About us We’re a growing, scale-up SME entering a pivotal stage of our journey and we’re looking for a forward-thinking Head of People for a 14-15 month maternity cover. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of high-impact projects and help shape the next stage of our People function as we scale. The Role You’ll play a key role in delivering our people strategy, driving strategic projects that elevate the employee experience and equipping leaders as we grow sustainably. This is a true generalist position - balancing big-picture thinking with hands-on execution, while leading a small People team and partnering closely with the Executive and Senior Leadership Teams. You’ll bring clarity, structure and a people-first mindset to the fast-moving challenges and opportunities of a high-growth environment. If you’re energised by impactful projects, continuous improvement and the chance to directly influence a scaling organisation, this role offers a genuinely exciting opportunity. What you’ll do · * Lead, evolve and deliver our people strategy to support growth and long-term organisational goals. · * Act as a trusted advisor to the Executive and Senior Leadership Team, providing guidance across all people matters. · * Support workforce planning, capability building, and succession planning as our teams expand. · * Guide the business through organisational changes with strong communication and an inclusive approach. · * Champion engagement, wellbeing and cultural initiatives that strengthen our values and employee experience. · * Enhance L&D offerings, progression pathways and early-career programmes to support internal development. · * Improve recruitment processes and pipelines, strengthen employer brand and support a high-quality onboarding experience. · * Ensure all people-related practices remain compliant with employment legislation and ISO requirements. · * Use people data and insights to identify trends, inform decision-making, and measure progress. · * Lead a small team and help to develop and shape their career pathways. What we’re looking for · * Proven experience in a senior People/HR role, ideally within a growing or fast-paced tech environment. · * CIPD Level 7 achieved or in progress is desirable. · * Strong understanding of people strategy, employment law, organisational development, change management and talent management. · * Confident working in a fast-paced environment, with evolving processes typical of a scale-up business. · * Excellent relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels. · * A proactive, people-first leader who enjoys improving processes and supporting organisational growth. Why join us? This is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact within a high-growth SME, helping to shape people practices, support our teams and strengthen a culture built on collaboration, curiosity and continuous improvement. You’ll join a dedicated, ambitious organisation where your work will directly influence our next stage of growth.