At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the People function, shaping hiring and performance culture at Apron.
- Company: Join a fast-growing fintech startup revolutionising payments for small businesses.
- Benefits: Enjoy stock options, private health insurance, flexible hours, and 29 days holiday.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team with international reach and excellent career opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-performance environment with ambitious growth plans.
- Qualifications: Experience in scaling VC-backed companies and coaching senior leaders.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 100000 € per year.
About Apron
Founded in 2021, Apron is set out to help SMBs win. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, yet the systems they rely on - especially payments - are slow, manual and not built for them. Cash flow remains their biggest challenge, driven by the gap between the demands of managing payments and the tools available to do it well. We are closing the gap by digitising and simplifying the payments process: capturing invoices, issuing expense cards, paying and getting paid, all in one place. We have grown fast over the past few years, expanding our team to 100 individuals across the UK, Germany, Spain and more. We are backed by Index Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Zinal Grow and Tony Fadell and we’ve raised $50m. The ambition now is clear: build a category-defining, global fintech business. The next phase requires not just great product and ambition, but a world-class operating engine — and a People function that can scale performance without lowering the bar.
The Role
Reporting to the COO and working closely with the CEO and founder, you will own and evolve the People function end-to-end—shaping how Apron hires, operates and scales. Your mandate: build an environment where exceptional people can do the best work of their careers, at pace. This is a hands-on role requiring sharp judgement and strong execution.
What You’ll Do
- Build a High-Performance Culture
- Define a clear, founder-aligned people philosophy
- Set and maintain a high-performance bar across the business
- Ensure expectations are explicit and performance is measurable
- Strengthen a highly collaborative, in-person operating model
- Maintain consistency as the company scales internationally
- Enable Performance & Leadership
- Design and embed pragmatic performance frameworks
- Equip leaders to run high-quality performance and feedback conversations
- Coach senior leaders on team effectiveness, decision-making and conflict
- Identify and resolve organisational friction early
- Ensure scale enhances, not dilutes, performance
- Own Hiring & Talent Quality
- Define and uphold a rigorous hiring bar
- Improve role design, scorecards and structured interview processes
- Introduce robust, case-based assessments
- Embed clear 30-60-90 success measures
- Partner on workforce planning and prioritisation
- Build Scalable People Operations
- Own the full employee lifecycle
- Ensure compliance across geographies
- Build simple, scalable systems—avoiding unnecessary process
- Leverage AI and tooling to drive efficiency
- Oversee compensation and equity frameworks
- Shape Organisational Design
- Partner with leadership on org design and structure
- Translate strategy into effective teams and capabilities
- Support headcount planning and scaling decisions
- Contribute to long-term operating and location strategy
Who You Are
A commercial, founder-aligned People leader with experience scaling high-growth, VC-backed companies.
You Likely Bring
- Experience scaling a VC-backed tech business through rapid growth
- Close partnership with founders or C-level leadership
- A strong track record coaching senior leaders
- Deep expertise in organisational design and performance management
- A high-bar, structured approach to hiring
- Operational strength—turning strategy into simple, repeatable systems
- Sound judgement in complex or sensitive situations
- Experience across international teams
- Comfort in fast-paced, high-expectation environments
Compensation & Benefits
- Meaningful stock options
- Pension plan
- Private health insurance with AXA (including optical and dental)
- Life assurance with MetLife
- Enhanced parental leave
- Weekly Deliveroo allowance
- 29 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
- Flexible working hours
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Electric vehicle scheme
This role is being managed on behalf of Apron by Hawkwood Partners (recruiting agency). Your application will be processed by both Apron and Hawkwood.
People Lead employer: Apron
At Apron, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions the growth and success of our team members. Our vibrant work culture fosters collaboration and innovation, while our commitment to employee development ensures that you can thrive in your career. With competitive benefits, including meaningful stock options and flexible working hours, we empower our people to excel in a fast-paced fintech environment, making a real impact on small businesses across Europe.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land People Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work at companies you admire. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings and even referrals.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. At Apron, they’re all about building a high-performance culture, so be ready to discuss how you can contribute to that environment.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills through real-life examples. When discussing your experience, focus on how you've tackled challenges and driven results, especially in fast-paced environments like fintech.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Apron team.
We think you need these skills to ace People Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic:When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to see the real you, so don’t be afraid to share your unique experiences and perspectives that align with our mission at Apron.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application for the People Lead role. Highlight your relevant experience in scaling high-growth companies and how you can contribute to building a high-performance culture at Apron.
Showcase Your Achievements:Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've successfully coached leaders or improved hiring processes in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures it gets into the right hands quickly. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Apron
✨Understand the Company Culture
Before your interview, dive deep into Apron's mission and values. Familiarise yourself with their approach to helping SMBs and how they aim to build a high-performance culture. This will help you align your answers with their expectations and demonstrate that you're a great fit.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Given the role's focus on performance management and organisational design, be ready to discuss specific scenarios from your past experiences. Think about challenges you've faced in scaling teams or improving performance frameworks, and how you tackled them. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Showcase Your Coaching Skills
As a People Lead, you'll need to coach senior leaders effectively. Prepare examples of how you've successfully guided leaders in the past, particularly in high-pressure situations. Highlight your ability to foster collaboration and resolve conflicts, as these are key aspects of the role.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, have a few thoughtful questions ready. Inquire about Apron's future plans for scaling and how they envision the People function evolving. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if the company aligns with your career goals.
