Head of People Maternity Cover

Head of People Maternity Cover

Full-Time 48000 - 72000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and shape the People strategy for our global teams while supporting senior leaders.
  • Company: Join Butternut Box, a B Corp committed to sustainability and a great workplace culture.
  • Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, personal development budget, and enhanced parental leave.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on people and culture in a fast-paced, innovative environment.
  • Qualifications: Extensive HR leadership experience and strong communication skills required.
  • Other info: Collaborative culture with office dogs and flexible working options.

The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 £ per year.

Overview

Join to apply for the People Director role at Butternut Box | B Corp.

A bit about the role.

As a People Director you will be the key People partner for our global foundational teams (Finance, Tech, Customer Love, Brand & Creative), as well as partner our UK Commercial Directors. You will deeply understand the ambitions, challenges and growth plans of your stakeholders, translating these into People needs and shaping the People Plan. You will contract with Centres of Excellence (CoEs) to align delivery against business priorities, while taking full accountability for the successful execution of the People Plan in your areas.

You will act as a critical friend to senior leaders; supporting and constructively challenging their thinking to help them define role success, build high-performing teams and set ambitious goals. You will also lead and develop your local People team (People Leads, Payroll, and People Experience) to ensure the delivery of excellent People fundamentals and a consistently great People experience. The People Director is part of the People Leadership Team, reporting directly to the CPO.

  • Business Partner with Global Functional Leads and UK Commercial Directors; building trusted peer relationships to enable high performance across their teams.
  • Translate business ambitions into actionable People Plans, ensuring these feed into CoE priorities and are delivered effectively.
  • Partner with CoEs as a peer: shaping strategy, agreeing delivery priorities and contracting expectations with business stakeholders.
  • Lead, coach and develop your direct reports, ensuring they are empowered, supported and growing their skill set.
  • Ensure the consistent delivery of brilliant basics including employment relations, payroll, compliance, performance processes and employee experience.
  • Influence senior leaders with data and insight: build, interpret, and present key People metrics to shape decisions and measure impact.
  • Champion DEI, wellbeing, and engagement initiatives as a cultural carrier, embedding our values and ways of working into every aspect of the People lifecycle.
  • Contribute to the wider strategic evolution of the People Team, supporting the design of scalable, innovative processes that serve all markets.

A bit about you.

  • Extensive experience in senior HR/People leadership roles, ideally in a fast-paced, international environment.
  • Proven track record as a senior business partner with the confidence to challenge, influence, and shape decisions at exec level.
  • Strong leadership capability with experience developing and enabling People managers and teams.
  • Excellent communicator with an ability to simplify complexity, build trust quickly and influence.
  • Data-driven mindset, able to translate metrics and insights into action.
  • Deep knowledge of UK employment law and strong commercial awareness.
  • Comfortable balancing strategic influence with operational delivery, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.
  • Inclusive, values-led leadership style with a genuine passion for people and culture.

Process and interviews

  • Initial call (45 minutes): Introductory chat with our Talent Partner
  • Technical interview (60 minutes): Remote interview with scenario and competency questions
  • Chief People Officer interview (45 minutes): In-person in White City to discuss commercial knowledge and values alignment
  • Final interviews (60 minutes): In-person with our Co-Founder for competency and values questions

Work location and visa

  • This team works 3 days per week from our West London office (Mon, Wed, Thu) and 2 days from home. This is non-negotiable; please only apply if you’re within a reasonable commute of London.
  • We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
  • We are not looking for recruitment agency support for this role.

A bit about us.

At Butternut, we put the food back into dog food. We believe dogs deserve to eat the healthiest, most natural and tastiest food with none of the nasties. That’s why we make freshly prepared dog food, cooked like you would at home and delivered in perfect portions. As a B-Corp certified company, you can be sure you are joining a sustainable company that cares about our people, product and impact on the environment. Our goal is to help dogs live healthier, happier and longer lives while leaving humans smiling after every interaction.

A bit about what we offer.

