Head of DEI

Cundall’s HR team provides exceptional people support to our highly skilled engineering and support teams all around the world. Cundall are leading the way in the provision of creative, sustainable design solutions, and to keep up with the growing demands of the organisation, we are looking for a Head of DEI to support our goals of being the most inclusive consultancy in our industry and providing an employee experience which is second to none.

Cundall is a values-driven and people-focused organisation and our business strategy has a strong emphasis on our people and culture, so it is a great time to join Cundall in HR as we drive high performance culture through our Global People Strategy. This role can be based from our Head Office in Newcastle, or your nearest Cundall office if you are based elsewhere in the UK. We embrace an agile working approach, so you can expect to split your working hours between home and the office. There will be the need to travel for this role to ensure presence and connectivity with key stakeholders.

The Head of DEI provides both strategic leadership and practical delivery of DEI strategies as part of our Global People Strategy so that we continue to build our positive working environment where all our people can flourish.

This role is a key adviser to our senior leaders across our UKI, Europe, MENA and APAC regions and there is an excellent opportunity to shape the D+I, culture and social value impact of Cundall globally as well as locally.

• Responsible for developing and delivering Cundall’s DEI strategy as part of our Global People strategy, ensuring that regional contexts are reflected in regional plans and policies.
• Create a positive and supportive working environment for all our people, valuing everyone as an individual and giving them a voice on matters that affect them through employee engagement, wellbeing and listening strategies.
• Understand the drivers which impact Cundall’s culture and lead / participate in initiatives to preserve and enhance the employee experience.
• Work closely with HR colleagues to design policies, initiatives and people practices which produce positive DEI and cultural outcomes and are appropriate to the geographical location.
• Build strong relationships with leaders and managers to influence behaviours and decisions; driving greater diversity across the organisation.
• Work closely with employee networks (LGBTQ+, gender inclusion, ethnicity and culture, neurodiversity) and ensure constructive dialogue with leadership.
• Preparation of regular data and reporting to measure progress, including gender and ethnicity pay-gap reporting, composition, promotion, exit interviews etc.
• Provide specialist DEI advice on individual employee cases (e.g. accessibility)
• Participate in developing Cundall’s social value strategy, devising methods to align activity with our DEI and talent strategies.
• Provide DEI insights to inform leadership decision-making in new and existing territories.
• Increase understanding of DEI across Cundall through a range of activities e.g. mentoring, reverse-mentoring, communications, events and inclusive leadership programmes.
• Maintain our external reputation as industry leaders in DEI through representation at external events, external publications, bids and tenders.
• Provide thought leadership on current and emerging issues in DEI and culture and translate into practical actions.
• Maintain and develop partnerships with recognised external bodies to ensure adherence to best practice (e.g., AFBE, Inclusive Employers, Stonewall, WES, Equal Engineers, Disability Positive etc.)

This role will suit someone who has held a similar HR leadership role in D&I, ideally combined with broader HR experience. They will be a credible, effective communicator and problem solver, and will make a significant impact on organisation culture through positive actions and initiatives which fit our commercial context.

• Educated to degree level / hold a professional accreditation or certification (e.g. Chartership) or equivalent experience.
• Proven knowledge and application of relevant equality, diversity and human rights legislation in the UK and internationally
• Extensive expertise in DEI, with practical application through strategies, plans and policies
• Experience of working in a similar role within a complex international business, ideally within professional services