Overview
Pivotal London is partnering with Ancient + Brave — a trailblazing wellness brand redefining the future of health and wellbeing.
About Ancient + Brave
We started as all good businesses do, by seeing the opportunity to do things differently. We are committed to putting people and the planet at the heart of our business, and as our community grows, so does our vision.
We are shaping the future of wellness with our range of award-winning collagen, blends and supplements - simple daily rituals, thoughtfully designed to support our community on their journey towards whole body health.
In June we were named 11th in The Sunday Times 100 fastest-growing private companies, and we have recently been recognised as one of the FT 1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies 2025. As a B-Corp, Ancient + Brave meets the highest standards of social and environmental impact, proving that people, planet and profitability can successfully co-exist.
Want to be a part of a team that’s shaping the future of health and wellbeing? We'd love to have you!
The Role & Purpose
We’re looking for an exceptional People Director to lead our People & Talent team and shape the future of our employee experience. This is a strategic leadership role for a seasoned HR professional who thrives on building high-performing cultures and developing effective people strategies that align with business goals. You’ll be instrumental in driving organisational growth, supporting a fast-paced, scaling business, ensuring legal and ethical HR compliance, and fostering a culture where people thrive and perform at their best.
Key Responsibilities
Reporting to the Founder & CEO, you will be responsible for:
Strategic People Leadership
* Develop and execute People strategies that scale with the organisation’s UK and international growth.
* Serve as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to the C-suite, ensuring People strategies are fully integrated with overall business objectives.
* Spearhead initiatives that foster a culture of innovation, agility, and sustained high performance within a fast-paced, scaling environment.
* Continuously evolve and tailor the People function to support the unique needs of our head office, unit/warehouse fulfilment centre, and international remote teams.
Talent Acquisition & Management
* Oversee and evolve recruitment strategies to attract, assess, and retain exceptional talent across the UK and international markets, ensuring a best-in-class candidate experience.
* Refine and improve onboarding and development programmes to ensure they remain inclusive, effective, and impactful, setting new hires up for long-term success.
* Implement rigorous performance management frameworks that drive high performance, fuel accountability, and unlock potential across a range of disciplines and working environments.
Employee Experience, Culture & Engagement
* Champion a values-led, inclusive culture that aligns with the company’s mission and resonates across all levels of the organisation.
* Run regular employee engagement surveys, deliver clear reporting, and lead the creation and execution of action plans to enhance engagement, wellbeing, and retention.
* Collaborate with the senior leadership team to deliver clear, timely, and engaging internal communications, using platforms like Slack and Notion to promote transparency, alignment, and awareness of company updates, policies, processes, and benefits.
* Organise and facilitate company wide ‘All Hands’ meetings to foster alignment, connection, and open communication.
* Design and manage competitive, market-aligned compensation and benefits strategies that support global growth and talent retention.
* Ensure all reward structures comply with local employment laws and reflect best practices.
* Lead the annual pay review and manage the discretionary bonus scheme in collaboration with the C-suite, ensuring a strong link to performance and business outcomes.
Compliance & Reporting
* Ensure compliance with all relevant employment and data protection laws in the UK and internationally, maintaining high standards across all policies, processes, and documentation.
* Develop and maintain accurate People data and HRIS reporting to inform strategic decision-making and workforce planning (currently using Humaans and Deel).
* Oversee payroll processes to ensure accurate, timely, and legally compliant compensation across all locations.
* Provide expert guidance on complex employee relations matters, with a primary focus on the UK workforce, while ensuring consistent and compliant practices across international markets (currently Germany, Spain, and the US).
Learning & Development
* Identify training needs and design development programmes that enhance employee skills and drive performance.
* Manage the training budget to ensure cost-effective, high-impact learning and development initiatives.
* Promote a culture of continuous learning and professional growth, empowering employees to reach their full potential.
* Oversee, mentor, and inspire the People team, fostering a high-performing, collaborative culture focused on delivering exceptional employee experiences.
* Manage, support, and develop individual team members through regular feedback, clear objectives, and professional growth opportunities.
ESG & B-Corp
* Collaborate with the ESG & Foundation Director to support and strengthen the company’s ESG and B-Corp commitments, ensuring all People-related policies and practices align with ethical and sustainability standards.
* Actively contribute to a culture of environmental and social responsibility, championing initiatives that enhance the company’s positive impact.
Who You Are
To be successful in this role, you will need the following skills / knowledge / experience:
* Experienced People leader who has held senior leadership roles in fast-paced, scaling businesses.
* A strategic thinker with the ability to develop and execute long-term plans, while remaining actively engaged in day-to-day operations to ensure effective delivery.
* Strong understanding of building high-performing teams and a natural alignment with Ancient + Brave.
* Highly organised HR generalist with deep knowledge of UK employment law and hands-on experience managing complex employee relations matters.
Further, to truly thrive at Ancient + Brave you will need to embody the spirit of our brand and align with our company culture. You will be:
* Hungry: Ambitious, driven with a growth mindset, always seeking ways to learn, develop and be better.
* Humble: No ego, collaborative team player, always acts with integrity and clear sense of accountability, aligned with our B-Corp values
* High Performing: Effective. Efficient, with a solid work ethic. Always operates with self-awareness that enables them to consistently push for exceptional results—while maintaining resilience, balance, and self-care.
* Hustle: Entrepreneurial. Innovative, fast-paced, great communicator. Always adept at solving problems and navigating dynamic, ever-changing situations.
Senioriy level
* Director
Employment type
* Full-time
Job function
* Human Resources
Industries
* Wellness and Fitness Services
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