About the role
As Head of People Operations and Change, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the People function, delivering high-impact, customer-centred services and systems that enable organisational effectiveness and transformation. You will lead the strategic design and delivery of the people technology strategy, whilst embedding agile and design thinking principles to drive innovation, efficiency, and a seamless employee experience.
In this role, you will:
- Lead the development and implementation of People strategy, services, and operating models, embedding agile and design thinking principles to drive innovation and efficiency.
- Champion digital transformation across HR systems, automation, AI tools, and self-service solutions to enhance the employee experience and operational performance.
- Provide visible leadership and coaching to HR Business Partners, developing their capability as strategic talent partners and change leaders.
- Deliver complex organisational change programmes, restructures, and high-risk employee relations matters with legal compliance, risk mitigation, and a people-centred approach.
- Build strong, collaborative relationships with recognised trade unions and senior stakeholders to support sustainable business outcomes.
- Embed a proactive safeguarding culture and ensure safeguarding expertise is integrated into all relevant projects and initiatives.
About you
You're a confident change agent with experience leading organisational and people transformation within an HR environment. You bring an agile mindset, a strong understanding of HR roles and systems, and a genuine interest in using technology as an enabler of change.
Comfortable leading diverse teams through complexity and restructure, you know how to build trust, bring people with you on that journey, and embed lasting change.
To be successful, it is important that you have:
- Significant experience in HR operations and people transformation, including leading large-scale change programmes and restructures.
- Proven experience in developing and delivering products, services and operating models, ideally within a People / HR function, using Agile and Design Thinking principles.
- Strong understanding of digital HR systems and technologies, including experience leading system implementations, automation initiatives, and innovation.
- Strong understanding of employment law, risk mitigation, and people-centred change delivery, including managing high-risk employee relations matters with sound judgement, legal awareness, and a balanced, solutions-focused approach.
- Experience of engaging and negotiating with trade unions in a constructive and outcomes-driven way, with the ability to navigate sensitive and high-impact issues confidently.
- Strong coaching and people development capability, with experience building high-performing teams, especially in developing HR Business Partners into strategic talent and change leaders.
- Analytical and outcome-focused, with experience using data, KPIs and user feedback to drive decision-making, improve services and demonstrate value.
- Resilient, adaptable, and future-focused, with a commitment to continuous improvement and building inclusive, modern people practices that meet evolving organisational needs.
- Commitment to Save the Children's vision, mission, and values.