At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead UK people operations, ensuring smooth payroll, benefits, and employee support.
- Company: Dynamic startup with a focus on innovative People Operations.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hands-on experience, and opportunities for growth.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with a team-first mindset and high ownership.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in shaping modern people operations with data and AI.
- Qualifications: 5-6+ years in People Ops, strong analytical skills, and excellent communication.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 ÂŁ per year.
We’re looking for a highly hands-on People Operations Manager to own and be responsible for our UK people operations. This role sits at the center of our London office and is critical to delivering a high-quality, reliable employee experience—from payroll and benefits to day-to-day support. You’ll act as the primary point of contact for our UK team while partnering closely with a global, highly coordinated People Ops function. This role requires strong execution, sound judgment, and the ability to work effectively with senior stakeholders—balancing business needs with people priorities.
What You’ll Do
- Own and be responsible for UK payroll and commissions processes, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and scalability.
- Manage UK immigration processes.
- Own and continuously improve our UK benefits programs.
- Act as the first point of contact for UK employees across all people-related matters.
- Own the day-to-day HR operations, ensuring policies, compliance, and processes run smoothly.
- Use data to analyze trends, identify issues, and drive operational improvements.
- Design and implement automations, workflows, and AI agents to increase efficiency and reduce manual work.
- Shift operational leverage toward systems so you can focus more time on people and impact.
- Partner with finance and global People Ops on reporting, audits, and process improvements.
- Work with senior stakeholders across the business, handling objections, navigating trade-offs, and driving alignment on people-related decisions.
- Collaborate on international and strategic People Ops initiatives, particularly related to systems and tooling.
What We’re Looking For
- 5–6+ years in People Operations / HR, ideally in a startup or high-growth environment—even better if you’ve scaled at the 500+ mark but can still be hands on.
- Proven experience owning full suite of UK payroll, commissions, and employee benefits.
- Strong analytical mindset—comfortable working with data, identifying patterns, and improving processes.
- Exceptional attention to detail and operational discipline.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; trusted, clear, and effective across all levels.
- Demonstrated ability to influence without authority—comfortable pushing back, handling objections, and working with senior stakeholders to drive the right outcomes.
- A team-first mindset with the ability to collaborate across a global organization.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-ownership, highly fluid environment.
- AI-forward operator—experience with or strong interest in building automations, workflows, and agents within People Operations.
- Able and excited to be in our London office 5 days a week.
Nice to have:
- Exposure to European labor law and multi-country operations.
- Experience working with or implementing HR systems / People Ops tech stacks.
- Experience applying automation and AI tools in operational environments.
- Interest in building more scalable, tech-enabled People processes.
Why This Role
This is a high-ownership, execution-heavy role with real impact. You’ll be responsible for building and running reliable people operations in the UK while helping shape how a modern, global People function operates—using data, systems, and AI to scale without losing the human element.
People Operations Manager in London employer: Lovable
Contact Detail:
Lovable Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land People Operations Manager in London
✨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 interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online platforms to get comfortable with common questions. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel when it’s time to shine in front of the real interviewers.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can go a long way in leaving a positive impression. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace People Operations Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of People Operations Manager. Highlight your experience with payroll, benefits, and HR operations, and don’t forget to sprinkle in some data-driven achievements that show how you’ve improved processes in the past.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re passionate about people operations and how your hands-on experience aligns with our needs. Be sure to mention any specific projects or initiatives that demonstrate your ability to drive operational improvements.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since we love data at StudySmarter, make sure to highlight your analytical mindset. Share examples of how you've used data to identify trends or solve problems in previous roles. This will show us you can bring that same insight to our UK operations.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lovable
✨Know Your Numbers
As a People Operations Manager, you'll be dealing with payroll and benefits. Brush up on your knowledge of UK payroll processes and be ready to discuss how you've managed these in the past. Bring examples of how you've used data to drive improvements—this will show you’re not just hands-on but also analytical.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
This role requires excellent communication with senior stakeholders and team members alike. Prepare to share specific instances where you've influenced decisions or handled objections effectively. Practise articulating your thoughts clearly and confidently, as this will be key in demonstrating your interpersonal skills.
✨Emphasise Your Tech Savvy
With a focus on automations and AI, it’s crucial to highlight any experience you have with HR tech stacks or implementing systems. Be ready to discuss how you've used technology to streamline operations and improve efficiency. This will show that you’re forward-thinking and ready to embrace innovation.
✨Demonstrate Your Team-First Mindset
Collaboration is key in this role, so come prepared with examples of how you've worked effectively within a team. Discuss how you’ve partnered with different departments to achieve common goals, especially in a fast-paced environment. This will illustrate your ability to work well with others and contribute to a positive workplace culture.