At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the transformation of our people function and build a globally connected team.
- Company: Join Fleek, a fast-growing startup revolutionising the secondhand fashion supply chain.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible work environment, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Other info: Dynamic, collaborative culture with a focus on creativity and disruption.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a mission-driven company focused on sustainability and innovation.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in operations or strategy, with a passion for people leadership.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 120000 £ per year.
Can you help us fix the world's most broken supply chain? The fashion industry produces over 100 billion garments a year. 60% end up in landfill, not because people don't want these clothes, but because the supply chain for getting secondhand fashion from donation to resale is completely offline, manual, and broken. Fleek is fixing this. Our mission is to make secondhand the first choice. We're building the infrastructure powering the global secondhand clothing trade, through a B2B marketplace and the AI systems digitising the supply chain behind it.
Through Fleek, vintage stores, online resellers, and retail buyers source graded secondhand inventory directly from wholesalers and rag houses across multiple countries. Our key enabler is FleekSort, an AI model fine-tuned on secondhand fashion, that can grade, price, and categorise items with just a photo, turning what has historically been an opaque and manual trade into a structured, searchable, and tradable global inventory layer. Since 2022, we've saved 9 million items from landfill and tripled in size year on year. We've raised $50M from a16z, Y Combinator, Burda Principal Investments, HV Capital, and others, and have recently closed our Series B. Our advisors and private investors include operators behind Depop, Shopify, and Postmates. Today, we serve thousands of resellers and retailers across the UK, Europe, and the US. With the secondhand fashion market projected to reach $350B by 2027, Fleek is building the AI native operational and financial backbone for secondhand commerce globally.
We're looking for people who want to build something that matters, and move fast doing it. Sound good? Keep reading.
About the Role
At Fleek, People is a growth function. The companies that win over the next decade will be the ones that figure out what it means to build, develop, and retain exceptional teams in an era where every employee is AI enabled, where a single person can do what used to take five, and where the relationship between a company and its people is being fundamentally rewritten. We don't think the old playbooks apply. Compensation, performance management, ways of working, career development, org design: versions of all of these exist, but they were built for a different era. At Fleek, they need to be reconceptualised from scratch for an AI native company operating across three countries at speed.
You'll be building a globally connected People function from a standing start: the operating system that connects London, Karachi, and Bangalore, the frameworks that make every person at Fleek the best version of themselves, and the thinking that defines what a people function even looks like when AI changes everything about how we work. This role reports directly to Abhi Arora, Co Founder and CEO, and sits on the senior leadership team.
What You'll Own
- Design and implement Fleek's operating system: ways of working, communication architecture, and decision making frameworks across London, Karachi, Bangalore and beyond.
- Build the people function: org design, levelling, compensation philosophy, performance management, and the full employee lifecycle.
- Own talent density: set the hiring bar, invest in development, and build performance standards that make every person at Fleek a 10x version of themselves.
- Drive cultural coherence across three geographies with different working norms, expectations, and communication styles.
- Coach the founding team on people decisions, organisational design, and leadership development.
- Build an AI native people function: use AI to create leverage across every people process rather than scaling headcount.
- Close compliance and risk gaps across multiple jurisdictions that currently create founder exposure (supported by HR specialists in region).
- Set the company's operating cadence: the rituals, rhythms, and communication patterns that keep a fast moving distributed team aligned.
Who We're Looking For
- 7+ years of operating experience (Ops, Commercial, Product, Strategy etc) with a minimum of 2-3 years in a people function.
- Non-traditional people background: strategy, operations, consulting, or general management with a deliberate pivot into people leadership.
- Has built something from genuine zero, not improved an inherited function or optimised an existing team.
- Experience operating across multiple geographies and cultures.
- Has stayed at companies long enough to see the consequences of their people decisions.
- Can hold their own with founders: a coach and thought partner, not a service provider.
- Deeply analytical: data driven decision making is second nature.
- Insatiably curious: you're constantly learning about new tools, approaches, and ways of building organisations.
- Hungry and ambitious: you're driven to build something exceptional, not maintain something adequate.
- Change agent: you've driven transformation in previous organisations.
- Hands on and scrappy: you're not afraid to roll up your sleeves and build it yourself.
How We Work
Fleek is an in-office company. We believe the best work happens when people are together, the quick decisions, the cross-functional energy, the ability to solve problems in real time. Most of the team works from our London HQ 3-4 days a week. We're not prescriptive about it. Performance and trust matter more than attendance. We hire adults and treat them accordingly.
