Director of People Operations

About the role

You will command the full employee journey and guard the human experience inside AI systems. This role shapes how teams work with technology while coordinating critical partnerships. You will use practical tools to remove operational friction on a daily basis. The position is a key part of building an AI-native People Operations team. You will not just use AI tools; you will redesign workflows around them. You will own end-to-end People lifecycle processes with automation as a core design principle. This includes onboarding, offboarding, employee changes, probations, contracts, and references. A core duty is to identify manual workflows and build or implement AI-enabled solutions to reduce effort and improve service quality.

Key facts

What you'll do

You will own end-to-end People lifecycle processes with automation as a core design principle. This includes onboarding, offboarding, employee changes, probations, contracts, and references. You will drive continuous improvement using AI and automation as primary tools for efficiency and scalability. A core duty is to identify manual workflows and build or implement AI-enabled solutions to reduce effort and improve service quality. Maintaining compliance, including SMCR requirements, is a design constraint for all operations. You will keep People Operations processes, policies, and knowledge bases documented and current. You will partner with Finance and Payroll to ensure accurate data flows and strong operational controls, particularly for pay-related processes. You will act as the go-to owner for core People systems, such as HiBob, performance platforms, and the wider tech stack. This includes driving system optimization, adoption, automation, and cross-system integrations. An important responsibility is owning the People team's AI tooling roadmap at an operational level. You will identify opportunities where AI can improve team workflows and build the business case for investment. You will manage People systems governance, data integrity, compliance, and effective system controls. This role also manages vendor relationships, including renewals and contract management. You will run the People inbox and service desk, ensuring fast, high-quality responses to employees and managers. Identifying bottlenecks and improving turnaround times is a core function. You will support Payroll and People Partners on the execution of pay cycles. This involves implementing changes to compensation and benefits structures accurately across systems and documentation. You will monitor benefits take-up and stay current with market trends. Processing compensation and organisational changes with full documentation is also required. Line management of the People Coordinator is part of this role. This includes building their confidence and capability with AI tools. You will act as a trusted partner to People Partners, Talent Acquisition, and the wider organisation on People processes and policy. Supporting People Team initiatives, roadmap delivery, and cultural work is also expected.

Requirements

The role requires 5+ years of experience owning People Operations in a fast-paced scale-up or similar environment. A track record of using AI tools to change how People Ops works is essential, not just awareness of them. Strong HRIS experience is required, with HiBob being preferred. Experience working inside financially regulated settings, such as financial services, is necessary. You must be able to demonstrate a history of process discipline and compliance ownership in complex organisations. The ability to manage multiple stakeholders and conflicting priorities with professionalism is essential. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills are required on a daily basis. You should be comfortable working with sensitive employee data and maintaining confidentiality at all times. A proactive approach to identifying problems and implementing solutions independently is expected.

Practical notes

The role is office-based in London with standard UK working hours. Travel between offices may be required for business needs. Eligibility to work in the United Kingdom without sponsorship is required.