Director of People - 12 month FTC

Director of People – 12 month FTC (Relation)

Location: London

Join our passionate People team in a 12-month maternity fixed‑term contract, as the Director of People, reporting to the SVP of Growth, and assume a pivotal role in steering our people and culture efforts. Your expertise in human resources will drive strategic priorities, playing a critical role in shaping our culture and building a best‑in‑class organisation.

HR & Thought Leadership

• People Strategy: Support headcount planning, budgeting, salary tracking, pay bands, compensation & benefits, and organisational design to align with company goals.
• Trusted Advisor: Provide guidance to employees and leadership on all people‑related matters.
• Management Development: Coordinate training and coaching to improve manager and team effectiveness.
• Culture: Actively contribute to company culture initiatives such as our Culture Colony, Best Place to Work goals, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Committee.

Employee Relations & Engagement

• Oversee conflict resolution, the employee complaints process, and workplace investigations with fairness, confidentiality, and adherence to legal standards.
• Conduct employee engagement surveys and implement insights to improve the employee experience.
• Implement strategies to enhance team communication, ensuring clear, effective, and collaborative dialogue across all levels of the organisation.

Talent Management

• Oversee onboarding, recruitment, development, and retention of talent.
• Manage processes like performance management, talent calibration, succession planning and leadership development. Offer opportunities for employee growth and career development through training and coaching.
• Recruitment: Attract top talent aligned with both the role and company culture, ensuring interviewers are adequately trained to deliver a great candidate experience.
• Retention & Transitions: Create a positive and engaging work environment to promote talent retention. Manage promotions, lateral moves, and exits in alignment with Relation’s values.

HR Operations & Administration

• Ensure compliance with evolving labour laws and regulations across all locations. Mitigate risk through effective HR policies and procedures.
• Create and maintain the Employee Handbook.
• Manage employee documentation, with proper security and access rules in place.
• Oversee procurement, onboarding/off‑boarding of hardware, and provide support for employee tech needs.
• Pay and benefit administration working closely with our Finance division.

Professionally, you have

• 7+ years working in various functions within Human Resources / People Operations.
• Training in Human Resources skills and knowledge (e.g., SHRM‑CP, SHRM‑SCP, PHR, SPHR).
• Comprehensive talent management skills throughout an employee’s lifecycle at a company.
• Knowledge of HR systems, tools, platforms, PEO frameworks, and benefit options.
• Knowledge of compensation planning methodologies, including startup equity, options, and market practices.
• In‑depth knowledge of labour law and HR compliance best practices.
• Business acumen and analytical skills to assist with strategic planning.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills.

Personally, you are

• A natural leader and a strategic people operator who also rolls up your sleeves, capable of thoughtfully and collaboratively crafting HR functions that support both onsite and remote teams.
• Deeply caring about people on both a personal and professional level. You have high emotional intelligence and great judgement.
• You know that one size does not fit all, and you are excited to adapt your approach according to what is best for the Relation team and culture and all the wonderful quirks that make us unique.
• Enjoy building things and have a growth mindset.
• You love working closely with all individuals on a team — from the founders to the newest hires — and giving the people you work with leverage through your Human Resources superpower.
• Believe that a team works best when they’re happy, given true autonomy, and their work‑life balance is a genuine priority.

Relation Therapeutics is a committed equal opportunities employer.

Recruitment agencies: Please note that Relation Therapeutics does not accept unsolicited resumes from agencies. Resumes should not be forwarded to our job aliases or employees. Relation Therapeutics will not be liable for any fees associated with unsolicited CVs.