Global Head of People Operations

It’s an exciting time to join Simply Business’ People Team as we embark on our journey to globalize the way we work to enable better outcomes for our employees. We are seeking a Global Head of People Operations to lead our newly combined global People Ops teams who provide broad HR solutions and services to our 1,000+ employees in the UK, US and Poland. Reporting the Global Chief People Officer and a member of the Global People Leadership Team, this pivotal role requires a strategic thinker with a proven track record in optimizing People Operations functions and a passion for leveraging data and technology to continue our transformation of service delivery, process documentation, and knowledge management. This leader will lead our capabilities in creating one SB employee experience, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.  

• Strategic Planning and Implementation: Develop and execute a strategic plan to unify our location-based teams to drive one employee experience.
• Enhancement of Self Service Capabilities: Leverage technology, data and AI/ML to evolve our platform of employee and manager self-service.
• Change Management: Drive change management initiatives to ensure smooth adoption of new technologies and processes.
• Team Leadership: Manage and develop the HR Operations team to build a high-performing group that delivers exceptional service.
• Performance Metrics: Establish and monitor key performance indicators to measure the effectiveness of HR services and identify areas for improvement.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with senior leadership to align HR operational strategies with overall business objectives.
• Continuous Improvement: Foster a culture of continuous improvement, leveraging feedback to optimize HR services.
• Compliance and Best Practices: Ensure all HR policies and operations comply with legal and regulatory standards and reflect industry best practices.
• Employee Relations: Lead capabilities in resolving employee relations matters, in partnership with the People Partnering team, and maintaining positive relationships across our employee population.
• Budget Management: Oversee the HR operations budget, ensuring resources are used efficiently and effectively.
•  Associate Experience: Champion initiatives that enhance the overall associate experience, making Simply Business an employer of choice.
• HR Technology: In partnership with internal colleagues from across the business and parent company, oversee the HR tech stack to drive automation, streamline HR processes, and ensure data integrity. Play a key role in reducing manual and one-off processes and look to develop automated solutions within the HR technology suite
• Governance and Audit: Drive people-related governance, including process and policy development and drive an audit culture 

• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in HR operations or HR technology, with a focus on strategic planning, data and analysis, and process optimization.
• Strong legal and regulatory knowledge and experience in both the UK and US labor markets
• Experience with establishing new HR processes and identifying/implementing innovative HR digital solutions.
• Strong experience in change management, with a proven track record of effectively implementing large-scale organizational changes and gaining followership and buy-in at all levels of the organization.Exceptional leadership and team-building skills, with the ability to balance tactical and strategic responsibilities.
• Experienced in driving continuous improvement initiatives in a global environment
• Ability to handle complex employee relations cases with a focus on managing risk and offering pragmatic, considered solutions
• Strong business and financial acumen, excellent communication skills, and the capability to influence and collaborate across all levels.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, plan and organize large scale initiatives, and measure impact and results.
• Results oriented, attentive to detail and data driven, with proven ability to communicate complex data in an engaging and compelling way. 
• Ceridian Dayforce and Workday experience preferred.

• Thinks strategically, synthesizes, and simplifies complex topics and data
• Collaborates easily and effectively and establishes trusting business relationships with colleagues across teams and geographies 
• Approaches problem-solving from a strategic perspective to drive sustainable solutions
• Understands business principles, drivers, and operating models
• Models expert interpersonal communication skills – verbal and written
• Possesses a strategic mindset with a strong understanding of how the full spectrum of organizational development interventions can impact business strategy
• Exhibits excellent professional judgement when calculating and acting on measured risks
• Maintains confidentiality and ethical practices at all times
• Demonstrated success building, leading and managing a geographically dispersed team

About Simply Business

We insure small businesses and enable big dreams – not just for our customers, but for our people and communities too. With over 1,000,000 active insurance policies, we protect builders, bakers, landlords and more than 1,200 other trades.

We’re a technology company as well as one that sells insurance. That means we build, we fail, we learn and we improve. We’re a B Corp too, which recognises our strong track record of having a positive impact on people, society and the environment.

Why not check out our advert on YouTube: Simply Business TV advert 2024: 'Simply the Best'

What are the benefits of working at Simply Business?

We offer a great work-life balance where every team member has a manageable workload and the flexibility to work hybrid. 

On top of the 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays), we offer leave that suits your needs. Plus the option to buy five more days of holiday with your flexible benefits. 

Our flexible parental leave allows you to approach an important time how you want – with six months full pay to the primary caregiver and four weeks full pay if you’re the secondary caregiver.

Our life event leave is an extra days leave every two years for those big moments in your life like moving house or your birthday. And as a thank you to our long-serving employees we offer a two week paid sabbatical after five years of service, then four weeks off after ten years of service.

And our core benefits can put your mind at ease with private medical insurance through BUPA, that covers any pre-existing condition. And a health cash plan that covers your everyday medical expenses.

We also make sure you’re compensated fairly with a competitive salary based on your experience and the market we’re in. Plus the potential to earn an annual bonus based on performance.

There’s access to the tools to support your personal development with programmes on our dedicated learning platform. As well as support for your mental health with access to counselling. 

We’ll match what you put into your pension up to five per cent. And pass on a tax-free sum that’s four times your basic salary with our life assurance policy, with the option to increase it to ten times through our flexible benefit scheme

Our salary sacrifice car scheme gives you the option to buy a brand new, fully insured, and maintained car for a convenient fixed monthly amount taken from your gross salary (after 6 months service).

And our flexible benefits scheme gives you an allocated amount to use each year on benefits like critical illness cover, dental insurance, travel insurance, or a gym membership.

Ready to join us and drive our success as a high-performing team? Apply today.