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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HR transformation and drive innovative people strategies for impactful change.
- Company: Join Save the Children UK, a charity dedicated to improving children's lives globally.
- Benefits: Flexible work environment, health and wellbeing support, and a sense of purpose.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in children's futures while shaping HR practices.
- Qualifications: Extensive HR experience, strong leadership skills, and a passion for organisational change.
- Other info: Maternity cover contract for approximately 14 months, starting March 2026.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Save the Children UK has an exciting opportunity for a HR leader with extensive experience in people operations and organisational change and transformation to join us as our Head of People Operations and Change. In this role, you will work closely with the Director of People to drive the strategic evolution of the People function, deliver high-impact, customer-centred services, lead change and transformation, and embed modern, agile ways of working to maximise impact for children. This is a maternity cover contract for approx 14-months, to start at the beginning of March 2026.
About us
Save the Children UK believes every child deserves a future. In the UK and around the world, we work every day to give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn, and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, and children are most vulnerable, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We ensure children's unique needs are met and their voices are heard. We deliver lasting results for millions of children, including those hardest to reach.
About the role
As Head of People Operations and Change, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the People function, delivering high-impact, customer-centred services and systems that enable organisational effectiveness and transformation. You will lead the strategic design and delivery of the people technology strategy, whilst embedding agile and design thinking principles to drive innovation, efficiency, and a seamless employee experience.
In this role, you will:
- Lead the development and implementation of People strategy, services, and operating models, embedding agile and design thinking principles to drive innovation and efficiency.
- Champion digital transformation across HR systems, automation, AI tools, and self-service solutions to enhance the employee experience and operational performance.
- Provide visible leadership and coaching to HR Business Partners, developing their capability as strategic talent partners and change leaders.
- Deliver complex organisational change programmes, restructures, and high-risk employee relations matters with legal compliance, risk mitigation, and a people-centred approach.
- Build strong, collaborative relationships with recognised trade unions and senior stakeholders to support sustainable business outcomes.
- Embed a proactive safeguarding culture and ensure safeguarding expertise is integrated into all relevant projects and initiatives.
About you
You're a confident change agent with experience leading organisational and people transformation within an HR environment. You bring an agile mindset, a strong understanding of HR roles and systems, and a genuine interest in using technology as an enabler of change. Comfortable leading diverse teams through complexity and restructure, you know how to build trust, bring people with you on that journey, and embed lasting change.
To be successful, it is important that you have:
- Significant experience in HR operations and people transformation, including leading large-scale change programmes and restructures.
- Proven experience in developing and delivering products, services and operating models, ideally within a People / HR function, using Agile and Design Thinking principles.
- Strong understanding of digital HR systems and technologies, including experience leading system implementations, automation initiatives, and innovation.
- Strong understanding of employment law, risk mitigation, and people-centred change delivery, including managing high-risk employee relations matters with sound judgement, legal awareness, and a balanced, solutions-focused approach.
- Experience of engaging and negotiating with trade unions in a constructive and outcomes-driven way, with the ability to navigate sensitive and high-impact issues confidently.
- Strong coaching and people development capability, with experience building high-performing teams, especially in developing HR Business Partners into strategic talent and change leaders.
- Analytical and outcome-focused, with experience using data, KPIs and user feedback to drive decision-making, improve services and demonstrate value.
- Resilient, adaptable, and future-focused, with a commitment to continuous improvement and building inclusive, modern people practices that meet evolving organisational needs.
- Commitment to Save the Children's vision, mission, and values.
What we offer you
Working for a charity provides one of the best benefits there is – a sense of purpose and reward for helping others. However, we understand the importance of giving back to our employees to ensure a happy and healthy working environment and work/life balance. We focus on flexibility, inclusion, collaboration, health and wellbeing both in and outside of work. We provide a wide range of benefits which will reward your hard work, motivate you, and inspire you to work to improve the lives of children every day.
To learn more about the position, please review the Job Description in the attached Documents.
Head of People Operations and Change (7237) in London employer: Save the Children
Contact Detail:
Save the Children Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of People Operations and Change (7237) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work at Save the Children UK. A friendly chat can open doors and give you insights that might just help you stand out.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the organisation's values and recent projects. Show us how your experience aligns with their mission to improve children's lives – it’ll make a huge difference!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your storytelling skills! Be ready to share specific examples of how you've led change and transformation in previous roles. We love hearing about real-life experiences that demonstrate your impact.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our mission at Save the Children UK.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of People Operations and Change (7237) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in people operations and change management. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at Save the Children UK!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; share specific examples of how you've led successful change initiatives or improved HR processes. We love seeing tangible results that demonstrate your impact!
Be Authentic: Let your personality shine through in your application. We value genuine passion for our cause, so don’t hesitate to express why you’re excited about the opportunity to work with us.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to submit your application through our official website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and get back to you quickly!
How to prepare for a job interview at Save the Children
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you thoroughly understand Save the Children's mission and values. Familiarise yourself with their current initiatives in people operations and organisational change. This will help you demonstrate your alignment with their goals and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Showcase Your Change Management Skills
Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully led change initiatives in previous roles. Highlight your experience with agile methodologies and design thinking principles, as these are crucial for the Head of People Operations and Change role. Be ready to discuss the outcomes of your efforts and how they benefited the organisation.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you would build relationships with trade unions and senior stakeholders. Prepare to discuss your approach to collaboration and negotiation, especially in sensitive situations. This will show that you can navigate complex dynamics and drive sustainable outcomes.
✨Data-Driven Decision Making
Be prepared to talk about how you've used data and KPIs to inform your decisions in HR. Share examples of how you've improved services based on user feedback and analytics. This will demonstrate your analytical mindset and commitment to continuous improvement, which is key for this role.
