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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to deliver impactful people services across all departments.
- Company: Join Chelsea FC and be part of a winning culture in sports.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a vibrant work environment.
- Why this job: Shape the future of people strategy in a fast-paced, performance-driven setting.
- Qualifications: Proven HR leadership experience and strong analytical skills required.
- Other info: Opportunity to influence change and drive engagement across a prestigious club.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
As the Head of People Partnering, you will be at the heart of the Training Ground’s People function - leading the people partnering team to deliver a top-tier strategic and operational people service across all departments. You will act as a senior advisor and trusted partner to executive and departmental leadership, ensuring people solutions are aligned to business performance, talent needs, and the club’s strategic goals. You will blend data analytics, employee experience, operational effectiveness, and leadership development to deliver impact and shape the future of our people agenda. This is a highly visible, influential role, designed for a proactive, client-focused leader who thrives on partnering with diverse teams in a fast-paced, performance and winning environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership & Business Partnering
- Lead the People Partnering team to deliver proactive and high-impact people services across the Men’s and Women’s first teams and Academies.
- Embed a culture of strategic people business partnering, ensuring all people plans are aligned with business priorities and performance targets.
- Act as the key conduit between the People function and department leads, driving engagement and influencing leadership thinking on workforce planning, performance, and talent strategies.
- Partner with senior leadership and the Finance team to oversee people budgets, workforce planning, and organisational design needs.
- Client Focus & Relationship Management
- Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with sporting department heads and senior stakeholders, providing expert guidance on all people-related activities, challenges, and opportunities.
- Actively engage with business units to understand their operational needs, acting as a thought partner in the design and implementation of people solutions.
- Translate business insights into people initiatives and ensure seamless execution and follow-through.
- Organisational Design & Change Leadership
- Lead the design of structures aligned to business strategy and future needs.
- Partner with senior leaders on restructures and transformation initiatives.
- Own end-to-end change delivery with a focus on communication, engagement, and risk.
- Embed a people-first approach while driving performance outcomes.
- Support leaders through change, capability shifts, and cultural alignment.
- Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing People Partner and future direct reports.
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement, service excellence, and accountability within the partnering team.
- Champion inclusion, leadership capability, and learning across the people team and broader business.
- Data Analytics & Strategic Workforce Insights
- Use people data and insights to identify trends, risks, and opportunities across departments.
- Develop and implement data-driven objectives that support business and people performance outcomes.
- Translate workforce analytics into strategic actions that drive engagement, performance, and retention.
- Talent Development & Organisational Effectiveness
- Collaborate with the Talent & Development team to design and implement leadership and development programmes that strengthen capability and succession.
- Support performance management and talent calibration processes to ensure high performance and future readiness across teams.
- Contribute to employee engagement initiatives and culture-building activities across the Club.
- HR Operations & Policy Implementation
- Work closely with People Operations to support the roll-out of policy updates, process changes, and compliance requirements.
- Provide operational oversight and ensure excellence in delivery across all people processes and employee life-cycle events.
- Support resolution of complex employee relations matters with a strategic and compliant approach.
- Talent Acquisition Partnership
- Collaborate with the Talent Acquisition team to understand workforce needs, shaping recruitment strategies and ensuring alignment with longer-term talent pipelines.
- Support proactive succession planning and internal mobility strategies to build capability club wide.
Key Measures of Success
- Alignment of people strategies with business priorities and operational needs.
- Quality and consistency of people service delivery across departments.
- Impactful people insights and data-led interventions.
- Strength of stakeholder relationships and feedback from business leaders.
- Team engagement and development within the People Partnering function.
- Effective delivery of people programmes in partnership with Talent, L&D, and People Ops.
Skills, Experience & Knowledge
- Essential:
- Proven experience in a senior HR Business Partner or Head of People Partnering role.
- Demonstrated leadership of an HR partnering team in a complex, multi-functional environment.
- Strategic thinker with a deep understanding of organisational dynamics, performance management, and workforce planning.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret people data into strategic insights.
- Excellent interpersonal and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
- Experience working across the full HR lifecycle and in close collaboration with L&D, Talent, and HR Operations.
- Desirable:
- Experience in a sporting environment, entertainment or performance-focused industry.
- CIPD Level 7 or equivalent qualification.
- Experience working with HR systems, analytics tools, and workforce planning models.
Core Competencies
- Strategic Mindset / Data-Literate and Insight-Driven / Discreet with High Integrity
- Collaborative Leadership / Client-Focused / Trusted Advisor & Influencer / Low Ego
- Inclusive & Engaging Communicator / Change Champion / Outcome-Oriented
Head of People Partnering in Cobham employer: Chelsea Football Club
Contact Detail:
Chelsea Football Club Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of People Partnering in Cobham
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy to reach out on LinkedIn. The more connections you make, the better your chances of landing that dream role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their culture, values, and recent news. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or family. This will help you get comfortable with common questions and refine your answers. Plus, it’s a great way to receive constructive feedback.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you. Make sure your application stands out by showcasing your unique skills and experiences that align with the role.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of People Partnering in Cobham
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of People Partnering role. Highlight your experience in strategic leadership and people partnering, and don’t forget to sprinkle in some examples of how you've driven engagement and influenced leadership thinking.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for people management and how your skills align with our goals at Chelsea FC.
Showcase Your Data Skills: Since data analytics is key in this role, make sure to showcase your analytical skills. Provide examples of how you've used data to drive people initiatives and improve performance in previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chelsea Football Club
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into the club's values, recent achievements, and challenges. Understanding Chelsea FC's culture and strategic goals will help you align your experience with their needs, showing that you're not just a candidate but a potential partner in their journey.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Head of People Partnering, your leadership approach is crucial. Be ready to discuss your past experiences leading teams, driving change, and fostering a people-first culture. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've influenced stakeholders and delivered impactful people solutions.
✨Data-Driven Insights Matter
Prepare to talk about how you've used data analytics in previous roles to inform people strategies. Bring examples of how you've translated workforce insights into actionable plans that improved engagement and performance. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and strategic mindset.
✨Build Rapport with Stakeholders
During the interview, focus on your ability to build trust-based relationships. Share stories that highlight your client-focused approach and how you've successfully partnered with senior leaders to address their operational needs. This will show that you can be an effective advisor and influencer within the organisation.
