Director People, EMEA

Airwallex; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fintech company is looking for a skilled HR leader to provide strategic support across the EMEA region. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in HR functions, strong leadership skills, and the ability to foster a collaborative and positive work environment. This role involves working closely with teams to drive talent development initiatives and align goals with the organization's vision, providing the opportunity to make a significant impact in a rapidly growing global firm.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Equity options

Collaborative open office space

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of HR experience with 5+ years in leadership.
• Experience working across cultures in the EMEA region.
• Ability to work with all levels of organizations globally.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and consulting to EMEA leaders across People functions.
• Drive strategic workforce planning and talent development initiatives.
• Build a thriving culture and work environment aligned with company vision.

Skills

Leadership

Emotional intelligence

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Complexity management

Education

Degree in Business or Human Resources

Job description

We hire successful builders with founder‑like energy who want real impact, accelerated learning, and true ownership. You bring strong role‑related expertise and sharp thinking, and you’re motivated by our mission and operating principles. You move fast with good judgment, dig deep with curiosity, and make decisions from first principles, balancing speed and rigor. You’re humble and collaborative; turn zero‑to‑one ideas into real products, and you "get stuff done" end‑to‑end. You use AI to work smarter and solve problems faster. Here, you’ll tackle complex, high‑visibility problems with exceptional teammates and grow your career as we build the future of global banking. If that sounds like you, let’s build what’s next.

The People & Talent team at Airwallex is dedicated to attracting and developing the brightest and most ambitious minds to drive our company forward. We are a global, vibrant, and dynamic team with a focus on creating a positive and inclusive work environment that fosters growth and innovation. Through innovative programs, strategic People & Talent initiatives, and a deep understanding of our organization’s needs, we cultivate a collaborative and engaging environment that fuels Airwallex’s continued growth and success.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, consulting and coaching to the EMEA leaders across all areas of People function including recruitment, employee relations, performance management, rewards & benefits, talent management and development, mobility and regulatory compliance.
• Assist and/or lead, as appropriate, with the development and deployment of programs, policies, procedures and guidelines to help align Airwallex team members with the strategic goals of the company and the specific goals of the region.
• In a People Partner capacity, drive strategic workforce planning and talent development initiatives for the region that align with broader Airwallex goals. Ensure programs are in place for all key capabilities within the portfolio and implement strategies, such as hiring and development, to meet business needs.
• As part of the Workplace Experience portfolio, build a thriving culture and working environment that engages, inspires teams to achieve the company’s vision in line with our Operating Principles.
• Establish and maintain a highly competent and motivated People team that is effectively interconnected across the region through dedicated People Partners, exceptional Workplace Experience, and efficient People Operations.
• Collaborate and partner with our Center of Excellence People & Talent functions to achieve the desired outcomes of the business, considering the diverse needs of your stakeholders and peers.

Qualifications

• Broad experience across the full spectrum of an HR function, including advising and influencing at Senior Executive levels.
• Significant experience working across cultures and in the EMEA region.
• Excellent leadership skills, high degree of emotional intelligence and resilience.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills – must be able to work with all levels of internal and external organizations and across cultures and countries.
• Proficient at dealing with complexity.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and oral.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree qualified in Business, Human Resources or similar, with a minimum of 10 years HR experience and 5+ years leadership experience.
• Relevant industry‑related experience and scope of responsibility.

Airwallex is the only unified payments and financial platform for global businesses. Powered by our unique combination of proprietary infrastructure and software, we empower over 150,000 businesses worldwide — including Brex, Rippling, Navan, Qantas, SHEIN and many more — with fully integrated solutions to manage everything from business accounts, payments, spend management and treasury, to embedded finance at a global scale.

Proudly founded in Melbourne, we have a team of over 1,800 of the brightest and most innovative people in tech across 26 offices around the globe. Valued at US$6.2 billion and backed by world‑leading investors including Visa, Airtree, Blackbird, Sequoia, DST Global, Greenoaks, Salesforce Ventures, Lone Pine, and Square Peg, Airwallex is leading the charge in building the global payments and financial platform of the future. If you’re ready to do the most ambitious work of your career, join us.

At Airwallex you’ll have the ability to make an impact in a rapidly growing, global fintech. We want you to share in our success, which is why you’ll be offered a competitive salary plus valuable equity within Airwallex. We also like to ensure we create the best environment for our people by providing a collaborative open office space with a fully stocked kitchen. We organize regular team‑building events and give our people the freedom to be creative.