Senior Manager, People Operations
Senior Manager, People Operations

Senior Manager, People Operations

Full-Time 60000 - 80000 ÂŁ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
loveholidays

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the People Operations team and drive innovative AI solutions for a better employee experience.
  • Company: Join loveholidays, a trailblazing company dedicated to making travel accessible for everyone.
  • Benefits: Enjoy competitive perks like discounted holidays, a generous leave policy, and a personal training budget.
  • Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values your unique perspective and fosters personal growth.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping our people strategy in a dynamic, collaborative environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in operational processes and AI deployment, with strong people management skills.

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

Why loveholidays? At loveholidays - we trailblaze together. We’re on a mission to open the world to everyone, giving our customers’ unlimited choice, unmatched ease and unmissable value for their next getaway. Our team is the driving force behind our role as our customers’ personal holiday expert – the smart way to get away. We’re using progressive tech to drive cutting‑edge innovation and open the world to everyone. Within our Commercial and Support teams, you'll find a place to accelerate your growth by actively seeking learning opportunities and carving your own path. You'll create impact for our future by owning projects and shaping the business strategy to reach shared goals, all within our enhanced international community of collaborative and passionate teams.

About the team: Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you will lead the People Operations function that turns our People Strategy into reality. We are a team of trailblazers who leverage data‑driven insights, and AI‑proficient tooling to ensure our Talent thrives as we grow. By owning the core services that underpin our international community, you will build scalable foundations ensuring we don't just manage processes, we intentionally create the environment where our People deliver impact every day.

The impact you’ll have: As Senior Manager in People Operations, you will be responsible for the end‑to‑end delivery and continuous improvement of our people operations function. You will play a key role in embedding AI‑enabled tools and automation improving efficiency, scalability, and the employee experience. You will focus on leading a disciplined, high‑performing operational function, driving clarity, accountability, and service excellence, while partnering with senior stakeholders to ensure people operations effectively support business priorities.

Your day‑to‑day:

  • Lead and develop the People Operations team, setting clear priorities, driving accountability, and fostering a high‑performance, service‑oriented culture.
  • Own and continuously improve core people operations processes, ensuring they are scalable, efficient, and consistently delivered across the organisation.
  • Drive operational rigour, including documentation, SLAs, governance frameworks, and process standardisation.
  • Act as the primary escalation point for people operations issues, ensuring timely and effective resolution.
  • Identify and implement opportunities to leverage AI and automation across people operations processes (e.g. query handling, reporting, workflows), improving efficiency and service quality.
  • Partner with People, IT and Legal teams to ensure responsible, ethical, and compliant use of AI in people processes.
  • Oversee the people tech stack (including hiBob, CultureAmp, and Ashby), ensuring optimal usage, data integrity, and continuous improvement, and continuously evaluate emerging technologies.
  • Drive adoption of AI‑enabled tools within the People team, building capability and confidence across the function.
  • Partner with People Business Partners and business leaders to ensure operational delivery aligns with business needs.
  • Lead data‑driven reporting and insights, enabling better decision‑making and tracking operational performance.
  • Manage and optimise vendor relationships, including benefits providers and payroll partners, ensuring quality and value.
  • Oversee global payroll delivery, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and continuous process improvement.
  • Ensure compliance with local regulations and maintain robust, up‑to‑date people policies and procedures.
  • Support the implementation and ongoing management of benefits programmes, ensuring operational efficiency and employee understanding.
  • Drive and support cross‑functional projects, ensuring timely delivery and strong execution discipline.
  • Lead, mentor, and develop a team of people operations specialists, building robust career pathways and succession plan.

Your skillset:

  • Demonstrated ability to build and run efficient, scalable operational processes in a fast‑paced or high‑growth environment.
  • Evidence of practical AI / automation deployment in a People Ops or comparable operational context, with a pragmatic, outcomes‑focused approach.
  • Strong people management experience, with a track record of developing high‑performing teams.
  • Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively and manage multiple workstreams.
  • Strong operational mindset, with attention to detail and a focus on process discipline and continuous improvement.
  • Comfortable with data: you track performance, spot patterns, and translate operational complexity into clear, actionable insights.
  • Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across all levels of the organisation.
  • Clear and confident communicator, able to translate operational complexity into simple, actionable insights.
  • A proactive, solutions‑focused approach, with the ability to navigate ambiguity and drive outcomes.
  • Experience with HR systems (hiBob desirable) and global operations (payroll, compliance, benefits).

