At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a dynamic team to deliver top-notch support for WaterAiders in the UK.
- Company: Join WaterAid, a global leader in providing clean water and sanitation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 36 days of holiday, flexible working, and a generous pension scheme.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on global water issues while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing payroll and HR operations in a fast-paced environment.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to creating a fairer future.
The predicted salary is between 49000 - 60000 £ per year.
Base pay rangeContract: Permanent, Fullātime, 35 hours per week
Salary: Ā£57,415 ā Ā£60,436 per annum with excellent benefits
Location: London, UK
UK hybrid working: at least 40 % of working time faceātoāface (London office, external meetings or travel). Two days per week, one Thursday, when the UK People Team are office based.
About WaterAidWe are a global federation driven by a single vision: a world where everyone, everywhere has clean water, sanitation and hygiene by 2030. Powered by our values of Respect, Accountability, Courage, Collaboration, Integrity and Innovation, we work alongside communities, partners and supporters to make change happen.
About the teamThe UK People Team play a critical role in helping WaterAid realise its goals. We lead on the development, deployment and application of strategies, policies and guidance that ensure that WaterAiders are aligned and engaged, and that they have the skills and opportunities to maximise the impact they can make to our mission. A small, impactful team, at the forefront of our delivery is the service we give to the organisation and central to that is our employee experience to support WaterAiders and the maintenance of a highāperforming environment.
About the roleA key leadership position in the UK, responsible for leading a dynamic and talented team that delivers the highest standards of operational support to WaterAiders in country. The role will need to plan, prioritise and deliver to a high standard what we promise in order to deliver our ambitious mission.
In this role you will
Manage, coach and build the capabilities of the People Support Team, their performance and development in line with our values and people promise.
Own UK People Team policies, processes and procedures, ensuring they meet legislative requirements, are fit for purpose and in line with best practice and organisational priorities under the umbrella of our employee value proposition.
Lead the delivery of the programme of work so that service standards are met, solutions are pragmatic and driven by our values, minimising risk.
Accountable for the delivery of UK monthly payroll and pension processes, providing oversight and support to the work of the ināhouse Payroll Officer and being a backāup to their role, to ensure payroll is run accurately each month.
Implement the annual pay award operationally ensuring accuracy, compliance and timeliness of payment to all UK based staff.
Implement a new payroll system for the UK.
Primary super user of HR Information System, PeoplePlace, ensuring effective and efficient use of the system. Responsible that the country\ās employee data is correct and in compliance with data protection.
Drive the importance of data and people analytics and create a culture of dataābased decisionāmaking and insight across the team.
Maintain the monthly UK headcount establishment data with key stakeholders in Finance.
Annual analysis and statutory reporting of the Pay Gap in the UK.
Act as the UK Team specialist on areas of HR compliance, working with 3rd parties and specialist advisors, to ensure that our policies, processes and practices are compliant and meet legal requirements.
Provide senior expertise and build capability across the wider people function on data protection in the People Team.
Ownership of salary calculations in the event of employee termination and/or redundancy.
Monthly payroll and pension sign off.
Budget management and invoice approval.
Requirements
Proven experience in leading, managing and developing a highāperforming people operations team in a matrix, fastāpaced organisation.
Proven experience in managing and running ināhouse payroll for at least 250 staff or more.
Excellent understanding of HR policy development and proven experience in developing and embedding HR policies, processes and procedures that are fit for purpose.
A qualified and robust HR Practitioner who has sound and upātoādate knowledge of employment law, tax and legislative requirements affecting a wide spectrum of HR policies and practice, i.e. payroll, pension, reward and benefits, together with their application in the context of the employee experience.
Working knowledge and experience of HR and Payroll systems to maximise functionality and create efficiencies.
Demonstrated project management capability.
Proven experience in contract management and managing a wide range of thirdāparty service providers.
Personal qualities
A selfāstarter focused on delivery and execution: proactive in bringing solutions and recommendations to resolve problems and continuously improve HR practices.
Able to navigate uncertainty and ambiguity: comfortable working at pace, resilient and able to work under pressure.
Desirable capabilities
Degreeālevel education or equivalent.
Associate (or higher) membership of the CIPD or equivalent work experience.
An interest in and/or knowledge of development issues and the work of INGOs.
Benefits
36 days holiday (including 8 Bank Holidays) ā see note below for clarification.
Option to buy an extra 5 days annual leave.
Employer pension contribution up to 10 %.
Flexible and hybrid working arrangements.
Season ticket loan.
Free annual eye tests.
\āGive as you Earn\ā charitable giving scheme.
Enhanced parental leave (maternity, adoption/surrogacy, shared parental and paternity).
Sabbaticals.
One paid volunteer day each year.
As part of our annual leave policy, all employees receive three additional days of annual leave on top of their standard allocation of 25 days. These days are designated to cover the period when our UK office closes between Christmas and New Year, allowing all UK WaterAiders to take a wellādeserved break.
Equal OpportunitiesWe welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, beliefs, customs, traditions, ways of life, and status. This includes, but is not limited to, race, ethnicity, caste, colour, gender, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, disability status, neurodiversity, age, marital and family status, sexual orientation and gender identity, health status, place of residence, economic and social situation.
SafeguardingWe are committed to protecting everyone we come into contact with. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references and appropriate screening checks (which can include counterāterrorism, safeguarding and criminal records checks).
Application deadlineApplications close 28 October 2025 at 12:00 PM UK time. Availability for the first interview (online) is required for 10 November 2025, and the second interviews will take place in person at Canary Wharf on 19 November 2025.
How to applyClick Apply to upload your CV and a short oneāpager cover letter.
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UK People Support Team Lead employer: WaterAid
Contact Detail:
WaterAid Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice š¤«
We think this is how you could land UK People Support Team Lead
āØTip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that arenāt even advertised yet.
āØTip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the company and its values, especially how they align with WaterAidās mission. Show them youāre not just a fit for the role, but for their culture too.
āØTip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online platforms. The more comfortable you are, the better youāll perform when it counts.
āØTip Number 4
Donāt forget to apply through our website! Itās the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows youāre serious about joining the team!
We think you need these skills to ace UK People Support Team Lead
Some tips for your application š«”
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the UK People Support Team Lead role. Highlight your experience in managing people operations and payroll, as well as any relevant HR policies you've developed. We want to see how your skills align with our mission!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about WaterAid's mission and how your values align with ours. Keep it concise but impactful ā we love a good story!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: In your application, be sure to highlight your leadership experience. Weāre looking for someone who can manage and develop a high-performing team, so share examples of how you've done this in the past.
Apply Through Our Website: Donāt forget to apply through our website! Itās the best way to ensure your application gets to us directly. Plus, it shows youāre keen on joining our team at WaterAid. We canāt wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at WaterAid
āØKnow Your Stuff
Make sure you have a solid understanding of WaterAid's mission and values. Familiarise yourself with their policies, especially those related to HR and payroll, as you'll be expected to lead a team that embodies these principles.
āØShowcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed and developed teams in the past. Highlight your experience in a matrix environment and how you've navigated challenges while maintaining high performance.
āØBe Data-Savvy
Since the role involves HR analytics, brush up on your knowledge of data-driven decision-making. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to improve processes or outcomes in previous roles.
āØAsk Insightful Questions
Prepare thoughtful questions about the team dynamics, the challenges they face, and how success is measured in this role. This shows your genuine interest and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.