Chief People Officer | Established Rapid Growth Fintech Scale-Up | London/ Hybrid

Harmonic are incredibly excited to have been Retained by one of the UK's fastest growing Fintech businesses. Already with an established consumer lending business focussed on providing people with the affordable credit they deserve they are forecasting a period of incredible expansion with headcount rising from 300 to 1000 in the next 3 years.

Privately owned and well-funded the business have a highly experienced leadership team with experience scaling major success stories in similar industries. They are in a unique position where they are now able to capitalise on their growing loan book delivering Year on Year growth last year over 50% to circa £300m. With plans to achieve £1 billion by 2025 this is underpinned by the development of an innovative Tech led platform which builds on an incredibly strong customer facing brand established over the last few years.

The Role

A key member of C-Suite leadership team this position reports directly into a new and impressive CEO with ownership of the overall People strategy.

The Chief People Officer (CPO) will create the People Strategy that ultimately will enable delivery of the business's goals of rapid and sustainable expansion and implementing the necessary steps to ensure they are a leading workplace, attracting top talent and providing them with an environment to learn, grow and flourish having significant positive impact.

This represents a unique challenge as they increasingly pivot to a more 'Private Equity or Venture Capital backed Tech scale-up culture' and away from a more traditional Financial Services one. This move is critically important for the new CEO and it is seen as intrinsically tied to the businesses success in providing 'world class' service and support to customers while also launching a new, disruptive 'Tech first' product.

To achieve the desired goal of becoming the 'go to' place for top Fintech talent the Chief People Officer will be the architect of the company's talent strategy and corporate culture initiatives and will lead and build a multi-faceted People function. This role will be a champion and enabler of company values and culture, driving positive employee experiences and build a credible employer brand which attracts and retains high calibre people as the business grows.

As with all Executive Leadership roles in rapidly growing Tech scale-ups or start-ups this role requires high level strategic thinking, inspirational leadership but also a real desire to get stuck in and deliver results!

Responsibilities:

• Lead the development of the People Strategy working closely with the CEO and Senior Leadership team to create Group and Divisional programmes intended to drive commercial improvement and growth
• Act as an advisor to the Executive Leadership team and have real impact on the top-level Strategic direction of the organisation ensuring values are reflected in people orientated decisions
• Drives a real growth mindset across the business building a world class Talent Development/ Learning & Development function
• Overall responsibility for execution of and reporting to the Board of progress relating to the People plan
• Own, improve and execute People Programmes including Reward, Compensation & Benefits, High Potential Scheme etc
• Partner with Management to address day-to-day People operational issues
• Partner with Management to create a culture of employee development
• Shape and define company Culture to improve performance, reputation and crucially support employee wellbeing
• Manage the People team to deliver an inviting, nurturing and cohesive employee experience
• Provide leadership and guidance for continued improvement to Learning & Development implementing creative and exciting progression plans
• Foster a culture where people at all levels feel secure and encouraged to address concerns and challenge the status quo
• Build an exceptional Talent Acquisition team to support scale-up in the UK and Internationally
• Support change management initiatives and ad-hoc projects
• Create and enhance diversity, equality and inclusion programmes

Requirements:

• Prior experience in high growth businesses
• Demonstrable experience of playing a key role in delivering successful and sustainable expansion
• Excellent relationship builder with significant exposure to Senior Leadership Team's
• Prior experience as a Chief People Officer or perhaps a People/ HR Director looking to step up
• A track record of implementing improved Culture initiatives
• Experience creating or leading an excellent L&D function where, as Chief People Officer or People Director you have created a respected employer brand
• Places significant emphasis on Values and employee engagement

Bonus skills:

• Experience in Financial Services or Fintech
• Excellent Leadership and team building skills
• Managed international growth
• Good sense of humour and able to build rapport with people at all levels
• Ideally CIPD, MBA or Degree educated

Salary: £175,000 (flexibility depending on experience) + excellent share options + benefits

(Based on forecasted growth the Share Options have significant 7 figure upside on exit in 3-5 Years)

Location: London with Hybrid model (open to candidates based in other areas of the UK with some travel)

Start date: ASAP

If this role is of interest, please apply online or forward your CV