At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead people strategy and talent acquisition in a fast-paced, growing environment.
- Company: Join Wingstop, a top-rated workplace known for its vibrant culture and flavourful experiences.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, generous bonuses, enhanced holidays, and private healthcare.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team committed to inclusion and personal development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on our people and culture while driving growth across the UK & Ireland.
- Qualifications: 7 years of senior HR experience in multi-market environments with strong compliance knowledge.
The predicted salary is between 85000 - 85000 £ per year.
Location: London Based - 4 days in office (Maple Street, London)
Reports to: People Director
Salary: Up to 85,000 Bonus
About Us
At Wingstop, we're not just in the chicken business - we're in the flavour business. Creating memorable experiences for our customers and team is what we do best, and we've got the accolades to prove it (Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2024 & 2025 and Deliveroo's Restaurant of the Year). But our mission remains simple: BRING THE FLAVOUR.
Role Overview
We are seeking a people leader who thrives in a fast scaling, high growth environment and is energised by building structure, capability, and culture in a business that moves at pace. This role requires someone London based with experience supporting multi market operations, and capable of building scalable, compliant, data driven people processes in a fast-growth environment. You will act as a strategic partner to the Senior Leadership Team while remaining hands-on enough to implement and optimise people systems, reporting, and compliance frameworks.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic People Leadership
- Develop and deliver the People Strategy aligned to Wingstop's UK & Ireland growth plan.
- Partner with senior leadership team, and senior functional leaders as a trusted People advisor.
- Support organisational design and workforce planning across all markets.
- Talent Acquisition
- Lead the TA strategy for both restaurant and Central Support hiring, ensuring the function is fast, efficient, and scalable.
- Build talent pipelines and employer branding initiatives.
- Ensure recruitment processes are compliant, data driven, and consistent across regions.
- HR Business Partnering & People Operations
- Provide senior HR leadership across Central Support and Operations.
- Lead complex ER matters ensuring consistency, compliance, and risk mitigation.
- Oversee HR policies, handbooks, and processes across markets, ensuring compliance with all relevant legislation (and additional markets as expansion continues).
- Enhance HRIS capability, ensuring systems and data are accurate, secure, and optimised.
- Compliance, Governance & Risk Management
- Own all HR compliance, ensuring adherence to legislation across UK & Ireland (right to work, GDPR, onboarding/offboarding, working time regulations, audit readiness).
- Ensure HR policies are continuously updated in line with legislative changes.
- Partner with Legal and Operations to ensure robust people governance frameworks.
- People Analytics & Reporting
- Lead people analytics, creating dashboards and reporting packs for SLT, and the Board.
- Identify trends in hiring, labour planning, ER risk, and engagement to inform decision-making.
- Improve data accuracy and integrity, strengthening how people data is captured, stored, and analysed.
- Engagement, Reward & Benefits Strategy
- Support the Engagement, Reward & Benefits Strategy that strengthens culture, supports retention, and enhances the employee experience across Central Support and Operations.
- Develop a data led engagement framework, using insights from people analytics, listening tools, and workforce KPIs to shape action plans and drive continuous improvement.
- Own the Reward & Recognition Strategy, ensuring programmes are competitive, commercially responsible, performance aligned, and reflective of Wingstop's culture and values.
- Regularly benchmark against the external market to ensure Wingstop remains competitive.
- Partner with Finance and senior leaders to model costs, forecast future needs, and ensure all initiatives deliver strong ROI and align to business performance.
Skills and Experience Required
- 7 years' experience in a large scale business at a senior HR level
- London-based HR leader with significant experience in multi-market HR leadership (ideally UK & Ireland, & wider EMEA).
- Proven ability to operate in multi-site, fast-growth environments.
- Strong background in people compliance, HR governance, policy frameworks, and risk management.
- Demonstrated expertise in people analytics, workforce reporting, KPI dashboards, and HR data integrity.
- Experience leading both HR and Talent Acquisition functions.
- Strong HR generalist knowledge with ability to manage ER, reward, talent and organisational development.
- Skilled in HR systems, HRIS optimisation, and using data to drive decisions.
- Commercially minded with the ability to challenge and influence senior leaders.
- Excellent communicator who builds trust quickly, with a pragmatic and solutions-focused approach.
Why Wingstop?
Wingstop UKI is committed to investing in and rewarding our people. Benefits include:
- Generous annual Bonus scheme: 30% base with stretch based on business performance
- Equity Programme: opportunity to invest into the business, starting within first 12 months (dependant on equity cycle).
- Enhanced Holiday allowance: Enjoy 25 days of annual leave plus bank holidays & birthday (34 total)
- Enhanced Employer Pension Contributions
- Private Healthcare: Enhanced benefit from private health insurance provider Vitality for you plus spouse & dependants
- Family Support: Enhanced maternity and paternity leave for growing families
- Enhanced Sickness Benefit: Two weeks full pay, 12 month rolling
- EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme: available after 3 months of service
- Mileage: 0.45p unlimited!
Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion
We celebrate individuality and are dedicated to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. As an equal-opportunity employer, we are committed to creating a supportive environment for all. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process to perform at your best, please let us know - we're here to assist you.
If this opportunity aligns with your skills and career goals, we encourage you to apply. Join us in bringing the flavour!
Head of People - London employer: Wingstop
At Wingstop, we pride ourselves on being a top employer, recognised as one of the Sunday Times Best Places to Work for 2024 and 2025. Our London-based team enjoys a vibrant work culture that fosters growth and inclusivity, alongside generous benefits such as a competitive bonus scheme, enhanced holiday allowance, and private healthcare. We are committed to investing in our people, providing ample opportunities for professional development and a supportive environment where every individual can thrive.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of People - London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company culture and values. At Wingstop, they’re all about bringing the flavour, so think about how you can showcase your passion for creating memorable experiences. Tailor your answers to reflect their mission!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Do mock interviews with friends or use online resources to get comfortable with common questions. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll feel when it’s time to shine in front of the hiring team.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of People - London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of People role. Highlight your experience in multi-market HR leadership and any specific achievements that align with our mission at Wingstop. We want to see how you can bring the flavour to our people strategy!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how your background makes you the perfect fit. Don’t forget to mention your experience in fast-growth environments and your strategic approach to people leadership.
Showcase Your Data Skills:Since we value data-driven decision-making, make sure to highlight your experience with people analytics and reporting. Share examples of how you've used data to inform HR strategies or improve processes in previous roles. We love numbers that tell a story!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows us you’re keen on joining the Wingstop family right from the start!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wingstop
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into Wingstop's mission and values. Understand their unique approach to flavour and customer experience. This will help you connect your own experiences in HR and talent acquisition to their culture, showing that you're not just a fit for the role but also for the company.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
As a Head of People, you'll need to demonstrate your ability to think strategically. Prepare examples of how you've developed and implemented people strategies in fast-paced environments. Be ready to discuss how you can align HR initiatives with Wingstop's growth plans across the UK and Ireland.
✨Data-Driven Decisions
Since the role involves people analytics and reporting, come prepared with insights from your past experiences. Share specific instances where data influenced your decisions in HR processes or talent acquisition. This will highlight your analytical skills and show that you can bring a data-driven approach to Wingstop.
✨Engagement is Key
Wingstop values employee engagement and culture. Think about how you've previously enhanced employee experience and retention. Be ready to discuss your ideas on developing an engagement framework that aligns with their values and how you can contribute to a positive workplace culture.
