Head of, Organisational Effectiveness – F1 Technical (Maternity Cover FTC)

McLaren Racing; Woking; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

McLaren Racing is seeking a Head of Organisational Effectiveness to partner with a high‑performing F1 technical team. The role centers on aligning people strategy with racing performance by building leadership capability, shaping teams, and driving change that elevates collaboration and accountability across engineering and production functions.

The successful candidate will coach senior leaders, design effective workforce plans, and integrate organisational psychology insights into practical

Qualifications

• Significant experience in senior People or HR roles within elite performance, engineering or fast-paced technical environments.
• Proven leadership coaching experience to improve leader effectiveness, communication, decision-making and accountability.
• Strong organisational development and change management expertise delivering high-impact people solutions.
• Experience across organisational design, talent management, succession planning, workforce planning and leadership development.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Build strong, open relationships across the technical function, creating the trust needed for honest conversations, early challenge and quick action.
• Stay close to leaders and teams, listening carefully and using data, judgement and what you see on the ground to understand what is helping or getting in the way of performance.
• Turn those insights into clear, practical people priorities that support the team’s goals and deliver results.
• Work shoulder to shoulder with senior leaders, coaching and challenging them to make better decisions, communicate clearly and create real accountability.
• Shape teams and ways of working through organisation design, workforce and succession planning, and focused change that improves performance, builds organisational resilience and removes unnecessary complexity.
• Help leaders build a one team environment where people collaborate well, challenge constructively and keep performing under pressure.
• Oversight of employee relations and people planning with sound judgement, balancing pace, care and what is right for the team.
• Connect the team with the wider technical, production and race team, bringing the right people together to find performance through collaboration, connection and a one team mindset.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

Leadership coaching

Organisational development

Change management

Talent management

Workforce planning

Leadership development

Strategic thinking

Job description

At McLaren Racing, we are here to excite our fans, inspire our people and deliver for our partners. We are equally committed to evolving our sport, our industry and our technology.

Job Description

What You'll Do

As Head of Organisational Effectiveness for one of our F1 Technical teams, you'll be right at the heart of that team. This is a hands-on role built on close, trusted relationships: working side by side with senior leaders, staying connected to what people are experiencing day to day and helping the organisation perform at its best. You'll turn our people priorities into practical action that strengthens leadership, culture, capability and performance.
You'll Be a Trusted Partner And Coach Who Knows The People, Understands The Pressures And Is Close Enough To Spot What Will Make a Real Difference. You Will

• Build strong, open relationships across the technical function, creating the trust needed for honest conversations, early challenge and quick action.
• Stay close to leaders and teams, listening carefully and using data, judgement and what you see on the ground to understand what is helping or getting in the way of performance.
• Turn those insights into clear, practical people priorities that support the team’s goals and deliver results.
• Work shoulder to shoulder with senior leaders, coaching and challenging them to make better decisions, communicate clearly and create real accountability.
• Shape teams and ways of working through organisation design, workforce and succession planning, and focused change that improves performance, builds organisational resilience and removes unnecessary complexity.
• Help leaders build a one team environment where people collaborate well, challenge constructively and keep performing under pressure.
• Oversight of employee relations and people planning with sound judgement, balancing pace, care and what is right for the team.
• Connect the team with the wider technical, production and race team, bringing the right people together to find performance through collaboration, connection and a one team mindset.

Qualifications

Required:

• Significant experience in senior People or Human Resources roles within elite performance, engineering or fast-paced technical environments.
• Proven leadership coaching experience, with the ability to improve leader effectiveness, communication, decision-making and accountability.
• Strong organisational development and change management expertise, including delivery of high-impact people and organisational solutions.
• Experience across organisational design, talent management, succession planning, workforce planning and leadership development.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational delivery in complex and ambiguous environments.

Preferred

• Background in organisational psychology, behavioural science or psychology-led people practices.

You will be commercially minded, credible and performance-driven, with the confidence to challenge thinking, navigate complexity and unlock organisational performance through people.

Additional Information

Success in racing comes from bringing together talented people with different skills, perspectives and experiences. We're committed to building an inclusive environment where everyone feels supported and empowered to deliver their best work.
Every role has the potential to drive high performance. You'll be part of a team united by a shared ambition to push boundaries and embody our racing mindset. We invest in our people through opportunities to develop and grow, creating an environment where individuals and teams can thrive.
Alongside a range of wellbeing initiatives and development opportunities, we're committed to helping you build a rewarding career and make your mark at McLaren Racing.