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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead people strategy and culture initiatives to drive business success.
- Company: Join Kinetic, a leader in operational excellence for education and events.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, wellbeing days, and flexible benefits.
- Why this job: Shape the future of operational technology while making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in HR and strong commercial instincts required.
- Other info: Be part of a vibrant team with excellent career growth opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
About Kinetic
At Kinetic we’re redefining operational excellence in higher education, conferencing, and events. As the leading provider of software solutions for student accommodation, event management, catering, and residential services, we help institutions streamline operations, elevate customer experiences, and unlock their full potential. With over 25 years of experience and trusted by more than 350 institutions worldwide, our software empowers universities and venues to run smarter, faster, and more collaboratively. Our culture is built on empowerment, community, and continuous growth. We believe in giving people the tools, support, and freedom to do their best work — and have fun while doing it.
The Role
We are looking for a commercially-minded People & Culture Manager to join Kinetic as a trusted partner to the CEO and senior leadership team. The role reports directly to the CEO. Kinetic is in an active phase of growth and transformation - scaling across UK/EMEA and North America, investing in engineering and product leadership, and sharpening our commercial operating model. This role is focused on building the people capability and culture required to sustain that momentum, while running the day-to-day people function with rigour.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Business Partnering & Commercial Impact (35%)
- Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leadership team on people decisions that materially affect business performance.
- Translate commercial priorities into clear people plans.
- Bring a commercial lens to retention, headcount, and employee relations discussions.
- Support transformation and organisational change work.
- Partner with Finance on workforce cost planning.
- Use people data to inform senior decisions.
- Talent, Performance & Capability (25%)
- Lead the Talent Acquisition team and own the end-to-end hiring experience.
- Run performance management, goal setting, and development planning across the business.
- Design and deliver talent development and succession planning activity.
- Partner with senior leaders on talent reviews and capability gaps.
- People Operations & Compliance (20%)
- Oversee day-to-day people operations across employee relations, performance, benefits, payroll coordination, and employment compliance.
- Lead complex ER cases.
- Maintain accurate employee records and ensure compliance.
- Run our HRIS, engagement, and learning platforms efficiently.
- Manage onboarding and offboarding.
- Culture & Engagement (20%)
- Steward a culture that reflects our values.
- Design and run engagement, recognition, and all-company activity.
- Lead diversity, inclusion and belonging activity.
- Own the people contribution to our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) agenda.
What You’ll Bring
- Proven generalist HR / People & Culture experience.
- Track record of managing a small team across the full people lifecycle.
- Strong commercial instinct.
- Confident handling complex ER matters.
- Working knowledge of UK employment law.
- Data-literate and proficient in HRIS and productivity tooling.
- Able to be on-site in Milton Keynes on Mondays and Wednesdays.
Nice to Have
- Experience supporting a CEO or executive team in a scaling business.
- Experience of organisational redesign or large-scale change programmes.
- Higher education or SaaS sector familiarity.
- CIPD Level 5 or 7, or working towards it.
- Experience designing or running leadership development.
- Experience managing culture and engagement across remote or hybrid workforces.
Key Attributes
- Commercially curious.
- Credible with senior leaders.
- Pragmatic.
- Composed under pressure.
- Discreet and trustworthy.
What other great things come with the role?
- 25 days holiday (plus bank holidays).
- Two paid wellbeing days each year.
- Enhanced pension contributions.
- Two paid days a year to give back through volunteering.
- Salary sacrifice schemes for electric vehicles and cycle-to-work.
- 24/7 access to our Employee Assistance Programme.
- A full annual health check.
- A flexible benefits platform.
- A genuine people-first culture.
- Performance-related bonus scheme.
- Regular socials.
- The opportunity to attend group conferences and learning forums.
Kinetic is an equal opportunity employer, fostering diversity and committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
People & Culture Manager in Milton Keynes employer: Kinetic Software
Contact Detail:
Kinetic Software Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land People & Culture Manager in Milton Keynes
✨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 about reaching out to folks 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 interviews by researching Kinetic and understanding their culture. Familiarise yourself with their values and how they operate. This way, you can tailor your responses to show how you fit into their vision and can contribute to their mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain why you’re the perfect fit for the People & Culture Manager role. Highlight your experience, skills, and what makes you passionate about working at Kinetic. Confidence is key, so rehearse until it feels natural.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar and reinforces your interest in joining the Kinetic team.
We think you need these skills to ace People & Culture Manager in Milton Keynes
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the People & Culture Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience and how it aligns with Kinetic's mission and values. We want to see how you can contribute to our culture and operational excellence!
Showcase Your Commercial Mindset: Since this role is all about balancing people decisions with business outcomes, don’t forget to demonstrate your commercial instincts. Share examples of how you've made impactful decisions in previous roles that benefited the organisation as a whole.
Be Authentic: We value authenticity at Kinetic, so let your personality shine through in your application. Share your passion for people and culture, and how you’ve fostered engagement and inclusion in past experiences. We want to know the real you!
Apply Through Our Website: To make sure your application gets the attention it deserves, apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it reaches the right people. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Kinetic Software
✨Know the Company Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into Kinetic's mission, values, and recent developments. Understanding their approach to operational excellence in higher education will help you align your answers with their goals and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your People Skills
As a People & Culture Manager, you'll need to balance challenge and support. Prepare examples of how you've successfully navigated complex employee relations issues or led teams through change. Highlight your ability to build relationships with senior leaders while maintaining operational discipline.
✨Bring Data to the Table
Kinetic values data-driven decision-making. Be ready to discuss how you've used people metrics to inform business choices in the past. Whether it's attrition rates or engagement scores, showing your comfort with data will set you apart as a commercially-minded candidate.
✨Emphasise Cultural Fit
Kinetic prides itself on a people-first culture. During the interview, share your thoughts on fostering an inclusive environment and how you've contributed to building a positive workplace culture in previous roles. This will show that you not only understand their values but are also committed to upholding them.