At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the People function and create a thriving workplace culture at Penfold.
- Company: Join Penfold, a modern fintech revolutionising pensions with a tech-first approach.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, unlimited holiday, share options, and hybrid working.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to making a real impact.
- Why this job: Shape a people-first environment while driving performance in a fast-paced fintech.
- Qualifications: 5+ years HR experience, strong UK employment law knowledge, and confident communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 € per year.
About Penfold
We’re Penfold — we’re building the pension of the future! We’re dragging pensions out of the dark ages with a modern, tech‑first platform that makes saving for retirement engaging, accessible, and rewarding. We’re a team of 80+ across London and Tallinn, backed by leading fintech investors. Having raised £20M+, we manage £1BN+ in pensions for over 100,000 savers and thousands of businesses — and we’re on track for profitability next year.
As we scale, we’re investing in strong people foundations so our culture and performance grow as intentionally as our product.
Why This Role Matters
One of our core values is being a truly great place to work, a people‑first environment built on trust, ambition, and high standards. As People & Culture Manager, you’ll own the People function end‑to‑end and partner closely with the COO and Leadership team to ensure our culture, structure, and performance frameworks support our next stage of growth. You’ll build on what we have, strengthen it where needed, and scale it proportionally as we grow. The goal isn’t more process, it’s better process. Systems that enable speed, clarity, and accountability.
We’re a regulated, high‑growth fintech. We move fast, but we also value discipline and clear expectations. You’ll help us balance culture with performance, raising standards as we scale.
What You’ll Do
- Make Penfold a Genuinely Great Place to Work
- Champion our “great place to work” value in practical, visible ways.
- Partner with Leadership to shape a culture that combines psychological safety with accountability.
- Create an environment where expectations are clear, feedback is normal, and delivery matters.
- Reinforce ownership, fairness, and consistency across the business.
- Lead Clear & Confident People Communication
- Own communication of key People updates, including policies, performance cycles, engagement outcomes, and cultural initiatives.
- Translate complex or sensitive topics into simple, human language.
- Support leaders in setting clear priorities and communicating expectations confidently and consistently.
- Contribute to quarterly updates and company‑wide moments that reinforce alignment, accountability, and transparency.
- Design communication rhythms that ensure everyone, whether in London, Tallinn, or remote, is aligned to company goals, expectations, and progress.
- Build & Scale the Foundations
- Evolve our HR frameworks thoughtfully as we grow.
- Partner with Leadership on workforce planning, organisational design, and capability gaps.
- Ensure processes drive clarity and high standards without unnecessary bureaucracy.
- Maintain UK employment compliance and coordinate with advisors in Estonia.
- Oversee contracts, policies, payroll inputs, pensions, and benefits with accuracy and simplicity.
- Ensure GDPR‑compliant, well‑governed people data practices.
- Drive Development & Growth
- Own and refine our performance framework so it is clear, fair, and impact‑driven.
- Ensure company strategy translates into meaningful team and individual objectives.
- Support evidence‑based decisions around progression and development.
- Coach managers, including senior leaders, to address underperformance early and constructively.
- Strengthen management capability across the business.
- Support Sustainable Performance
- Champion high ambition without burnout.
- Act as a trusted sounding board for sensitive matters.
- Monitor engagement, workload, and attrition trends as we grow.
- Ensure wellbeing initiatives support long‑term performance and resilience.
- Bring Us Together
- Lead our Lunch & Learn programme to drive knowledge sharing and visibility.
- Own quarterly company events and our annual off‑site, aligning culture with strategy and celebrating progress.
- Help make our London and Tallinn offices energising, welcoming spaces.
- Ensure remote colleagues feel equally included and aligned.
What We’re Looking For
You’ll likely have:
- 5+ years’ HR generalist experience.
- Strong knowledge of UK employment law.
- Experience operating as a standalone HR lead or in a small People team.
- Confidence managing employee relations independently.
