Calypso Search
Head of Human Resources
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Head of People
Location: London – hybrid, 2–3 days per week in the office
Working pattern: 4 days per week
Salary: £55,000–£60,000
Reporting to: Senior Leadership Team
The Opportunity
We are working with an ambitious, entrepreneurial luxury travel business entering an exciting period of growth and development. They are looking for an experienced Head of People to take ownership of the People function and help shape the next stage of the business.
This is a standalone HR role with no direct reports, so it will suit someone who enjoys operating both strategically and hands-on. You will be the sole People/HR specialist within the business, partnering closely with the senior leadership team while also being the trusted day-to-day point of contact for employees and managers.
It is an opportunity to have real influence across the organisation – strengthening management capability, improving performance and engagement, developing people processes and ensuring the business has the right HR foundations in place as it grows.
Your Role
People Strategy & Leadership
- Own and develop the People strategy in line with the wider objectives of the business.
- Act as a trusted advisor to the senior leadership team on all people-related matters.
- Provide insight and guidance around organisational structure, workforce planning and future people requirements.
- Help develop a high-performing, accountable and engaged culture.
- Balance the strategic requirements of a Head of People role with the hands-on delivery required within a standalone function.
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Performance & Manager Support
- Develop and embed effective performance management processes and review frameworks.
- Support managers in setting clear objectives, expectations and accountability.
- Guide managers through performance conversations, development plans and performance improvement processes.
- Promote a culture of regular feedback, ownership and continuous improvement.
Employee Engagement & Culture
- Be a trusted, approachable and confidential point of contact for employees across the business.
- Lead employee engagement initiatives and feedback programmes.
- Identify opportunities to improve communication, collaboration and team effectiveness.
- Work with leadership to embed company values and strengthen culture.
- Support employee development, progression and retention.
People Operations
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As the sole HR professional within the business, you will have overall responsibility for the smooth running of the People function, including:
- Owning HR policies, procedures, systems and documentation.
- Maintaining accurate employee records and ensuring HR processes are compliant and well managed.
- Reviewing and improving onboarding and the wider employee experience.
- Supporting organisational change, restructures and workforce planning where required.
- Identifying where external HR, employment law or specialist support may be required and managing these relationships.
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Employee Relations
- Take ownership of employee relations matters across the business.
- Advise managers on sensitive or complex people issues with professionalism and discretion.
- Manage investigations, grievances, disciplinary matters and performance processes where required.
- Ensure employment practices are fair, consistent and compliant with UK employment legislation.
- Provide pragmatic, commercially minded advice while balancing the needs of employees and the business.
What You Will Bring
- Significant experience within HR, People & Culture, People Operations or HR Business Partnering, with the confidence to step into a standalone Head of People position.
- Experience working within a growing, entrepreneurial or founder-led business would be highly advantageous.
- Comfortable being the sole HR/People specialist, with no team underneath you.
- A willingness to be hands-on – this is not a role where the operational elements of HR are delegated to a team.
- Strong knowledge of UK employment law and employee relations.
- Demonstrable experience improving performance, management capability and employee engagement.
- Confidence working directly with founders, senior leaders and managers.
- Excellent judgement and the ability to handle sensitive situations with discretion.
- Commercial, pragmatic and solutions-focused.
- Highly organised with excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
- CIPD qualification or equivalent experience preferred.
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