Human Resource (HR) & People Manager (24 hours)

Vested is a world-leading integrated marketing and communications consultancy focused exclusively on the financial services industry. Founded in 2015 with a mission to help shape a better financial services system that is more accessible, transparent, and sustainable, today Vested is the world’s fourth-largest financial services agency, with over 100 employees widely recognised for their industry expertise, creativity, and passion for financial services. We are proud that Vested is recognised as a Sunday Times Best Place to Work.

As our newly created Human Resources (HR) & People Manager, you’ll have a highly visible impact in a small, fast-paced marketing and comms agency—shaping how we support, develop and connect our team while continuing to build a positive, high-performing culture. Working closely with the CEO, our external HR Director and a global People team, you’ll be the UK team’s go-to HR partner, combining hands-on, pragmatic day-to-day delivery with people initiatives focused on wellbeing, team connection, inspiration and growth across the full employee lifecycle.

Key responsibilities will include but not be limited to the following:

• Strategy, culture & values
  • Partner with the CEO and external HR Director to support the delivery of the UK people strategy in line with business goals.
  • Help shape initiatives that strengthen employee engagement, wellbeing and development.
  • Ensure people and cultural initiatives are clearly aligned to the business plan and support our values across the employee lifecycle and day-to-day ways of working.
  • Serve as the “eyes and ears”, gathering feedback, spotting trends early, and turning insights into action.
  • Proactively recommend and deliver continuous improvements to people policies, processes and initiatives as the business grows.
  • Translate global HR frameworks and philosophies into pragmatic, locally appropriate practices for the UK team.
• Employee Relations & HR Compliance
  • Be a present, approachable HR resource – providing timely guidance, coaching and support to managers and employees.
  • Manage the employee lifecycle including onboarding, probation, performance reviews and offboarding.
  • Provide guidance on employee relations matters, including performance management and workplace matters, ensuring fair, balanced and legally compliant outcomes.
  • Provide practical, balanced advice to managers on people matters, helping them navigate performance conversations and workplace issues confidently and fairly.
  • Support absence management, flexible working requests and wellbeing initiatives.
  • Provide support to employees and managers during key moments across the employee lifecycle.
  • Work with the external HR Director to maintain HR policies.
  • Support wellbeing, DSE and health & safety obligations alongside the Office Manager.
  • Support managers to run an effective, well-documented performance cycle—setting meaningful objectives, giving constructive feedback, managing performance, and delivering UK learning and development initiatives aligned to the global programme.
• Stakeholder Management and Reporting
  • Build strong, trusted relationships with employees and managers across the UK business.
  • Work closely with the external HR Director who provides strategic oversight and guidance.
  • Collaborate with the global People team in the US to ensure alignment with global frameworks and culture.

Ideal candidate will have:

• Skills & Experience
  • CIPD Level 3 qualification at a minimum.
  • Solid HR generalist experience, ideally within an SME, agency or professional services environment.
  • Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
  • Experience advising on employee relations matters.
  • Comfortable operating as the primary HR contact within a small business.
  • Experience working alongside or within a global HR function.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the confidence to advise managers.
  • Experience in communications, marketing agencies, professional services or start-up companies is preferred.
  • Experience working with external HR consultants or outsourced HR models is preferred.
• Personal Attributes
  • Passionate about creating a positive employee experience.
  • Pragmatic, commercially aware and solutions-focused.
  • Approachable, discreet and trusted.
  • Forward-thinking with a continuous improvement mindset.
  • Flexible and adaptable with a strong sense of ownership.

£55,000 - £60,000 a year. This is a permanent role with Vested – with part-time hours – salary is pro-rated for approx 24 hours per week (flexible across the week). Location: London / Hybrid (weekly presence within the office). Qualified candidates will not require sponsorship to work in the UK.