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- Tasks: Design and lead a comprehensive people strategy for a rapidly growing SME.
- Company: Join a dynamic SME with ambitious growth plans and a strong leadership team.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, opportunity to shape culture, and career development.
- Why this job: Be a key player in building an exceptional workplace and high-performance culture.
- Qualifications: Proven HR leader with experience in scaling SMEs and strategic people management.
- Other info: Exciting chance to influence the future of the organisation and its people.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 140000 £ per year.
Salary: £100,000 - £140,000
Location: Hertfordshire
Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract
Our client is a rapidly scaling SME with ambitious growth plans and a strong leadership team committed to building a truly exceptional workplace. As the business continues its expansion, there is a need for an experienced people leader who can design, implement, and embed a comprehensive people strategy that will underpin sustainable growth, capability development, and a high-performing culture.
This is a newly created executive role, offering the rare chance to shape the entire People & Culture function from the ground up. Reporting directly to the CEO, the Chief People & Culture Officer will act as a strategic partner to the senior leadership team, ensuring the organisation is equipped with the talent, structures, and culture required for its next stage of evolution.
You will play a pivotal role in professionalising the HR function, rolling out a people roadmap for the next 18-24 months, and building a culture that supports innovation, accountability, and long‑term success.
Responsibilities
- People Strategy & Organisational Design
- Develop and execute a holistic people strategy aligned with the company’s scale-up objectives.
- Lead organisational design work, ensuring the right structures, capabilities, and leadership frameworks are in place.
- Build and embed a high-performance culture rooted in shared values, trust, and accountability.
- Talent Acquisition, Development & Retention
- Design and implement a modern talent attraction strategy to support rapid growth.
- Introduce robust learning and development programmes, leadership training, and succession planning.
- Create clear career pathways, performance frameworks, and capability development tools.
- Employee Experience & Culture
- Lead initiatives to elevate employee engagement, wellbeing, and internal communication.
- Foster a diverse, inclusive, and values‑driven culture across the organisation.
- Introduce scalable people processes, technology, and policies that strengthen the employee lifecycle.
- HR Infrastructure & Compliance
- Build the HR function, implementing best‑in‑class processes, systems, and governance.
- Ensure compliance with UK employment law and evolving people‑related regulations.
- Support the CEO and leadership team with workforce planning, reward strategy, and organisational risk.
- Leadership & Stakeholder Partnership
- Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board on all people matters.
- Coach senior leaders, enhancing their people management capability.
- Partner with operational teams to ensure people strategy directly supports business performance.
Candidate Profile
- Proven senior HR leader (CPO, People Director, Head of People) with experience in a scaling SME or fast‑paced growth environment.
- Strong background in building or transforming a People & Culture function.
- Commercially minded, strategic, and able to balance long‑term planning with hands‑on delivery.
- Demonstrated success in designing and implementing people strategies over 12-36 month horizons.
- Excellent communication, influence, and stakeholder management skills.
- Passionate about creating great places to work and developing high‑performing teams.
Chief People & Culture Officer – High Growth in England employer: Absolute Recruit
Contact Detail:
Absolute Recruit Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Chief People & Culture Officer – High Growth in England
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in your industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. Since this role is all about shaping the workplace, show that you understand their mission and how you can contribute to it. Tailor your responses to highlight your experience in building high-performance cultures.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You’ll want to clearly articulate your vision for the People & Culture function. Think about how you can align your strategies with their ambitious growth plans and be ready to discuss specific examples from your past experiences.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals who want to make a difference in the workplace. Let’s get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Chief People & Culture Officer – High Growth in England
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Chief People & Culture Officer role. Highlight your experience in scaling SMEs and how you've successfully implemented people strategies in the past. We want to see how you can bring your unique flair to our ambitious growth plans!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: This role is all about leadership, so don’t hold back! Share examples of how you've coached senior leaders or transformed a People & Culture function. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and drive change, so let that shine through in your application.
Be Authentic: We value authenticity, so be yourself in your application. Share your passion for creating exceptional workplaces and how you’ve fostered a high-performance culture in previous roles. We want to know what makes you tick and how you align with our values!
Apply Through Our Website: To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Absolute Recruit
✨Know the Company Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into the company's mission, values, and recent achievements. Understanding their growth plans and culture will help you tailor your responses and show that you're genuinely interested in shaping their People & Culture function.
✨Prepare Your People Strategy
Think about how you would design a people strategy for a high-growth SME. Be ready to discuss specific initiatives you would implement, such as talent acquisition strategies or employee engagement programmes, and how they align with the company's goals.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Chief People & Culture Officer, your leadership style is crucial. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams, coached senior leaders, and fostered a high-performance culture in previous roles. This will demonstrate your capability to act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, ask questions that reflect your understanding of the role and the company’s challenges. Inquire about their current people processes, how they measure employee engagement, or what success looks like for the new CPO in the first 12 months. This shows your strategic thinking and genuine interest.
