At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the strategy for People Services, enhancing employee experience and business growth.
- Company: Dynamic and growing organisation focused on innovative people solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary and opportunities for professional development.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with excellent career growth potential.
- Why this job: Shape the future of People Services and make a real impact in a thriving business.
- Qualifications: Experience in senior People Operations and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
The Head of People Services leads the strategy and delivery of the core people infrastructure that supports an excellent employee experience and enables business growth. Bringing together Reward, People Operations, Systems, Automation and Workforce Intelligence, the role ensures People Services are efficient, scalable, well-governed and data informed. This is a broad and exciting role in a growing business, with the opportunity to shape how People Services evolves over time. Success in the role will come from focusing on areas of greatest impact, balancing priorities thoughtfully and using systems and automation in practical, smart ways to create capacity within a modest team. As the business continues to grow, the scope of the role is expected to evolve further as specialist capability in People Systems and Workforce Intelligence develops.
Responsibilities
- Leadership and Strategic Direction
- Define and deliver the People Services strategy, using technology, data and process improvement to enhance efficiency, service quality and employee experience.
- Lead the reward roadmap, ensuring alignment with business priorities and organisational growth.
- Act as a senior adviser to executive and senior leaders on reward, workforce costs, people operations and people-related risk.
- Establish clear ownership and decision-making across People Operations, Reward and Employee Relations.
- Lead, develop and coach a high‑performing specialist team, fostering accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Act as the People Team lead for operational delivery, ensuring key launches and annual people cycle activity are effectively planned, scheduled and aligned with the wider business agenda.
- Reward
- Own the organisation’s reward philosophy, frameworks and governance, ensuring consistent application and clear communication.
- Lead pay transparency, job evaluation and grading, benchmarking and reward governance.
- Oversee workforce cost modelling and scenario planning.
- Lead annual reward processes, including salary review and bonus planning.
- Act as an escalation point for reward implications arising from employee relations matters and organisational change.
- People Services, Systems and Risk
- Own the People Services delivery model, service standards and continuous improvement approach.
- Lead the development, implementation and optimisation of people systems and automation to improve efficiency and enable self‑service.
- Ensure high standards of data integrity, reporting, compliance and operational governance across people processes.
- Oversee audit readiness, vendor performance and payroll data integrity.
- Work closely with People Partners and other stakeholders to ensure operational decisions align with reward frameworks, payroll controls and organisational risk.
- Workforce Intelligence
- Lead the people data and workforce intelligence agenda, ensuring insight supports effective decision‑making and future planning.
- Oversee the prioritisation and delivery of reporting requirements.
- Build stakeholder confidence in using people data to inform action and business decisions.
Experience Required
- Proven experience in a senior People Operations, People Services and/or Reward leadership role.
- Strong understanding of reward, including pay frameworks, benchmarking, job evaluation and annual reward processes.
- Experience leading people systems implementation, optimisation and transformation initiatives.
- Strong analytical capability, with experience using workforce data and insight to support decision‑making.
- Good understanding of governance, compliance, risk management and service delivery within a People function.
- Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders within a fast‑paced business environment.
- Experience leading and developing specialist teams within a changing or growing organisation.
- Commercially minded, pragmatic and able to balance employee experience with business needs.
Skills, Attributes, Behaviours and Mindset
- Leadership Mindset
- Leads with clarity, accountability and a continuous improvement mindset.
- Comfortable balancing strategic priorities with operational delivery.
- Able to navigate complexity and ambiguity with composure and sound judgement.
- Pragmatic and solutions‑focused, with a strong sense of ownership.
- Influence and Impact
- Builds trust and credibility with senior stakeholders across the business.
- Uses insight, data and commercial understanding to influence decision‑making.
- Balances governance and operational excellence with employee experience.
- Collaboration and Culture
- Thrives in collaborative environments where success is shared collectively.
- Builds strong partnerships across People, Finance and Operational teams.
- Champions scalable, efficient and people‑centred ways of working.
Head of People - Partnering and Development in City of Westminster employer: People & Talent
As a leading employer in the field of People Services, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic work culture that prioritises employee experience and growth. Our commitment to innovation through technology and data-driven decision-making not only enhances operational efficiency but also empowers our team members to thrive in their roles. With a focus on collaboration and continuous improvement, we offer unique opportunities for professional development in a supportive environment, making us an excellent choice for those seeking meaningful and rewarding careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of People - Partnering and Development in City of Westminster
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. A personal recommendation can go a long way in landing that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your own. This will help you showcase why you're the perfect fit for the Head of People role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to articulate your experience and how it relates to the responsibilities of the role. Highlight your leadership skills and ability to drive strategic direction in People Services.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of People - Partnering and Development in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Head of People role. Highlight your experience in People Operations and how it aligns with our mission at StudySmarter. We want to see how you can bring your unique skills to enhance our employee experience!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:This role is all about leading a team and driving strategy, so don’t hold back! Share examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and motivate others.
Be Data-Driven:Since this position involves a lot of data and analytics, make sure to mention any experience you have with workforce intelligence or data-driven decision-making. We’re keen on candidates who can leverage data to improve processes and outcomes.
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 the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about what we do at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at People & Talent
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the key responsibilities of the Head of People role. Brush up on your knowledge of reward frameworks, people operations, and workforce intelligence. Being able to discuss these topics confidently will show that you’re ready to take on the challenge.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your leadership mindset and how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about times when you’ve balanced strategic priorities with operational delivery, and be ready to share how you foster collaboration and continuous improvement within your team.
✨Data is Key
Since this role involves a lot of data-driven decision-making, come prepared to discuss how you’ve used workforce data in previous roles. Be ready to explain how you’ve influenced senior stakeholders using insights and analytics to drive business decisions.
✨Cultural Fit Matters
Research the company culture and think about how your values align with theirs. Be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to a collaborative environment and champion scalable, efficient, and people-centred ways of working. This will help you stand out as a candidate who not only fits the role but also the company ethos.
