Job Description
Role Title: Head of People
Start Date: ASAP
Duration: 12 months
Type of contract: Fixed-term contract
Location: Cambridge and hybrid
Reports to: Director of People
ABOUT FINANCIAL INNOVATION FOR IMPACT
Financial Innovation for Impact (Fii) is an international, not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of scalable, sustainable, and evidence-based financial and regulatory innovation. We work with academic institutions, digital finance ecosystem partners, and other stakeholders to create knowledge and apply data-driven insights to inform the development of fintech and the decision-making of central banks, securities regulators, and other financial authorities.
Fii generates research, develops digital tools, and delivers capacity building at scale through technical assistance programmes to benefit financially excluded, marginalised, and disadvantaged populations.
Operations/People
The People directorate is responsible for the delivery of Fii’s People strategy. It is led by a Director of People, who sits on Fii’s Executive Committee and the Fii Remuneration Committee. The directorate also includes finance, communications and operations for Fii.
The opportunity
Fii is entering a pivotal phase of maturity. As our global footprint has expanded, the People function has become a strategic enabler of mission delivery. The Head of People will play a defining role in building the people infrastructure required to scale responsibly, strengthen organisational identity, and deliver excellence across a globally distributed team.
THE ROLE
The Head of People will lead the operational and strategic development of Fii’s People function, ensuring it enables sustainable growth, high performance, strong governance, and an exceptional employee experience. Working closely with the Director of People, Executive Committee and Senior Management Team, the role translates organisational strategy into workforce strategy.
You will be collaborative, innovative, with a strategic mindset and can-do attitude, enabling the collective ownership of the directorate priorities and a high-performing team culture.
You will be an experienced senior HR professional, acknowledged for successfully leading projects and facilitating change management in alignment with organisational priorities. You will have responsibility for ensuring the delivery of People Directorate priorities, working in partnership with senior colleagues and the wider directorate to develop and embed a positive and collaborative approach.
You will clearly articulate the strategic vision for Fii, ensuring that the directorate priorities, plan, and culture enable the delivery of the people elements of the strategy, to ensure that our staff have the best possible experience.
RESPONSIBILITIES
* Deputise for the Director of People as required. This will include participating in and leading key strategic projects and priorities within Fii
* Establish and maintain effective governance and reporting arrangements, monitor progress and manage resources and stakeholders alongside risks and issues.
* Work with the Director of People to coordinate the development, delivery and review of the annual People Directorate priorities and plan. This will include facilitating a shared services approach, coaching and maximising opportunities for collaboration.
* Conduct effective planning and performance monitoring, including reporting regularly against agreed OKRs, and developing short-, medium- and long-term plans in response to internal and external factors as required.
* Work with the Director of People and the Head of Finance to ensure excellent financial and budgetary management.
* Contribute to the management and delivery of Fii’s Remuneration Strategy
* Own and manage the People Directorate risk register, maintain effective business continuity plans and contribute to Fii’s response to legislative and policy developments.
* Manage data protection requirements and related activity with regards to GDPR and related regulations/legislation within the People Directorate.
* Work with colleagues to develop solutions to people management and development issues and support and coach managers to ensure effective change leadership at all levels.
* Contribute to quality assurance and enhancement across all activities, including audit reviews within the People Directorate.
* Contribute to the management and delivery of Fii’s bi-annual performance reviews.
* Contribute as a member of the Senior Management Team
* Represent the Director of People in meetings, at working groups and with both internal and external stakeholders.
* Continuously improve your knowledge of people management processes and strategy, benchmarking and knowledge management.
* Maintain your continuous professional development (CPD) and continuously strengthen effective interpersonal and leadership skills.
* Manage Fii’s health and safety policy and procedures
REQUIREMENTS
We are looking for an experienced Head of People with professional qualifications and the ability to support a growing business.
* Experience of working in a startup environment requiring agile and pragmatic solutions
* Knowledge of and experience with working with an Employer of Record is desirable
* Proven skills and achievements in policy development, displaying analytical thinking, innovation, and problem-solving.
* Excellent report writing skills using both numerical and literary sources.
* Competent user of information systems and records management systems, including the advanced use of Microsoft packages, Bamboo HR or similar.
* Experience in compensation reviews, salary data collection and supporting a company’s renumeration strategy
* Coaching and mentoring skills and experience
* In-depth experience of developing and managing HR strategies and policies and significant experience of employee relations, recruitment and generalist HR working at a senior level.
* Recent demonstrable experience of handling redundancy and organisational change situations and casework.
* Up-to-date experience and sound understanding of equality and diversity issues.
* Excellent interpersonal, communication, team-working and networking skills.
* Strong project and change management skills.
* Ability to lead, motivate and develop a team of HR professionals
* Skilled in disseminating highly complex, sensitive or contentious information to a range of audiences
* Open and consultative management style.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Essential
* CIPD qualified/accredited or equivalent level of experience.
* Educated to degree level with a Postgraduate management. diploma or equivalent experience or training. Further specialist knowledge or experience to master’s level equivalent.
* Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development.
Desirable Criteria
* Masters/post graduate level qualification in a relevant subject
WHAT WE OFFER
* A job and a team with a purpose. This is a chance to work on important challenges in the financial sector that greatly affect our economies and society, and to have a real impact using data and tech to transform the public sector.
* Opportunity to innovate and to break new ground in this field.
* Exposure to leading thinkers, researchers, and solution creators in the financial and technology space and academia.
* Opportunities to frame evidence-based discussions in a rapidly evolving industry.
* Opportunities to work and collaborate with exceptional teammates, experts, and partners globally.
* Competitive compensation.
* Flexible work schedule.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should apply via LinkedIn or submit their CV and a cover letter to jobs@fii.international.