Regional Director of People & Culture - Global Education Organisation

We are recruiting on behalf of a fast-growing, global education organisation with campuses across Europe. This is a hands-on, people-first leadership role responsible for driving People & Culture strategy, compliance, and operations across France, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, and Sweden.

This is not a desk-based or purely strategic position. You will be on the ground, visiting campuses, building relationships, solving real challenges, and making a tangible difference to the lives of staff across the region. You will report to the Regional Managing Director.

The organisation is in an exciting phase of steady growth and aggressive modernisation, and this hire is critical to building a best-in-class P&C function across the EU region.

Key Responsibilities

People & Culture Operations

• Design and implement an EU-wide P&C strategy aligned to global priorities
• Act as the first point of escalation for complex people matters, handling them with discretion and empathy
• Oversee core P&C processes including recruitment, onboarding, payroll, performance management, and HR operations
• Drive engagement and wellbeing initiatives that create a positive, inclusive workplace culture
• Support leaders through organisational change and transitions

Change & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the implementation of Dayforce (HRIS)
• Build and develop the Regional P&C team from the ground up
• Review and refine local HR processes to ensure compliance, practicality, and scalability
• Maintain strong working knowledge of employment law across EU jurisdictions

Team & Stakeholder Leadership

• Build and lead the regional P&C team, providing coaching and clear direction
• Engage regularly across all campuses — in person and virtually — to understand local needs
• Partner closely with Regional Functional Directors, the Global P&C team, and school leadership

Requirements

Essential

• Minimum 3 years' experience in a similar generalist P&C or HR Director-level role
• Demonstrated track record of success and growth within the education sector
• Very high level of fluency in English (written and spoken)
• Willingness and ability to travel frequently across 7 EU countries
• Strong change leadership skills — comfortable driving transformation in a fast-paced environment
• High-level communicator, able to engage credibly at all levels of an organisation
• Hands-on, relationship-driven approach — not a purely strategic or policy-focused profile
• Comfortable working across diverse cultures, personalities, and time zones
• Strong emotional intelligence, empathy, and calm under pressure

Preferred

• Familiarity with Dayforce or similar HRIS platforms
• Experience in complex, multi-site or international organisations
• Other languages are beneficial

Benefits

• Base salary: €90,000 – €120,000 (depending on experience)
• Performance bonus
• Paid leave in line with country regulations
• Additional benefits package (negotiable)
• A values-led, multicultural organisation with a high-performance culture and leading-edge educational methodology

Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy – France / European Union

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in accordance with applicable French and European Union laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination based on origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, family status, pregnancy, genetic characteristics, political opinions, trade union activities, religious beliefs, disability, health condition, nationality, physical appearance, surname, place of residence, or any other status protected under applicable law.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion:
Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment where all individuals are treated with dignity and respect. We value diversity of background, experience, and perspective and believe it strengthens our organizations and the communities we serve.

Reasonable Accommodations:
Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and other protected needs in accordance with applicable laws. Where appropriate, we engage in an interactive process to identify suitable accommodations that enable individuals to participate fully in the recruitment and employment process.

Compensation Transparency:
Where required by applicable laws and regulations, compensation information may be provided in job postings or shared during the recruitment process. Actual compensation may vary depending on experience, qualifications, responsibilities of the role, internal equity considerations, and geographic location.

Compliance with Applicable Laws:
Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with all applicable French and European employment laws governing non-discrimination, equal opportunity, and fair employment practices. This commitment applies to all aspects of employment, including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, discipline, termination, and other terms and conditions of employment.

Prevention of Workplace Harassment:
Keller Executive Search and our clients maintain a zero-tolerance approach toward harassment, discrimination, or retaliation in the workplace. All individuals are expected to contribute to a respectful working environment free from harassment or inappropriate conduct.

Data Protection and Privacy (GDPR):
Personal information collected during the recruitment process will be processed in accordance with applicable data protection laws, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Candidate data will be used solely for recruitment and employment-related purposes and will be handled with appropriate confidentiality and security safeguards. Candidates may exercise their rights regarding access, rectification, restriction, or deletion of personal data in accordance with applicable law.

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Recruitment:
Keller Executive Search and our clients may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the recruitment and candidate evaluation process. These tools are used solely to assist human recruiters in reviewing candidate information and identifying relevant qualifications. AI systems are not used to make final hiring decisions or automatically reject candidates. All recruitment decisions are made by qualified human professionals, ensuring fairness, transparency, and compliance with applicable laws.

Note:
This job posting may relate to a position with Keller Executive Search or one of our clients. The identity of the employer will be confirmed during the recruitment process. Employment conditions and legal requirements may vary depending on the employing organization and the country where the role is located.