Head of HR

Oakleaf Partnership; Greater London; On-site; GBP 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A unique hospitality business in West London seeks a Head of People to establish and lead the HR function. In this standalone role, you will design a best-in-class HR service, implement impactful processes, and drive employee engagement. Ideal candidates should have significant HR operations experience, strong knowledge of UK employment law, and excellent communication skills. You will oversee HR administration, manage payroll, and foster a high-performing culture while ensuring compliance with employment legislation.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in HR operations or similar HR role.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR policies.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day HR operations including onboarding and offboarding.
• Manage payroll delivery and compliance with HMRC regulations.
• Administer employee benefits and ensure effective communication.

Skills

HR operations

UK employment law

HRIS implementation

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

HR or CIPD qualification

Tools

HRIS systems

Payroll systems

Job description

Head of People

Salary: £85,000
Location: West London W14
5 Days on site

I am delighted to be partnering with an exclusive and truly unique hospitality business to recruit a highly capable Head of People. This standalone role offers the rare opportunity to build and shape the People function from the ground up, becoming the organisation's first senior HR lead. As the business's first Head of People, you will have the autonomy and influence to design a best‑in‑class HR service, implement strong people processes, and elevate the employee experience across the full HR lifecycle. This role is central to ensuring operational efficiency, cultural alignment, and a high‑quality HR offering that supports the organisation's future growth.

Key Responsibilities

• HR Operations Administration – Oversee and deliver all day‑to‑day HR operations including onboarding, off‑boarding, absence, holiday, benefits, and employee records. Ensure an exceptional service is provided across all employee lifecycle touchpoints.
• Payroll & Data – Manage end‑to‑end payroll delivery in partnership with an outsourced provider. Ensure accuracy, compliance with HMRC regulations, and timely processing.
• Compensation & Benefits – Administer and review employee benefits including pensions, health insurance and wellbeing perks. Negotiate rates as required and ensure effective communication to employees.
• Policies & Procedures – Support the development and maintenance of HR policies and governance. Ensure consistent policy application across business units and maintain compliance with UK employment legislation.
• Employee Performance – Oversee full compliance with probationary processes and annual performance reviews.
• Culture & Engagement – Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and high‑performing culture aligned to the organisation's values.
• HRIS – Lead the design, development, and implementation of a new HRIS. Ensure data accuracy, streamline workflows, and provide effective reporting across key people metrics.
• Recruitment – Manage recruitment processes, ensuring roles are effectively benchmarked, authorised, and delivered to a high standard.
• Projects – Contribute to HR operations initiatives and strategic projects that support the culture and business priorities.

Key Skills & Experience

• HR or CIPD qualification preferred (not essential).
• Proven experience in HR operations or a similar HR role.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law, HR policy, and best practice.
• Experience with HRIS and payroll systems, ideally including system implementation.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.