At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the People Operations, driving excellence and optimising processes across the employee lifecycle.
- Company: Join Medialab, the UK's leading independent media agency with a vibrant culture.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days holiday, hybrid working, private medical insurance, and more perks.
- Other info: Flexible working arrangements available; thrive in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-growing agency recognised as a top workplace.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in people operations, strong leadership, and data-driven mindset required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
JOIN OUR JOURNEY
Medialab is the UK’s leading independent media agency, and one of the fastest growing in the industry. We’re a media agency that’s made differently: purpose-led, data-driven, founder-run and proudly independent. Our entrepreneurial spirit means success is recognised and rewarded. There are no limits to what you can achieve here, which our employees agree with, evidenced by being a Campaign Best Place to Work for six consecutive years and one of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2025. As well as this, we’re Campaign’s Independent Agency of the Year 2024 and Media Week’s Independent Agency of the Year 2025. We are IPA Effectiveness accredited, an IPA People-First agency, and All In Champions, with industry-leading work recognised by double-gold at the 2024 IPA Effectiveness Awards for our work with Laithwaites and a 2025 Effie for our work with Alzheimer’s Society.
Our independence means we can focus 100% on doing the right thing to secure success for our clients and our brilliant people. We work with a wide variety of clients including Hovis, IG, Sharps Bedrooms, SunLife, Standard Life, Ancestry, Laithwaites Wine, Save the Children, Guide Dogs, Alzheimer’s Society, RNLI and Clearscore.
OUR VALUES
- Commit to Doing the Right Thing (Act with integrity and accountability)
- Help People Flourish (Invest in people)
- Dig Deeper to Understand Better (Data driven curiosity)
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU
Working at Medialab comes with lots of perks including all the usual things you would expect, such as a competitive salary package, pension, season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, weekly social events and big summer / end of year parties. On top of that, we offer extra benefits, which make life at Medialab even more rewarding:
- Time to Unwind – 25 days holiday (+ Christmas holiday closure), a day off for your birthday, holiday buying scheme, flexi-hours, and both a work abroad and cultural bank holiday swap scheme.
- Hybrid Working – Balance between home and office. (3 days in office) We welcome requests for flexible working arrangements from the commencement of employment.
- Career Growth – A meritocratic approach to progression with quarterly reviews, CPD Platinum accredited training, mentoring and leadership support.
- Health & Wellbeing – Private medical insurance, health cash plan, gym discounts, wellbeing apps Mental Health First Aiders and free professional counselling.
- Supporting Families – Enhanced parental leave pay, flexible working and life assurance.
- Giving Back – Paid charity days and sustainability initiatives.
- Perks & Rewards – Retail discounts, long-service trips and an unforgettable team culture.
YOUR NEXT CHALLENGE
Reporting to the Chief People & Culture Officer, you will take ownership of the day-to-day People function, driving operational people and process excellence across the full employee lifecycle through strong business partnership. Your analytical, data-driven approach will be crucial for optimising our processes, giving you significant board-level exposure, reporting and influence. We welcome applicants looking to work part-time and offer flexible working arrangements.
HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT
You will own the operational engine of the People function, ensuring all processes, from complex employee relations to payroll, are efficient, scalable, compliant and commercially focused. By translating raw data into insightful, board-level reports, you will drive decision-making and ensure our people operations are seamless and to an excellent standard. Through coaching leaders on effective performance management and embedding clear pathways for career progression, you will ensure robust frameworks for professional growth are in place. You will be responsible for leading the overarching L&D strategy by partnering with senior leaders to identify current and future skills gaps. This involves designing and implementing targeted initiatives that build leadership capability and ensure our team has the skills needed to support key business priorities.
WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TEAM
Must Have Skills
- A proven track record of delivering seamless people operational and process excellence across the full employee lifecycle, within a fast growing, dynamic environment.
- Strong leadership skills with experience in managing and developing a high-performing team.
- Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills, combined with a commercial and empathetic approach.
- A data-driven and analytical mindset, using insights to drive improvements and hold yourself and others to high standards.
- Highly organised with strong project management skills and a demonstrable sense of accountability.
- Agile and adaptable, with experience thriving in a fast-moving, growing business environment.
- Excellent and up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law.
Nice to Have Skills
- Experience with HRIS/People systems, automation and AI.
- Experience submitting for industry learning accreditations (e.g., IPA CPD Platinum award).
- Experience working in a media, marketing or creative industry environment.
Head of People Operations and Development in City of London employer: Medialab Group
Contact Detail:
Medialab Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of People Operations and Development in City of London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect 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 think about how your experience aligns with their mission. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly gets them.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Get comfortable talking about your achievements and how they relate to the role. The more you practice, the more confident you'll feel when it’s showtime!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our brand.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of People Operations and Development in City of London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic: When you're writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to get to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to share your unique experiences and perspectives.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application for the Head of People Operations and Development role. Highlight your relevant skills and experiences that align with our values and the job description. Show us why you're the perfect fit!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; tell us about your accomplishments! Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've made an impact in previous roles, especially in people operations and development.
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 this exciting opportunity at Medialab!
How to prepare for a job interview at Medialab Group
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Medialab's values and recent achievements. Familiarise yourself with their work, especially the campaigns that earned them accolades. This shows genuine interest and helps you connect your experience to their mission.
✨Showcase Your Data Skills
Since the role requires a data-driven approach, prepare examples of how you've used data to drive people operations in the past. Be ready to discuss specific metrics or insights that led to improvements in your previous roles.
✨Emphasise Leadership Experience
Highlight your leadership skills by sharing stories of how you've developed high-performing teams. Discuss your coaching methods and how you've embedded frameworks for professional growth, aligning with Medialab's commitment to helping people flourish.
✨Ask Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about Medialab's culture, future goals, and how they measure success in people operations. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the company aligns with your values and career aspirations.