Head of People

City of London Permanent View Job Description
The Head of People role is responsible for the development and implementation of HR policies, processes, services, and activities in support of the delivery of the organisation's aims and goals. Leading a team of human resource practitioners and working collaboratively at senior leadership team level, the role holder will deputise for the CPO and consult with the executive team and members of the organisation's Board and remuneration committee on key people issues as appropriate.
  • Exciting HR leadership role working for the FSCS based in London
  • CPO progression opportunity

About Our Client

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) is the UK's compensation scheme for financial services, helping people get back on track by protecting them when authorised financial services firms fail. FSCS is an independent free service which covers all regulated financial services in the UK. The Scheme protects: deposits in banks, building societies and credit unions; insurance policies; some investments and investment advice; insurance broking; mortgage advice; self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs); pensions advice; payment protection insurance (PPI); debt management plans; and pre-paid funeral plans. 

FSCS's mission is to provide customers with a trusted compensation service which helps raise public confidence in the UK financial services industry. 

The FSCS were set up in 2001 under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and is independent of the government and financial services industry. The organisation can pay compensation thanks to levies that authorised financial services firms pay. In 2023/24 they paid out £423m in compensation to 19,008 customers of failed firms. Where it's possible and cost effective, they make recoveries from failed firms to help offset the levies financial services firms pay. Since the 2015/16 financial year, they have recovered more than £310m.

Job Description

  • Take ownership of the end-to-end employee lifecycle including talent management, learning, DE&I, employee engagement, culture & wellbeing.
  • Contribute to the development of the organisation's people strategy and lead the implementation of the delivery plan.
  • Develop effective employment policies and processes that comply with the most current legislation, regulations, accepted professional standards, and that support the organisation's aims - ensure they are fully embedded, understood and followed.
  • Drive delivery of People KPIs and service levels and provide regular people data, insights, and recommendations for action to the executive team, and provide the senior leadership team with the relevant data for their areas of responsibility to inform decision making.
  • Collate information and draft Board and committee papers as required.
  • Lead the procurement process for all people service providers ensuring the service meets the organisation's requirements both now and for the life of the contracts. Point of escalation in any disputes.
  • Manage the annual review of pay and benefits.
  • Manage the team and all activities within budget.
  • Provide expert guidance on a variety of people matters at senior leadership team level - oversee complex cases or those involving senior individuals, including, but not limited to: Employee relations issues - redundancy, disciplinary and grievance.
  • Provide the appropriate support for change management initiatives.
  • Ensure managers are sufficiently skilled and enabled to access appropriate guidance and information to manage all people related issues.
  • Provide professional leadership, support, and development to the people team, to increase knowledge and develop skills to ensure that the organisation receives the highest level of service across all aspects of the employee lifecycle.
  • Take a lead role in transforming and strengthening the organisational culture, and role model the organisation's values and ways of working.
  • Coach, mentor and support senior and high potential colleagues to develop and maintain effective relationships and encourage retention.
  • Drive for continuous improvement in all areas of responsibility.

The Successful Applicant

  • Held previous position of seniority and with a proven record of delivery.
  • A commercial, hands-on people leader, who is tenacious and will have experience of developing, driving, and embedding transformational change.
  • Outstanding communication skills - ability to influence, establish credibility and trust, challenge, and build department accountability.
  • Able to problem solve and demonstrate operational and strategic skills.
  • Experience of acting as a role model and leading a team of professionals.
  • Commercial acumen - proven record of business partnering to deliver commercially focused people strategies and has a good overall understanding of company finances and uses this to develop policies.
  • Solid employment law knowledge and proven experience of applying updated legislation to a variety of HR situations.
  • Ability to manage sensitive issues with discretion.
  • Experienced in coaching managers through complex people issues.
  • Evidence of having a passion for collaborating with people and working beyond the confines of the job description.
  • First degree and hold a relevant professional qualification (CIPD, ILM).
  • Minimum of 10+ years post qualification experience.

What's on Offer

This is an exciting opportunity for an ambitious Head of People looking to progress into their first CPO role.

A six figure salary plus market leading benefits.

Contact
Jessica Whitehead
Quote job ref
JN-092024-6531098
Phone number
+44 113 243 7722

Job summary

Job function
Human Resources
Subsector
Head of HR
Sector
Financial Services
Location
City of London
Contract type
Permanent
Consultant name
Jessica Whitehead
Consultant phone
+44 113 243 7722
Job reference
JN-092024-6531098