The Practicalities
- Location: London HQ, Shoreditch.
- Work model: In Person, with trust-based flexibility.
- Stage: Post Series B, hyper growth.
- Team: 100+ across London, India, and Pakistan (20 in London office).
Our Values
- Dream Big and Disrupt Yourself: Push the most ambitious version of what you're building. Step out of your comfort zone. Nothing is out of reach.
- Absolute Ownership: The buck stops with you. Drive initiatives to completion. Experiment, learn, persevere. The job isn't done until the job is done.
- Curiosity Leads the Way: Don't accept anything at face value. Ask questions you don't know the answer to. That's how you innovate.
- Talk to the Customer: Deeply understand their challenges, motivations, and ambitions. Every decision starts with the customer at the centre.
- Embrace Diversity: A global team building for a global supply chain. Bring your authentic self and embrace the diversity of everyone you encounter.
VP People employer: Joinfleek
Fleek is an exceptional employer that champions innovation and growth in the fast-paced world of secondhand fashion. With a vibrant work culture based in Shoreditch, London, employees benefit from a collaborative environment that values performance and trust over mere attendance, alongside opportunities for personal and professional development. As part of a rapidly expanding team, you'll play a pivotal role in reshaping the future of the fashion supply chain while being supported by a diverse and ambitious group of individuals who are passionate about making a meaningful impact.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land VP People
✨Get Down to the Fashion Events
Dive headfirst into local fashion shows, trade fairs, and networking events. These are golden opportunities to meet industry pros and showcase your passion for the industry in person. Plus, it gives you the chance to chat about potential roles at places like Joinfleek!
✨Join Fashion-Focused Communities
Become a part of online fashion communities on platforms like Instagram or Pinterest. Participate in discussions and share your insights on trends or your personal style journey. It’s a great way to get noticed by brands looking to fill positions, including Joinfleek.
✨Craft a Rock-Solid Portfolio
Since you're aiming for a full-time gig, your portfolio should reflect not just your best work but also your personality. Whether it’s lookbooks, design sketches, or styling projects, make sure it screams 'you' and includes a bit about why you’d be a perfect fit for Joinfleek.
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re fresh out of university, don’t underestimate your career services. They often have partnerships with fashion companies for internships and entry-level roles. Use this to your advantage and connect with them to find any openings at Joinfleek!
We think you need these skills to ace VP People
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Style:In the fashion-apparel industry, your personal style and understanding of current trends are crucial. Make sure your CV and cover letter reflect your unique fashion sense – use visuals if you can and highlight any fashion-related experiences or projects that show off your flair!
Highlight Relevant Experience:When you're applying for a full-time role, be sure to focus on any past roles or internships in fashion that’ve honed your skills. Whether that's working in retail, fashion design, or marketing, quantify your achievements and show how they relate to the role at Joinfleek.
Include a Strong Portfolio:An impressive portfolio is key in fashion! Make sure to include a link to your online portfolio in your CV, showcasing your best work, be it designs, campaigns, or styling projects. This is your chance to let your creativity shine and demonstrate your abilities to Joinfleek!
Craft a Standout Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to weave in your passion for fashion and the specific reasons you want to work at Joinfleek. Share your vision of how you'd contribute to their brand and why you're excited about their work. Tailoring this will make you stand out from the crowd!
How to prepare for a job interview at Joinfleek
✨Showcase Your Style Portfolio
For a role in the fashion-apparel industry, having a well-curated portfolio is essential. Ensure you include your best work that reflects your style and creativity, whether it's sketches, lookbooks, or completed designs. Be ready to discuss your design process and the inspirations behind your pieces!
✨Know the Latest Trends and Brands
Being well-versed in current fashion trends and influential brands can give you a leg up in the interview. Get familiar with what’s trending in the market and know your competitors. This shows your passion for the industry and helps you connect your work experience to current fashion trajectories.
✨Demonstrate Your Collaboration Skills
In a full-time fashion role, collaboration is key, whether you’re working with designers, marketers, or suppliers. Be prepared to share experiences where you successfully worked as part of a team or navigated challenges with colleagues. This will highlight your ability to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced environment.
✨Dress the Part
This might sound obvious, but in fashion, how you present yourself is part of your brand. Wear something that represents your personal style while still aligning with the company’s aesthetic. It’s a great way to show you understand the industry's essence and can embody the brand’s image!