Head of HR

kinetic-games-careers; Southampton; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Reward Package

Enhanced Employer Match Pension Scheme

Annual Bonus

Hybrid & Flextime Working

Relocation Package (UK)

Electric Vehicle Car Scheme

Wellbeing Allowance

Training & Development Budget

Vitality Health Insurance

UNUM Life Insurance

30 days Holiday

Job summary

Kinetic Games in Southampton seeks a Head of HR to lead the HR function, advising the leadership team on people management, performance, and organisational development. You will oversee HR policy, compensation, workforce planning and compliance, guiding complex employee relations with commercial pragmatism.

This senior role requires strategic and hands-on leadership, strong judgement, and a track record of shaping HR processes within growing organisations.

Qualifications

• Experience in a senior HR leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and employee relations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the studio's HR function and mentor the HR team.
• Oversee employee relations, performance management, and policy development.
• Ensure compliance with employment law and drive HR strategy aligned with business growth.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

UK employment law

Employee relations

Performance management

Organisational design

Leadership development

Communication

Education

CIPD Level 7 qualification

Tools

Rippling

Job description

About Kinetic Games

Having grown Kinetic Games from a small independent team into a large and established game development studio, we are looking for someone who can help us develop the people structures, leadership practices and HR processes required for the next stage of the company.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are important to how we work together every day. We aim to build a team with diverse experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds. We believe great games start with an inclusive environment where everyone can contribute, grow, and succeed. Applications from all qualified candidates are encouraged. Equal opportunities are provided throughout our recruitment and employment practices.

If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know. We'll work with you to understand your needs and provide appropriate support wherever reasonably practicable.

Please note: We expect to contact shortlisted candidates from the week commencing 12 October.

This is a hybrid role based at our Southampton office, with three days per week on site.

At this time, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

About the role

As Head of HR, you will be a senior adviser to the leadership team, providing clear and commercially minded guidance across all areas of people management. You will lead the HR team and take ownership of employee relations, performance management, organisational development, policies, compensation, workforce planning and employment law compliance.

This role requires someone comfortable dealing with complex and sensitive situations directly. You should be able to assess a situation, provide a clear recommendation and help the leadership team reach effective and pragmatic decisions.

Your responsibilities will include

• Lead the studio's HR function and manage, mentor and develop the HR team.
• Lead the people aspects of organisational growth and change, helping employees and managers understand, adapt to and engage with changes across the studio.
• Act as the senior HR adviser to the CEO, directors and leadership team.
• Provide clear recommendations on complex people, performance and organisational matters.
• Lead complex employee relations matters including grievances, disciplinaries, performance concerns, capability processes and workplace disputes.
• Oversee performance management processes, including probation, performance reviews and performance improvement plans.
• Develop the HR strategy required to support the continued growth, employee lifecycle and maturity of the company.
• Help develop, support and improve the company culture to reach a high level of staff retention.
• Review and develop HR policies and processes to ensure they remain proportionate, effective and appropriate for the studio.
• Ensure the company remains compliant with UK employment legislation.
• Use people data and HR metrics to help inform leadership decisions.
• Support recruitment strategy and ensure hiring practices are consistent with the long-term needs of the studio.
• Lead the people aspects of organisational growth and change, helping employees and managers understand, adapt to and engage with changes across the studio.

Requirements

• Experience working within the video game industry or another creative or technology-led organisation.
• CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• Significant experience in a senior HR leadership role such as Head of HR, Head of ER, Head of People, Senior HR Business Partner or equivalent.
• Strong up to date knowledge of UK employment law and employee relations.
• Demonstrable experience handling complex performance, disciplinary, grievance and capability matters.
• Experience advising senior executives and leadership teams.
• Strong judgement and the confidence to challenge senior stakeholders when required.
• Experience developing HR processes within a growing or changing organisation.
• Strong understanding of organisational design, performance management and leadership development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Commercial and pragmatic approach to HR, with an understanding that processes should support the needs of the business and its employees.
• Comfortable operating both strategically and hands-on when required.

Nice to have

• Experience supporting an organisation through significant headcount growth.
• Experience working within a founder-led business.
• Experience using Rippling or a similar HRIS.
• Experience designing career frameworks, compensation structures or management development programmes.
• Experience working with employment tribunals, settlement agreements or complex employment disputes.

Benefits & Perks

• Comprehensive Reward Package
• Enhanced Employer Match Pension Scheme
• Annual Bonus
• Weekly Free Team Lunches
• Regular Social Events
• Hybrid & Flextime Working
• Access to Southampton Football Club Tickets - subject to availability and sponsor allocation
• Relocation Package (within the UK only)
• Electric Vehicle Car Scheme
• Employee of the Month Vouchers
• Personal Wellbeing Allowance
• Recruitment Referral Scheme
• Training & Development Budget
• Training & Career Development
• Vitality Health Insurance
• UNUM Life Insurance
• 30 days Holiday in Total
• Christmas Studio Shutdown