- Experience in a scaling, fast‑paced environment, with Fintech being a plus.
- Clear, confident communication skills and the ability to influence at all levels.
- Ability to work from our London office 2–3 days per week and travel to our Tallinn, Estonia office approximately 1–2 times per quarter.
- You’re commercially aware, pragmatic, and calm under pressure.
- You understand that a great place to work and a high‑performing company are not opposites — they reinforce each other.
Our Interview Process
- Hiring manager interview
- Task‑based interview
- Culture fit conversation (this is as much for you to get to know us!)
- Final executive interview
Benefits
- Competitive salary, regularly reviewed to reflect your impact and experience
- Meaningful share options — you’ll own a part of Penfold and share in our success
- 10% employer pension contribution, with no matching required (on top of salary)
- Private medical insurance through Vitality
- Unlimited holiday — we care about outcomes, not counting days off
- Hybrid working — London‑based team members join us in the office a couple of days a week
- Great community office space near Borough Underground station
- Weekly company lunch
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Learning & professional development support
- Quarterly company socials and regular team meet‑ups
- Plus a host of other benefits
We are 100% committed to building a diverse and representative team. Whatever your race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability — we want to hear from you. If you require any reasonable adjustments to the job description, application, or selection process, just let us know — we’d be happy to help. When it comes to hiring, we focus on your skills, experience, and how you live our values.
As part of our hiring process, we may record your interview and use AI tools to generate notes. This helps us capture details accurately and ensures a fair review by our hiring panel. By attending an interview with Penfold, you consent to the use of recording and AI‑generated notes for this purpose. If you have any concerns or would prefer not to be recorded, please let us know in advance.
People & Culture Manager in London employer: Penfold
At Penfold, we pride ourselves on being a people-first employer that fosters a culture of trust, ambition, and high standards. With competitive salaries, unlimited holiday, and meaningful share options, we ensure our employees are rewarded for their contributions while promoting professional growth in a dynamic fintech environment. Our London office, located near Borough Underground station, offers a vibrant community space where collaboration thrives, making it an excellent place to build a fulfilling career.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land People & Culture Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company culture before your interview. Check out Penfold's social media and website to see how they engage with their team and customers. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their people-first environment.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your communication skills! Since clear and confident communication is key for the People & Culture Manager role, try doing mock interviews with friends or family. Focus on translating complex ideas into simple language, just like you'll need to do at Penfold.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare some thoughtful questions for your interviewers. Ask about their current challenges in building a great workplace or how they measure employee engagement. This shows you're not just interested in the role but also in contributing to their mission of creating a genuinely great place to work.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to showcase your experience in scaling HR processes! Be ready to share examples of how you've improved people frameworks in previous roles. This aligns perfectly with Penfold's goal of evolving their HR practices as they grow.
We think you need these skills to ace People & Culture Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself:When 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 People & Culture Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience and how it aligns with our values and goals at Penfold.
Keep It Clear and Concise:We appreciate clarity! Use straightforward language and get to the point. Avoid jargon and make sure your key points stand out — we want to see your impact quickly.
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 ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Penfold
✨Know the Company Inside Out
Before your interview, dive deep into Penfold's mission and values. Understand their approach to making pensions engaging and accessible. This will not only help you answer questions more effectively but also show your genuine interest in being part of their journey.
✨Showcase Your People Skills
As a People & Culture Manager, your ability to foster a positive work environment is key. Prepare examples of how you've successfully built culture and managed employee relations in previous roles. Highlight your experience in creating clear communication channels and promoting psychological safety.
✨Be Ready for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect task-based interviews where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Think of specific scenarios where you've improved HR processes or handled sensitive employee matters. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses clearly.
✨Align with Their Values
Penfold values a people-first environment, so be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to this culture. Share your thoughts on balancing high performance with employee wellbeing, and how you can champion initiatives that support both aspects as they scale.