Desirable: Additional language skills are a plus: German, Dutch, Polish, or Czech.

The interview journey: Introduction with a member of the Talent team, remote - 30 mins; 1st stage with Hiring Manager, remote - 45 minutes; 2nd stage with key stakeholder/s from People team & business, including a task to present, in office - 90 minutes; Final Stage, CPO interview - 60 mins.

Perks of joining us: Company pension contributions at 5%. Individualised training budget for you to learn on the job and level yourself up. Discounted holidays for you, your family and friends. 25 days of holidays per annum (plus 8 public holidays) increases by 1 day for every second year of service, up to a maximum 30 days per annum. Ability to buy and sell annual leave. Cycle to work scheme, season ticket loan and eye care vouchers.

At loveholidays, we focus on developing an inclusive culture and environment that encourages personal growth and collective success. Each individual offers unique perspectives and ideas that increase the diversity and effectiveness of our teams. And we value the insight and potential you could bring on our continued journey.

Senior Manager, People Operations employer: loveholidays

At loveholidays, we pride ourselves on being a forward-thinking employer that champions innovation and personal growth. Our collaborative work culture fosters an environment where employees can thrive, with ample opportunities for professional development and the chance to make a meaningful impact on our global operations. With competitive benefits such as generous holiday allowances, individualised training budgets, and a commitment to inclusivity, loveholidays is an exceptional place to build your career in the heart of the travel industry.
loveholidays

Contact Detail:

loveholidays Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Senior Manager, People Operations

✨Tip Number 1

Get to know the company inside out! Research loveholidays, their mission, and values. This way, you can tailor your conversations during interviews to show how you align with their goals.

✨Tip Number 2

Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral!

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for those interviews! Think about how your experience in people operations can drive efficiency and innovation at loveholidays. Practice articulating your achievements and how they relate to the role.

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the loveholidays team.

We think you need these skills to ace Senior Manager, People Operations

People Management
Operational Process Improvement
AI and Automation Deployment
Data Analysis
Stakeholder Management
Communication Skills
Organisational Skills
Project Management
HR Systems Knowledge (hiBob desirable)
Compliance Management
Payroll Management
Benefits Programme Management
Team Development
Problem-Solving Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Senior Manager, People Operations role. Highlight your experience in building scalable processes and using AI in people operations, as these are key aspects of the job.

Showcase Your People Skills: We want to see your strong people management experience! Share examples of how you've developed high-performing teams and fostered a service-oriented culture in your previous roles.

Be Data-Driven: Since this role involves a lot of data-driven decision-making, include specific instances where you've used data to improve operational performance. This will show us you can translate complexity into actionable insights.

Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensure you’re considered for this exciting opportunity.

How to prepare for a job interview at loveholidays

✨Know Your Stuff

Before the interview, dive deep into loveholidays' mission and values. Understand how their People Operations function aligns with their goal of providing unmatched ease and value to customers. This will help you articulate how your experience can contribute to their vision.

✨Showcase Your AI Savvy

Since the role involves embedding AI-enabled tools, be prepared to discuss your practical experience with AI and automation in People Ops. Share specific examples of how you've improved efficiency or employee experience through technology, as this will demonstrate your fit for the role.

✨Prepare for Stakeholder Engagement

Given the emphasis on partnering with senior stakeholders, think about past experiences where you've successfully managed relationships across different levels. Be ready to share how you’ve driven clarity and accountability in those situations, as this will highlight your stakeholder management skills.

✨Bring Data to Life

As a Senior Manager, you'll need to be comfortable with data. Prepare to discuss how you've used data-driven insights to inform decision-making in previous roles. Think of specific metrics or reports you've created that led to operational improvements, as this will showcase your analytical mindset.

Senior Manager, People Operations
loveholidays

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