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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the People Services function and enhance employee experiences through innovative solutions.
- Company: Join Wellcome, a dynamic organisation focused on transforming people services.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, potential for permanent role, and flexible working arrangements.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by leading a talented team and driving meaningful improvements.
- Qualifications: CIPD qualified with experience in HR service desk leadership and process automation.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
The predicted salary is between 100000 - 140000 ÂŁ per year.
ÂŁ500 per day (Inside IR35) circa 6 months 3 days per week on site January Start Central London Opportunity to go permanent.
Are you an experienced People Services Leader who thrives on building high‑performing teams, transforming processes, and delivering outstanding employee experiences? Our client, Wellcome, is seeking a dynamic People Services Lead to take ownership of their People Service Desk, elevate service delivery, and drive meaningful improvements across the employee lifecycle. This is a fantastic opportunity to lead a talented team, deliver quick wins in process automation, and bring stability and strong leadership during a period of change. Ideal for a confident People Services professional or HR Generalist with hands‑on service desk leadership experience.
The Role
As the People Services Lead, you'll head up the People Services function, ensuring an efficient, solutions‑focused and inclusive experience for employees at every touchpoint. You'll lead the People Services Helpdesk, improve processes, champion automation and innovation (including AI), and mentor a team of Administrators. You will be instrumental in embedding consistency, strengthening ways of working, and supporting Wellcome's mission through exceptional people operations.
Key Responsibilities
- Leadership & Strategy: Lead the delivery of an effective and efficient People Service Desk, driving a strong service culture aligned with SLAs. Support the development and implementation of a People Services strategy aligned with organisational goals. Manage and motivate a high‑performing, agile team fostering collaboration, learning and excellence.
- People Services & Administration: Oversee all People Services administration across the full employee lifecycle—including onboarding, HR operations, visa management, redundancy administration, and policy queries. Ensure accurate coordination with the payroll team as part of the monthly payroll cycle. Own and refine end‑to‑end HR processes, using mapping and continuous improvement to enhance productivity and employee engagement.
- Innovation, Systems & Automation: Drive automation and optimised workflows through HR systems—ideally Workday—and identify quick wins to streamline processes. Explore opportunities to embed AI and new technologies to improve operational efficiency and user experience.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships across the organisation, providing sensible, pragmatic and high‑quality responses to People‑related enquiries. Monitor service desk trends, sharing insights across the People team to help strengthen organisational‑wide processes.
- Culture & Values: Contribute to building an inclusive and collaborative culture aligned with Wellcome's values. Operate in line with governance, policies and budget guidance, remaining adaptable as organisational needs evolve.
About You
Skills & Attributes: Strong customer service ethos with a commitment to high‑quality delivery. Clear, confident written and verbal communication skills. Proven ability to solve problems proactively and identify opportunities for innovation. A strong leader who brings people together, stabilises teams during change, and strengthens ways of working. Highly organised, analytical and able to interpret information to support effective decision‑making. Adaptable, resilient and comfortable working in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.
Experience & Qualifications: CIPD qualified (or equivalent professional experience). Proven track record leading a People Service Desk in a complex, multi‑discipline organisation. Hands‑on HR generalist experience, ideally including visa management, redundancy admin and policy interpretation. Strong Workday (or similar cloud‑based HRIS) experience. Demonstrated success in process ownership, transformation and automation. Experience delivering high‑quality work within tight deadlines. Budget and headcount management experience, with the ability to shape a high‑performing, inclusive team.
If you are a confident People Services Leader who can bring structure, innovation and exceptional service delivery, we'd love to hear from you. Interested? Please get in touch to discuss the role in more detail or submit your CV for immediate consideration.
People Services Lead employer: Oakleaf Partnership
Contact Detail:
Oakleaf Partnership Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land People Services Lead
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the HR field, especially those who might know about opportunities at Wellcome. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to a foot in the door.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching Wellcome's culture and values. Show us how your leadership style aligns with their mission and how you can elevate their People Service Desk.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common interview questions, especially around process improvement and team management. We want to see your problem-solving skills shine!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and show your enthusiasm for the role. Apply through our website to make sure your application stands out!
We think you need these skills to ace People Services Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the People Services Lead role. Highlight your leadership experience, especially in managing a service desk, and showcase any relevant achievements that align with the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific examples of how you've driven process improvements or led high-performing teams in the past.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since clear communication is key in this role, ensure your application reflects your written communication skills. Keep it concise, professional, and engaging to demonstrate your ability to convey information effectively.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Oakleaf Partnership
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of the People Services Lead role. Brush up on your knowledge of HR processes, especially around service desks and employee lifecycle management. Being able to discuss specific examples from your past experience will show that you’re not just familiar with the theory but have practical insights too.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare to talk about your leadership style and how you've successfully managed teams in the past. Think of examples where you’ve motivated a team during change or improved service delivery. This is your chance to demonstrate how you can foster collaboration and drive a strong service culture.
✨Emphasise Innovation and Automation
Since the role involves driving automation and optimising workflows, be ready to discuss any relevant experiences you have with HR systems like Workday. Share specific instances where you’ve implemented new technologies or streamlined processes to enhance efficiency and user experience.
✨Engage with Their Values
Familiarise yourself with Wellcome’s mission and values. During the interview, express how your personal values align with theirs and how you can contribute to building an inclusive and collaborative culture. This shows that you’re not just looking for a job, but are genuinely interested in being part of their team.