  • 25 days holiday (plus 8 bank holidays) and an additional day for every year of service
  • 5 paid \’paws\’ days per year for learning and/or wellbeing
  • £500 personal learning & development budget
  • Butternut Box employee discount
  • Enhanced parental leave (52 weeks’ maternity leave incl. 26 weeks paid and 6 weeks paternity/secondary leave)
  • Co-working office space
  • Flexible working hours and work-from-home options
  • Cycle to work scheme
  • Pension with NEST
  • Private Medical Insurance with Vitality
  • Private Dental Insurance with Bupa
  • Time off for fertility treatments and pregnancy loss
  • Paid sabbaticals for squad members with 5+ years at Butternut
  • Discounted gym access
  • Office dogs and a friendly, collaborative culture

A few things to note:

  • Butternut Box is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity and inclusion.
  • We are committed to social and environmental performance and continual improvement.
  • We are actively seeking diverse candidates and strive to build an inclusive workplace.

Seniority level

  • Director

Employment type

  • Contract

Job function

  • Human Resources
  • Manufacturing

#J-18808-Ljbffr

Head of People Maternity Cover employer: Butternut Box | B Corp

Butternut Box is an exceptional employer that prioritises the well-being and development of its employees, offering a collaborative work culture in West London. With generous benefits such as 25 days of holiday, enhanced parental leave, and a personal learning budget, employees are empowered to grow both personally and professionally. As a B-Corp certified company, Butternut Box not only focuses on delivering high-quality dog food but also fosters a sustainable and inclusive environment where every team member can thrive.
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Contact Detail:

Butternut Box | B Corp Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of People Maternity Cover

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who might know someone at Butternut Box. A friendly chat can open doors that applications alone can't.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for those interviews! Research Butternut Box's values and culture, and think about how your experience aligns with their mission. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've tackled challenges in previous roles.

✨Tip Number 3

Show your passion for people! During interviews, highlight your commitment to DEI and employee wellbeing. Share initiatives you've led or been part of that made a real difference in workplace culture.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up! After your interviews, send a quick thank you note to express your appreciation for the opportunity. It’s a simple way to keep yourself top of mind and show your enthusiasm for the role.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of People Maternity Cover

Senior HR Leadership
Business Partnering
People Management
Communication Skills
Data Analysis
UK Employment Law Knowledge
Strategic Thinking
Operational Delivery
Coaching and Development
Influencing Skills
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Cultural Awareness
Performance Management
Stakeholder Engagement

Some tips for your application 🫡

Know the Role Inside Out: Before you start writing, make sure you really understand what the People Director role entails. Dive into the job description and highlight key responsibilities and skills. This will help you tailor your application to show how you fit the bill.

Showcase Your Experience: When detailing your experience, focus on specific examples that demonstrate your leadership capabilities and strategic influence. Use metrics and outcomes to back up your claims – we love data-driven insights!

Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We’re looking for someone who aligns with our values and culture, so don’t be afraid to share your passion for people and how you’ve championed DEI initiatives in the past.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows us you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Butternut Box!

How to prepare for a job interview at Butternut Box | B Corp

✨Know Your Stakeholders

Before the interview, take some time to research Butternut Box and its key stakeholders. Understand their ambitions and challenges, especially in the areas of Finance, Tech, and Customer Love. This will help you demonstrate how you can translate their needs into actionable People Plans.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Style

Be prepared to discuss your leadership approach and how you've developed People managers and teams in the past. Use specific examples to illustrate your inclusive, values-led style and how it aligns with Butternut's culture. This will show that you're not just a fit for the role, but also for the company.

✨Data-Driven Insights

Since the role requires a data-driven mindset, come equipped with examples of how you've used metrics to influence decisions in previous roles. Be ready to discuss how you interpret data and present insights to senior leaders, as this will be crucial in shaping the People strategy at Butternut.

✨Emphasise DEI and Wellbeing Initiatives

Butternut values diversity, equity, and inclusion, so be sure to highlight any initiatives you've championed in these areas. Discuss how you've embedded these values into the People lifecycle and how you plan to continue doing so. This will resonate well with their commitment to creating an inclusive workplace.

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