People Business Partner (French & English speaking) New London, England, United Kingdom

Lightspeed; London; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic People Business Partner to join their People & Culture team in London. This role, covering maternity leave under a 12-month fixed-term contract, requires fluency in both French and English, along with a deep understanding of French employment law. The ideal candidate will be a proactive communicator, able to balance employee needs with business objectives while driving cultural alignment. This is a fantastic opportunity to make a significant impact in a flexible environment, supporting teams across France and the UK. If you're passionate about HR and want to contribute to a vibrant workplace, this is the role for you.

Benefits

Pension fund

Axa Health insurance

Health and wellness benefit of £400 year

Mental health online platform

Paid leave for new parents

LinkedIn Learning license

Monthly public transport benefit

Volunteer day

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in HR Generalist and People Business Partner roles.
• Knowledge of French and UK employment law is crucial.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic HR leadership and align initiatives with business needs.
• Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and enhance team performance.

Skills

Fluency in French

Fluency in English

HR Generalist experience

Communication skills

Coaching skills

Diversity, equity and inclusion involvement

Change management

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in HR or related discipline

Job description

Hi there! Thanks for stopping by

Are you actively looking for a new opportunity? Or just checking the market? Well… you might just be in the right place!

We’re looking for a People Business Partner to join our People & Culture team in London. As the People Business Partner, you will be covering for maternity leave under a 12-month fixed-term contract. This role is based in either Paris or London, and requires fluency in both French and English. Knowledge of French employment law is essential, and familiarity with UK employment law is a strong plus.

In this role, you will be the main contact for all people-related projects and will partner with People and Culture colleagues, key stakeholders, and leaders to deliver on a strategic people plan aligned with the needs and priorities of our growing teams. You will specifically support the Sales teams in France and the UK, the Enablement team across EMEA, as well as other departments if required.

You are a proactive communicator, a change agent, and can successfully balance employee needs with business objectives to create integrated solutions.

What you’ll be doing:

• Provide strategic HR leadership to business leaders, key stakeholders, and the People & Culture team, aligning people initiatives with the evolving needs of our growing teams across France, the UK, and EMEA.
• Act as a trusted advisor and coach to senior leadership, helping them enhance team performance, foster inclusive leadership, and drive cultural alignment.
• Serve as the first point of contact for all employee relations matters, ensuring compliance with French employment law and best practices (knowledge of UK regulations is a plus).
• Lead regular, data-driven discussions with business leaders to anticipate people's needs and guide decision-making through actionable insights.
• Partner with cross-functional stakeholders on core HR programs such as career development, performance management, employee engagement, DEI, compensation, and talent development.
• Lead and contribute to key strategic projects and change initiatives, supporting the wider People & Culture roadmap.
• Drive organisational design and workforce planning efforts in collaboration with leadership, including succession planning, talent mapping, and structural alignment.
• Support managers in their day-to-day responsibilities through coaching, upskilling, and guidance on best HR practices, conflict resolution, and team dynamics.
• Collaborate with global P&C partners to ensure local practices are aligned with global policies while remaining compliant with local regulations.
• Act as a cultural ambassador, helping to shape and nurture a positive employee experience that reflects Lightspeed’s values and mission.

What you need to bring:

• Extensive experience in an HR Generalist and People Business Partner function within a software technology company.
• Bachelor’s Degree in HR or related discipline.
• Fluency in French and English is required.
• In-depth knowledge of French employment law is required; UK employment law is a strong plus.
• Experience working on large, global and complex projects that span across the organization.
• Superb communication (oral, written and presentation), coaching and influencing skills with a proven track record of building credibility with leaders, having difficult conversations and providing continuous feedback.
• Keen interest and involvement in the Diversity, equity and inclusion space and driving employee engagement.
• Exceptional relationship building skills and able to quickly build rapport with various types of personalities and executive leadership team.
• Out of the box thinker with a strong desire to bring in metrics and insights to the conversation.
• You love alternating between strategy and tactical execution.

Even better if you have, but not required:

• Experience working in a global, fast-paced, high growth technology organization.
• Experience leading a team.

We know that people are more than what’s on their CV. If you’re unsure that you have the right profile for the role... hit the ‘Apply’ button and give it a try!

What’s in it for you?

Come live the Lightspeed experience...

• Ability to do your job in a truly flexible environment;
• Genuine career opportunities in a company that’s creating new jobs every day;
• Work in a team big enough for growth but lean enough to make a real impact.

… and enjoy a range of benefits that’ll keep you happy, healthy and (not) hungry:

• Pension fund;
• Axa Health insurance;
• Health and wellness benefit of £400 year;
• Mental health online platform and counselling & coaching services;
• Paid leave and assistance for new parents;
• LinkedIn Learning license;
• Monthly public transport benefit;
• Volunteer day.

To all recruitment agencies: Lightspeed does not accept unsolicited agency resumes. If we have not directly engaged your company in writing to supply candidates for a specific vacancy, Lightspeed will not be responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.

Lightspeed is a proud equal opportunity employer and we are committed to creating an inclusive and barrier-free workplace. Lightspeed welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Where to from here?
Obviously, this has to be mutually beneficial: we want you to step into a role you love, and we want to offer you a place you’re proud to come to every day. For a glimpse into our world check out our career page here.

Lightspeed is building communities through commerce, and we need people from all backgrounds and lived experiences to do that. We were founded in 2005, in Montreal’s gay village and our original members were all part of the LGBTQ+ community. The ethos of our business has been about inclusion from the very beginning, and we strive to provide a workplace where everyone belongs.

Who we are:
Powering the businesses that are the backbone of the global economy, Lightspeed's one-stop commerce platform helps merchants innovate to simplify, scale, and provide exceptional customer experiences. Our cloud commerce solution transforms and unifies online and physical operations, multichannel sales, expansion to new locations, global payments, financial solutions, and connection to supplier networks.

Founded in Montréal, Canada in 2005, Lightspeed is dual-listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: LSPD) and Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: LSPD). With teams across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific, the company serves retail, hospitality, and golf businesses in over 100 countries.

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