Company pension scheme
• Opportunity to shape HR across a growing, purpose-led international business

Apply now

If you are ready to take ownership of HR across a growing international insurance business, we would love to hear from you.

Please attach your CV to the link provided and we will be in direct contact.