Senior People Partner in London

Senior People Partner in London

London Full-Time 60000 - 80000 € / year (est.) No home office possible
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and enhance People systems as we scale rapidly across teams and locations.
  • Company: Join Light, an innovative AI-native finance platform transforming the industry.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Exciting opportunity to influence company culture and operations in a fast-paced setting.
  • Why this job: Be a key player in shaping our culture and driving high-performance behaviours.
  • Qualifications: 5+ years in HR roles with experience in high-growth environments.

The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.

Note: this role is 4-5 days a week onsite.

About Light

Light is an AI-native finance platform built for hypergrowth. Founded in 2022, we’ve reimagined finance software from the ground up—processing hundreds of millions of records in under a second and automating multi-entity accounting across global jurisdictions. We’re trusted by companies like Lovable and Legora, and backed by world-class investors including Balderton Capital, Atomico, Cherry Ventures, and Seedcamp. In summer 2025 we raised $30M in Series A funding, bringing total funding to $43M. While traditional ERPs bolt AI onto legacy systems, Light was built AI-first—from database design to user experience, enabling finance teams to reduce operational workload by 84% and expand into new countries in days, not months. We’re expanding globally across London, Copenhagen, and soon New York. Join us as we build the finance platform that hypergrowth companies have been waiting for.

The Role

We’re hiring a Senior People Partner to own and evolve critical People systems & processes as Light continues through rapid scaling and growth across teams, geographies, and complexity. This is a high-ownership IC role focused on continuous improvement and enabling a high-performance organization. Over the last 6 months we’ve grown from 40 to 90 employees and are looking to make an additional 30+ hires this year. You will report directly to the Head of Finance & Core Ops and work closely with the wider leadership team, acting as a key partner on people-related decisions while also building and executing across all pillars of HR.

  • Performance Management & Feedback Systems
    • Own the design, execution, and iteration of Light’s performance review and feedback cycles
    • Ensure performance processes are rigorous, consistent, and drive high-performance behaviours
    • Work with leadership to maintain clear expectations, accountability, and promotion decisions
  • Compensation & Progression Frameworks
    • Own compensation review cycles, benchmarking, and internal alignment processes
    • Build, maintain, and evolve role levels and progression frameworks across the company
    • Ensure compensation and promotion decisions are structured, fair, and consistently applied
  • Org Design & Leadership Partnering
    • Partner with leadership on org structure, scaling decisions, and team effectiveness
    • Advise on organisational changes during growth, ensuring clarity and operational effectiveness
    • Identify and resolve structural bottlenecks as the company scales
  • Hiring & Talent Partnering
    • Partner with Finance and leadership on workforce planning and headcount allocation across teams and geographies
    • Support definition and structuring of roles to ensure clarity of scope, level, and organisational fit
    • Provide input into hiring prioritisation and sequencing as the company scales
  • People Operations & Systems
    • Own core People processes including onboarding, offboarding, and employee lifecycle moments
    • Improve HR systems and tooling (e.g., HiBob) to ensure scalability and accuracy
    • Build operational clarity across People processes as the company grows
  • Culture & Ways of Working
    • Shape and reinforce effective ways of working as Light scales
    • Identify cultural and organisational friction points and drive improvements with leadership
    • Strengthen communication rhythms, alignment, and operational cadence across teams
  • Company Workplace & Events
    • Own the day-to-day workplace experience across Light’s London office, ensuring it is functional, well-run, and aligned with company culture
    • Own planning and execution of company offsites and key team events
    • Design experiences that strengthen alignment, trust, and cohesion across global teams

Your Qualifications

  • 5+ years of experience in a People Partner, People Manager, or HRBP role in a high-growth environment
  • Ownership of people systems (performance, compensation, hiring, onboarding)
  • Exposure to scaling SaaS companies through scaling phases
  • Strong business acumen and ability to translate company priorities into people systems
  • High agency and comfort operating independently in fast-moving environments
  • Strong stakeholder management experience with senior leadership exposure
  • Structured, analytical thinking and ability to operate in ambiguity
  • Working knowledge of UK and European employment frameworks

Bonus Points

  • Experience across both Talent Acquisition and broader People/HR systems
  • Experience designing or significantly evolving performance or compensation systems
  • Experience owning company-wide events or offsites at scale

Senior People Partner in London employer: Light

Light is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in the heart of London where innovation meets collaboration. With a strong focus on employee growth and development, we provide opportunities for high ownership roles that directly impact our rapid scaling journey. Our culture fosters continuous improvement and teamwork, ensuring that every team member contributes to shaping the future of finance technology while enjoying a supportive and engaging workplace.

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Contact Detail:

Light Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior People Partner in London

Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who work at companies you're interested in. A friendly chat can lead to insider info and even referrals that could get your foot in the door.

Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. Light is all about high-performance and innovation, so think about how your experience aligns with their mission. Tailor your answers to show you’re the perfect fit!

Tip Number 3

Don’t just wait for job postings—be proactive! If you see a company you love, reach out directly. Express your interest and share how you can add value. Sometimes, the best opportunities come from a simple email.

Tip Number 4

Use our website to apply! We’ve got loads of resources to help you stand out. Plus, applying through us means you’ll be in the loop for any updates or tips we have to offer during your job search journey.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior People Partner in London

Performance Management
Feedback Systems
Compensation Review Cycles
Organisational Design
Workforce Planning
Onboarding and Offboarding Processes
HR Systems Improvement

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior People Partner role. Highlight your experience in high-growth environments and any specific achievements that align with the responsibilities mentioned in the job description.

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for Light. Share your passion for people systems and how your background can help us scale effectively. Don’t forget to mention any relevant experience with performance management or organisational design!

Showcase Your Impact:In both your CV and cover letter, focus on the impact you've made in previous roles. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate how you've improved processes or contributed to team effectiveness—this will resonate well with our growth mindset.

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining our team at Light!

How to prepare for a job interview at Light

Know Your Stuff

Before the interview, dive deep into Light's mission and values. Understand their AI-native finance platform and how it stands out in the market. Being able to discuss specific features or recent developments will show your genuine interest and help you connect with the interviewers.

Showcase Your Experience

Prepare to discuss your previous roles in detail, especially your experience in high-growth environments. Highlight specific examples of how you've owned people systems like performance management or compensation frameworks, and be ready to explain how these experiences can benefit Light as they scale.

Ask Insightful Questions

Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about Light's culture, growth plans, and how they envision the Senior People Partner role evolving. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company is the right fit for you.

Demonstrate Cultural Fit

Light is all about building a cohesive team culture. Be prepared to discuss how you've contributed to positive workplace environments in the past. Share examples of how you've identified and resolved cultural friction points, as this aligns with their focus on effective ways of working.