At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the people function, shaping culture and performance at Zapp.
- Company: Join Zapp, London's premium convenience retail platform, disrupting the market since 2020.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, equity package, 25 days holiday, private health insurance, and generous leave policies.
- Other info: Dynamic role with no bureaucracy; set high standards and drive meaningful change.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by building a high-performance culture in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in high-growth B2C or tech, strong organisational design skills, and team leadership experience.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
Nine Elms, London - Full-time (5 days a week on-site)
Zapp is building something rare - a premium brand in a fast-moving market, with a team that holds itself to a standard most companies don't bother to set. As People and Engagement Lead, you will own the full people function at a critical stage of that build. This is not a process maintenance role. It is an organisational design role. You will be reporting directly to the Director of Growth and Strategy, and working closely with the founder and leadership team to shape how Zapp attracts, develops, and retains the people it needs to win. You will manage a small, high-impact team and be accountable for everything from culture and performance to hiring quality and compliance.
About Zapp
Zapp is London’s leading premium convenience retail platform. Founded in 2020, our vision is to disrupt the multi-trillion dollar convenience retail market, currently dominated by major players, by developing best-in-class customer‑centric technology and fulfilment solutions. Zapp partners with some of the world’s leading brands to deliver an exclusive range of hand‑picked products 24/7, delivered in minutes.
Key Responsibilities
- Organisational Design and Development
- Lead the design and evolution of Zapp's organisational structure as the business scales - reporting lines, team shapes, spans of control, and role architecture
- Partner with the leadership team on headcount planning, workforce strategy, and how the organisation needs to evolve to meet commercial goals
- Identify capability gaps across the business and build the frameworks to close them - whether through hiring, development, or structural change
- Own the design and continuous improvement of Zapp's performance management system, ensuring it drives genuine accountability and rewards high performance
- Culture and Leadership
- Be the keeper and builder of Zapp's culture - ensuring the Leadership Principles are lived, not laminated
- Design and run the people moments that matter: onboarding, performance cycles, calibration sessions, promotions, and offboarding
- Partner with senior leaders to coach them on people management, team health, and how to have the conversations that make a difference
- Identify and build Zapp's internal leadership pipeline - who are the next generation of leaders and what do they need to get there
- Talent Acquisition
- Set the standard for how Zapp hires - the bar, the process, the candidate experience, and the employer brand
- Oversee and develop the TA Partner, ensuring pipeline quality, pace, and consistency across all open roles
- Own senior and business‑critical hiring personally, partnering with the founder and leadership team on the most important decisions the business makes
- Continuously improve how Zapp assesses for both skill and culture fit without sacrificing speed
- HR Operations and Compliance
- Ensure Zapp's HR operations are clean, compliant, and scalable - contracts, policies, right to work, payroll coordination, and everything in between
- Own and evolve Zapp's employee handbook and policy framework, ensuring it reflects both legal requirements and the kind of company Zapp wants to be
- Manage employee relations with judgement and care - handling sensitive situations with discretion, fairness, and commercial awareness
- Oversee the HR Coordinator and ensure day‑to‑day people operations run without friction
- People Data and Insight
- Build and own the people metrics that matter - attrition, time to hire, engagement, headcount versus plan, and flight risk
- Present a regular people dashboard to the leadership team that surfaces what is working, what is not, and what decisions need to be made
- Use data to drive decisions, not just report them
Requirements
- Proven experience in a high‑growth B2C, e‑commerce, or technology business where pace and quality both mattered
- Strong organisational design instinct - you have restructured teams, redesigned roles, and built functions that did not exist before
- A credible, confident presence in a room with founders and senior leaders - you can give honest counsel without needing a hierarchy to hide behind
- Commercially minded - you understand that great people work drives business outcomes and you know how to make that case
- A builder, not a maintainer - you are energised by creating things from scratch and frustrated by bureaucracy for its own sake
- Experience managing or developing a small team
What You Will Not Find Here
- A large HR team to delegate to - this role requires someone who leads and does
- A business that confuses process with progress - we care about outcomes, not paperwork
- A culture that tolerates average - the bar at Zapp is high and the People & Engagement Lead sets the standard for that more than almost anyone.
Benefits
- Competitive salary & equity package.
- Enjoy 25 days of holiday per year (plus all bank holidays).
- Private Health Insurance.
- Extended sick pay and maternity/paternity leave pay.
People & Engagement Lead employer: Justzapp
Zapp is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London where innovation and high standards are at the forefront. As a People & Engagement Lead, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the company's culture and organisational structure, with ample opportunities for personal and professional growth. With competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and a commitment to employee well-being, Zapp fosters a collaborative atmosphere that empowers its team to thrive and make a meaningful impact in the fast-paced convenience retail market.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land People & Engagement Lead
✨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. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Zapp’s culture and values, and think about how your experience aligns with their mission. Practice common interview questions and come up with examples that showcase your skills in organisational design and team leadership.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for building things from scratch. In your conversations, highlight projects where you’ve successfully created or improved processes. This will resonate well with Zapp’s focus on innovation and high standards.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Zapp team.
We think you need these skills to ace People & Engagement Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for the role shine through! We want to see how excited you are about shaping Zapp's culture and people strategy. Share specific examples of what drives you in the people and engagement space.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the People & Engagement Lead role. Highlight your experience in organisational design and team management, and don’t forget to mention any relevant achievements that align with our goals at Zapp. We love a good story!
Be Authentic:We value authenticity, so be yourself in your written application. Share your unique perspective on people management and how you would approach building a high-performance culture at Zapp. We’re looking for genuine insights, not just buzzwords!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures it gets into the right hands. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team and be part of something special at Zapp.
How to prepare for a job interview at Justzapp
✨Know the Company Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into Zapp's mission, values, and recent developments. Understanding their approach to premium convenience retail will help you align your answers with their goals and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Organisational Design Skills
Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully restructured teams or designed roles in previous positions. Highlight your ability to identify capability gaps and how you've addressed them, as this is crucial for the People & Engagement Lead role.
✨Emphasise Cultural Fit
Zapp values a strong culture, so think about how you can contribute to it. Share experiences where you've fostered a positive work environment or led initiatives that enhanced team morale. This will show that you're not just about processes but also about people.
✨Prepare Data-Driven Insights
Since the role involves building and owning people metrics, come equipped with examples of how you've used data to drive decisions in past roles. Discuss specific metrics you've tracked and how they influenced your strategies, showcasing your analytical mindset.
