Head of People Operations - Global in London

Technology is our how. And people are our why. For over two decades, we have been harnessing technology to drive meaningful change. By combining world-class engineering, industry expertise and a people‑centric mindset, we consult and partner with leading brands from various industries to create dynamic platforms and intelligent digital experiences that drive innovation and transform businesses. From prototype to real‑world impact – be part of a global shift by doing work that matters.

The Head of People Operations is a critical leadership role responsible for transforming Endava’s global people operations into a scalable, efficient, and high‑performing function. This role exists to address increasing complexity across regions, inconsistent processes, and the need to modernise HR service delivery through shared services, automation, and digital enablement. You will lead the design and execution of a global operating model that reduces cost to serve while significantly improving employee experience, data quality, and service reliability. This is a transformation‑focused role requiring both strategic thinking and hands‑on execution to simplify complexity, standardise processes, and deliver measurable improvements at scale.

What you’ll be accountable for

• Global Operations Leadership
  • Own end‑to‑end HR operations globally, including onboarding, lifecycle changes, employee data, and documentation
  • Lead regional teams across Americas, EMEA, and APAC, driving consistency, performance, and accountability
  • Ensure a high‑quality, reliable employee experience across all markets
• Shared Services Transformation
  • Design and implement a global Shared Services model, consolidating fragmented activities into a standardised and scalable structure
  • Define and embed clear SLAs, KPIs, and governance frameworks
  • Partner with HR, Payroll, IT, and Talent teams to ensure seamless, efficient processes end‑to‑end
• Process, Automation & AI Enablement
  • Simplify and standardise processes across the employee lifecycle
  • Identify and deploy automation and AI‑driven solutions (e.g. workflow automation, case management optimisation, document processing, chatbots, knowledge assistants) to reduce manual effort and improve service delivery
  • Leverage data and analytics to identify inefficiencies, predict demand, and improve operational decision‑making
  • Partner with IT and Digital teams to integrate AI and automation into core HR platforms (e.g. Oracle HCM and related tools)
  • Drive adoption of self‑service and digital solutions to enhance employee and manager experience
• Operational Excellence
  • Introduce disciplined process management (e.g. Lean, Six Sigma or similar)
  • Build a culture of continuous improvement, data integrity, and service excellence
  • Ensure new locations and acquisitions are integrated with consistency and rigour
• People, Change & Capability Building
  • Build and lead a high‑performing global team with a strong service mindset
  • Lead teams through significant transformation, embedding new ways of working and accountability
  • Develop AI and digital capability within the HR Operations team, ensuring teams can effectively use automation tools, data, and emerging technologies in day‑to‑day work
  • Champion a culture of experimentation, continuous learning, and improvement
• Performance & Insights
  • Define and track KPIs across service delivery, efficiency, and customer satisfaction
  • Provide clear, data‑driven insights to HR and business leadership
  • Use data to drive continuous improvement and operational decision‑making
  • Ensure global compliance with labour laws, GDPR, and internal audit requirements
  • Implement and maintain robust controls, including SOX‑aligned processes
  • Proactively identify and mitigate operational risks

What success looks like

• A global Shared Services model successfully implemented and adopted
• Measurable reduction in cost to serve through automation and consolidation
• Significant improvement in service delivery (speed, accuracy, employee satisfaction)
• Increased automation of core HR processes, reducing manual intervention and cycle times
• High adoption of digital HR tools and self‑service capabilities
• HR Operations teams actively using AI tools and data insights to improve performance and decision‑making
• Consistent, scalable, and compliant processes across all regions
• Continuous improvement of Oracle HCM and related platforms to enhance user experience

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive HR Operations leadership, including global scope
• Proven track record delivering HR transformation and Shared Services / GBS models
• Experience leading automation, digital transformation, and process improvement at scale
• Strong experience with HRIS platforms (e.g. Oracle, Workday, SAP SuccessFactors) and workflow/case management tools

Capabilities

• Strong operator with the ability to move from strategy to execution
• Practical experience applying AI and automation to improve HR operations (e.g. workflows, chatbots, document processing, analytics)
• Experience embedding digital and AI capability within operational teams, not just implementing tools centrally
• Data‑driven, with a focus on measurable outcomes and service improvement
• Commercial mindset, balancing efficiency, cost, and employee experience
• Strong stakeholder and change leadership across complex, global organisations

This role is suited to a leader who has built and transformed operations in complex environments, and who can combine strategic thinking with hands‑on delivery to create a modern, efficient, and digitally enabled people operations function.

Additional Information

Discover some of the global benefits that empower our people to become the best version of themselves:

• Finance: Competitive salary package, share plan, company performance bonuses, value‑based recognition awards, referral bonus;
• Career Development: Career coaching, global career opportunities, non‑linear career paths, internal development programmes for management and technical leadership;
• Learning Opportunities: Complex projects, rotations, internal tech communities, training, certifications, coaching, online learning platforms subscriptions, pass‑it‑on sessions, workshops, conferences;
• Work‑Life Balance: Hybrid work and flexible working hours, employee assistance programme;
• Health: Global internal wellbeing programme, access to wellbeing apps;
• Community: Global internal tech communities, hobby clubs and interest groups, inclusion and diversity programmes, events and celebrations.

At Endava, we’re committed to creating an open, inclusive, and respectful environment where everyone feels safe, valued, and empowered to be their best. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives—because we know that inclusive teams help us deliver smarter, more innovative solutions for our customers. Hiring decisions are based on merit, skills, qualifications, and potential. If you need adjustments or support during the recruitment process, please let us know.