At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead global People & Culture operations and enhance employee engagement.
- Company: Moonshot, a social impact organisation focused on diversity and inclusion.
- Benefits: 30 days leave, private healthcare, mental health support, and generous parental leave.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in a diverse workplace while shaping company culture.
- Qualifications: HR leadership experience, strong communication skills, and commitment to equity.
- Other info: Opportunity for growth in a dynamic, international environment.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 90000 £ per year.
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. The ideal candidate will bring hands-on execution capability, combining deep HR expertise with genuine care for people working in challenging environments.
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.
Director of People and Culture in London employer: Moonshot
Contact Detail:
Moonshot Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of People and Culture in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work at Moonshot or similar organisations. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insider info that could make your application stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. Moonshot is all about diversity and inclusion, so think about how your experiences align with their mission and be ready to share examples that highlight your commitment.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your leadership skills! As a Director of People and Culture, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to manage teams and drive initiatives. Be prepared to discuss your past successes in building inclusive workplaces and supporting staff wellbeing.
✨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 take the initiative to engage directly with us.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of People and Culture in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Director of People and Culture. Highlight your HR leadership experience and any specific achievements that align with Moonshot's mission and values.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to express your passion for equity, diversity, and inclusion, and how your background makes you a perfect fit for this role. Don’t forget to mention why you’re excited about working at Moonshot!
Showcase Relevant Experience: When detailing your experience, focus on your hands-on execution capabilities and any complex Employee Relations cases you've managed. This will show us that you have the skills needed to thrive in a challenging environment.
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 receive your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Moonshot
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of the Director of People and Culture role. Familiarise yourself with Moonshot's mission and values, especially their commitment to diversity and inclusion. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their goals.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past roles that demonstrate your HR leadership skills, particularly in managing diverse teams and handling complex Employee Relations cases. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
✨Engage with Their Culture
Research Moonshot’s organisational culture and think about how you can contribute to strengthening it. Be ready to discuss initiatives you've led in the past that improved employee engagement or wellbeing, especially in challenging environments.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare insightful questions that show your interest in the role and the organisation. Inquire about their current challenges in workforce planning or how they support staff wellbeing when dealing with disturbing content. This demonstrates your proactive approach and genuine care for the team.