Head of People Operations

We are seeking a Head of People Operations for an organisation that is going through an exciting period of growth, change and transformation.

Client Details

Our customer is a commercially driven private sector business with a genuine passion for social mobility and making a real difference. They''re at an exciting point in their journey, with big plans for growth and change over the coming years.

This role is brand new and sits at the heart of their strategy for change. It''s a chance to get involved at both a strategic and operational level, building the People Operations function to support the organisation now and in the future.

Description

As Head of People Operations, you''ll lead the operational side of the People team - making sure that the fundamentals are delivered to a consistently high standard. This means overseeing everything from payroll to policies, employee relations to systems, and ensuring these are not just fit for today, but for the organisation they are becoming.

While you''ll be hands-on in the short term, there''s a clear long-term ambition for this role. You''ll play a big part in moving the function from a predominantly operational service to one that''s a true strategic partner to the business. That includes improving how data is used to inform decisions, embedding a more consistent performance culture, and helping to shape the organisation''s future workforce design.

Two immediate priorities will be:

• Leading the employee relations agenda, ensuring matters are handled fairly, consistently, and in line with employment law
• Overseeing and improving outsourced payroll services, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and value for money

Longer-term, you''ll be helping to build a high-performing, values-driven culture, creating the right structures for growth, and developing the leadership capability to support it.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and support the People Operations team, covering HR business partnering, recruitment, payroll, and administration - a small, yet high-performing team
• Oversee outsourced payroll provision, driving improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and service quality
• Develop and implement HR policies and processes that are inclusive, compliant, and support organisational growth
• Bring structure and governance to people practices, creating consistency across the organisation
• Use HR systems and data to track performance, spot trends, and inform strategic decision-making
• Partner with senior leaders to align people plans with business priorities
• Support cultural change programmes that balance performance with wellbeing
• Contribute to workforce planning and organisational design, ensuring the right skills and structures are in place for the future
• Develop and embed a performance culture that is values-driven and focused on long-term capability building

The People team need to be visible and engaged with stakeholders, so the business expects a hybrid working relationship with the office - 3 day on-site presence to make a real impact.

Profile

You''ll be someone who can work strategically but isn''t afraid to roll your sleeves up and get involved in the day-to-day. We''re looking for a mix of operational know-how and the ability to think ahead.

Essential experience:

• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and employee relations
• Experience managing third-party payroll providers
• Confident developing and embedding HR policies and processes
• Comfortable working with senior leadership teams and influencing decisions
• Collaborative, people-focused approach with a genuine interest in inclusion and culture

Job Offer

This role offers a salary of up to -65,000 per annum (dependent on experience), plus a performance related bonus, and a suite of benefits.