At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and grow the People function, driving strategic projects and supporting managers.
- Company: Join Sona, an innovative AI-native workforce management platform transforming frontline jobs.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, generous leave, and professional development opportunities.
- Other info: Exciting growth phase with opportunities for personal and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact in a fast-paced environment while shaping company culture.
- Qualifications: Experience in startup environments, strong people skills, and a commercial mindset.
The predicted salary is between 80000 - 95000 £ per year.
3 billion people across the world work in frontline jobs. Yet, despite rising costs and staff shortages, frontline organisations are still left to choose between paper, Excel, and WhatsApp, or decade-old workforce management solutions to take care of the most important part of their businesses - their people.
Enter Sona: the next generation of AI-native, frontline workforce management. We’ve built an end-to-end platform covering Scheduling, HR, Payroll, and Communications that gives the largest frontline organisations everything they need to staff more intelligently and empower their teams.
In under 5 years, we’ve already made a deep impact on the lives of over 100k frontline workers and the operation of their organisations, grown the team to 140+, and secured over $100M in funding from notable VCs, including our Series B led by N47 alongside Felicis, Northzone, and Gradient Ventures (Google). It’s a hugely exciting time to be joining the team as we’re still small enough that you’ll have a significant impact on the company’s growth trajectory and culture, yet large enough to have a great structure, experienced leaders and world-class benefits in place.
About the Role
We're hiring a Head of People to lead and grow our People function as Sona scales through its next phase of growth. Reporting to the Chief of Staff & VP of People, this is a role for someone who wants to own the full breadth of People work - from business partnering with senior leaders through to building the frameworks and processes that help a 150+ person, globally distributed team do their best work.
Day to day, that means being the go-to partner for managers navigating performance conversations, probation, and difficult people decisions. It also means driving forward strategic projects like performance management, learning and development, and the systems that support a high-performance culture. You'll manage our People Ops Manager, shaping the operational side of the function while focusing your own time on the areas where Sona needs the most help: strategic thinking, stakeholder partnership, and building what doesn't exist yet.
This isn't a role where you'll inherit a fully formed function and keep it running. Much of what you'll be responsible for needs to be built from scratch or improved. If you're energised by that kind of ambiguity - and comfortable operating in a fast-moving environment where priorities shift and the organisation evolves quickly - this will be a great fit.
Responsibilities
- Own the People function day-to-day, acting as the People leader across the business
- Partner with managers and leaders on performance management, probation, employee relations, and people decisions
- Drive strategic People projects - including performance management frameworks, L&D, and culture initiatives - from design through to delivery
- Work with the People Ops manager to ensure all our operational processes are documented, AI-first and scalable
- Work closely with the VP of People to shape the People strategy as Sona scales past 150 headcount and into new international markets
Requirements
- You're a People generalist who's comfortable spanning business partnering, ops, and project delivery
- You've worked in a startup or scaleup environment (ideally post-Series A) and are used to building things from scratch, not just running established processes
- You bring a commercial mindset - you understand business strategy and organisational priorities, and you frame People decisions in terms of what's right for the business
- You've personally handled performance management, probation, and difficult people situations - not just designed policy around them
- You're self-sufficient - you can manage senior stakeholders, navigate ambiguity, and make judgment calls without constant input
- You communicate clearly and directly, adapting your style across different audiences and levels of seniority
Bonus: experience scaling a People function through 100-250 headcount, international employment experience, or exposure to building performance management or L&D frameworks from scratch.
Benefits
- Salary: £80,000 - £95,000
- Hybrid working: 2-3 days per week in the London office
- Share options
- 35 days annual leave (25 days standard plus 10 flexible public holiday days)
- Extra day of leave for every year of service
- Pension contributions matched up to 5%
- Comprehensive health insurance
- Enhanced parental leave & pay
- Bi-annual all expenses paid team retreats
- The latest Macbook and equipment budget for your home office
- Professional development budget
- Unlimited free books
Note: this represents a typical benefits package for a UK-based, full-time employee. Exact details may vary based on location and employment type but we try to be as fair as possible to all of our team members. Please ask your contact in the Talent team to clarify the available benefits for you.
Head of People in London employer: Sona
At Sona, we pride ourselves on being an innovative employer that values the growth and well-being of our team members. With a dynamic work culture that encourages creativity and collaboration, we offer exceptional benefits including hybrid working, generous annual leave, and professional development opportunities. As we continue to scale, you'll have the chance to make a significant impact while working alongside experienced leaders in a supportive environment located in the vibrant city of London.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of People in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. Tailor your answers to show how you align with their mission, especially in a fast-paced environment like Sona.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience in building People functions from scratch can help Sona scale effectively. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of People in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic:When you're 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 Head of People role. Highlight your relevant experience in building people functions and managing performance, as this will show us you understand what we’re looking for.
Showcase Your Impact:We love seeing how you've made a difference in previous roles. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've successfully navigated challenges or driven strategic projects in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:For the best chance of getting noticed, make sure to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sona
✨Know Your People Strategy
Before the interview, dive deep into Sona's approach to people management. Understand their current challenges and think about how you can contribute to building frameworks from scratch. Be ready to discuss your vision for a high-performance culture and how you would implement it.
✨Showcase Your Startup Experience
Highlight your experience in startup or scaleup environments, especially post-Series A. Share specific examples of how you've built processes or navigated ambiguity in previous roles. This will demonstrate your ability to thrive in a fast-paced setting like Sona.
✨Prepare for Performance Conversations
Since the role involves handling performance management and difficult conversations, prepare to discuss your past experiences in these areas. Think of scenarios where you successfully managed performance issues and how you approached them with empathy and clarity.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly, as effective communication is key in this role. Be prepared to adapt your style based on who you're speaking to, whether it's senior leaders or team members. This will show that you can navigate different levels of the organisation with ease.
