Director of People and Culture

Moonshot believes that marginalized people in society — including minority ethnic people, people from working class backgrounds, Disabled and LGBTQIA+ people — must be centered in the work we do. We strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other communities who are currently underrepresented in our workforce. We know a diverse workforce will enable us to understand drivers behind violent extremism and online harms in an in-depth way and do better work to counter them.

About the role

Moonshot seeks an exceptional Director of People and Culture to lead the day-to-day operations of our global People & Culture function across offices in London, Washington DC, Toronto, and Dublin. Reporting to our Chief People Officer (who provides strategic direction and oversight while working fractionally), you will be the primary People partner to directors and the wider team, ensuring we continue to attract, develop, and retain world-class talent as we scale our impact. You will hold departmental budget responsibility, and work closely with Finance and Programme Delivery leaders to ensure optimal workforce planning and resource allocation.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Lead day-to-day operations of the global People & Culture function, ensuring responsive, high-quality service to managers and staff across all locations.
• Directly manage the People & Culture team, including recruitment and HR management roles, setting operational priorities and ensuring effective execution of the P&C strategy.
• Lead initiatives to strengthen organizational culture, employee engagement, and psychological safety, with particular focus on supporting staff wellbeing for those working with disturbing content.
• Oversee end-to-end recruitment strategy across all jurisdictions (UK, US, Canada, Ireland), ensuring processes are efficient, equitable, and deliver high-quality diverse candidates.
• Lead strategic workforce planning activities, including scenario planning for growth and resource optimization in collaboration with Finance and Delivery teams.
• Make final decisions on salary offers, contract negotiations, compensation adjustments, and terminations, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives.
• Lead complex Employee Relations cases, including performance management, disciplinary matters, grievances, and policy breaches, providing coaching and support to line managers.
• Oversee the annual appraisal process, including budget allocation and pay review decisions.
• Ensure full compliance with employment law and HR reporting requirements across UK, US, Canada, and Ireland, reviewing and updating policies regularly.
• Lead Moonshot's internal welfare team, ensuring appropriate support structures are in place for staff exposed to potentially traumatizing material.

Essential

• HR leadership experience in a rapidly scaling organization, ideally in the social impact, tech, or professional services sectors.
• Proven experience managing and developing HR teams, with strong delegation and coaching skills.
• Expertise in complex Employee Relations cases, including leading performance management, disciplinaries, and terminations.
• Strong knowledge of multi-jurisdictional employment law and compliance, particularly UK and US (experience with Canada and Ireland highly desirable).
• Experience developing and implementing comprehensive staff welfare and morale strategies, ideally in organisations where staff are exposed to disturbing or emotionally demanding work.
• Excellent judgment and discretion when handling sensitive and confidential matters.
• Outstanding communication skills, with ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion with demonstrated track record of advancing EDI initiatives.

Desirable

• Experience of working across international offices, particularly those based in the US, Canada and Ireland.
• Understanding of the online harms or social impact sector.
• Experience working in organisations dealing with emotionally demanding work.
• Experience recruiting and supporting software engineering and technical teams.
• Experience with organisational change management and restructuring.
• Experience recruiting software engineering teams.

Benefits

• 30 days paid leave per annum.
• Private healthcare package, including coverage for partners and children.
• Employee Assistance Programme providing access to mental health support.
• Generous maternity and paternity leave: 26 weeks paid maternity leave, 8 weeks paid paternity leave.
• All permanent employees are granted share options upon employment.

Salary: £80,000 - £90,000 FTE - Depending on skills and experience.