This is not a traditional HR leadership role.

This is an opportunity for a senior, commercially astute people leader to operate at the heart of a globally recognised financial services organisation, partnering directly with the C-suite to shape business performance through leadership, talent and organisational capability.

London | Hybrid (3 days office, 2 days home) | £170,000 - £180,000 + Bonus + Exceptional Benefits

As Head of People, you will act as a trusted adviser to senior executives, influencing critical business decisions and ensuring the people strategy enables the delivery of ambitious commercial objectives. This is a standalone role with no direct reports, requiring an individual who can operate with gravitas, challenge constructively, and drive impact through influence rather than hierarchy.

You'll bring the credibility to engage at Executive Committee level, navigating complexity and competing priorities while helping leaders build high-performing teams, strengthen organisational effectiveness and prepare for future challenges.

The Opportunity

The business is operating in an environment where technology, regulation, customer expectations and workforce dynamics are evolving at pace. As Head of People, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the organisation has the leadership, skills and organisational capability required to succeed.

Working closely with senior stakeholders across the business, you will shape and deliver a forward-looking people agenda that supports long-term strategic goals while driving tangible business outcomes.

This is a highly visible role in London, offering the opportunity to influence decision-making at the highest levels and make a meaningful impact across a complex, regulated organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with C-suite and executive leaders to shape and execute the people strategy.
• Act as a trusted adviser on leadership, organisational effectiveness, culture and talent.
• Challenge and influence senior stakeholders to improve business performance through people-led solutions.
• Lead strategic workforce planning and future capability initiatives.
• Drive organisational design and transformation activity aligned to business objectives.
• Develop leadership and succession strategies that build long-term capability.
• Translate business strategy into practical people priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Use market intelligence, data and external insights to inform decision-making.
• Partner with Centres of Excellence to deliver impactful and scalable people initiatives.
• Support large-scale change programmes across complex stakeholder groups.

About You

We are looking for a heavyweight HR Business Partner with a proven track record of operating at executive level within a regulated financial services environment.

You'll bring:

• Significant experience in a strategic HR Business Partner, Head of People or senior People leadership role.
• A background within financial services or another highly regulated corporate environment.
• Demonstrable success influencing, coaching and challenging Executive Committee and C-suite stakeholders.
• Deep expertise across organisational effectiveness, leadership, talent, succession planning and workforce strategy.
• Strong commercial acumen and an ability to connect people decisions to business performance.
• Experience leading complex transformation and organisational change initiatives.
• Exceptional stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• A data-led, insight-driven approach combined with sound judgement and pragmatism.
• Confidence operating independently in a standalone role with significant organisational visibility.

What's on Offer?

• £170,000 - £180,000 base salary.
• Annual bonus.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Hybrid working model with 3 days in the London office and 2 days working from home.
• Exposure to some of the most senior leaders in the organisation.
• The opportunity to shape people strategy at enterprise level.
• A highly influential position within a complex, globally recognised business.
• Modern London offices with excellent transport links.

If you're an accomplished strategic HR leader who thrives on influencing at the highest levels, shaping organisational capability and partnering with senior executives to drive business success, we'd love to hear from you.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates