People & Culture Director

With a close-knit team of around 250 colleagues, including 26 Partners across offices in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and London, Turcan Connell provides outstanding advice to private clients, business owners and charitable organisations. The firm offers a comprehensive service that covers everything required for efficient tax, estate, and succession planning. We advise on all aspects of land and property management and transactions, handle the complexities of divorce and family law, employment law, and dispute resolution, and provide a range of business law services to our clients. 

While Turcan Connell has built its reputation on exceptional legal and tax planning expertise, the real secret of the firm’s success is personal. We recognise that our relationships with colleagues are just as important as those with our clients.  

Enabling the successful growth and wellbeing of our people is central to our business strategy. We appreciate that personal and professional development is highly valued by our colleagues, and we are committed to fostering an environment where they can thrive. We take great pride in the loyalty our colleagues show us, reflecting our dedication to creating a supportive and rewarding workplace. Through living our firm’s values, we make you feel looked after. 

As the Director of People and Culture, reporting directly to the Chief Finance and Operating Officer (CFOO) and as a member of the senior leadership team, this role will be pivotal in shaping and implementing the firm’s people strategy. The primary focus will be to ensure that this strategy aligns seamlessly with the firm’s overarching vision, values, and business objectives, is progressive and long term in its outlook and ensures Turcan Connell is recognised for excellence in this area. 

This role also has strategic oversight of the business administration services function, ensuring the smooth and effective delivery of administrative support across the firm.  

People and Culture  

• Strategic Leadership: Create, implement and foster engagement for a bespoke, innovative people strategy that is aligned with the firm’s vision, values, and goals.  

• Talent Management: Oversee the entire colleague lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, career development, and succession planning.  

• Learning and Development: Develop a compelling career management approach, mapping opportunities within the organisation, ensuring transparency, and providing robust development pathways. 

• Colleague Engagement: Cultivate a positive workplace culture that values diversity, inclusion, and colleague well-being, while implementing initiatives to improve engagement and retention.  

• Performance Management: Create performance frameworks that drive accountability, consistency, and professional growth.  

• Policy and Compliance: Ensure all HR policies and practices fully comply with Scottish employment law, maintaining up-to-date knowledge of legal requirements and ensuring best in class practices.  

Business Administration Services 

• Operational Oversight: Lead the business administration services function, ensuring the effective delivery of administrative and facilities management support. 

• Supplier Management: Oversee relationships with administration services and facilities providers, ensuring contracts meet agreed service levels and deliver value for money. 

The successful candidate will be strategic and forward-thinking, emotionally intelligent and empathetic. Influential, inclusive, commercially astute, and adaptable. A trusted and ethical leader who fosters collaboration and drives positive change. 

Key experience and attributes required: 

• HR Leadership: Proven experience in a senior HR or people-focused role. 

• Strategic Vision: Ability to develop and implement strategies that align with business objectives. 

• Cultural Stewardship: Experience leading cultural transformation and fostering an inclusive, engaging working environment. 

• Exceptional Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels. 

• Operational Acumen: Understanding of business administration operations and their integration with overall firm objectives. 

• Change Management: Demonstrated success in leading change within complex organisations. 

This is unique opportunity for an experienced and forward-thinking individual to make a significant impact on the firm’s people strategy and operational excellence. If you are passionate about empowering teams, driving cultural transformation, and supporting organisational growth, we look forward to hearing from you.