People Partner- 12 month FTC (maternity cover)

VML South Africa; London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

VML South Africa is seeking a strategic People Partner for a 12-month maternity cover position in London. The role involves serving as an advisor to leaders, developing people strategies, managing talent, and fostering an inclusive work environment. Ideal candidates will possess strong HR expertise and significant leadership abilities, ensuring alignment with business goals while enhancing employee engagement and culture.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of developing and implementing successful people strategies.
• Experience in leading talent management initiatives.
• Recent background in People Partnering within a complex business.

Responsibilities

• Strategic partnership with client groups, aligning people strategies with business objectives.
• Leading talent management initiatives and fostering a high-performing work environment.
• Providing guidance on employee relations and implementing performance management practices.

Skills

Strategic HR expertise

Strong business acumen

Leadership & influence

Relationship-building

Communication skills

Strategic thinking

Change management

Employee relations principles

Data and analytics knowledge

Education

Level 7 CIPD or equivalent

Job description

People Partner- 12 month FTC (maternity cover)

People Partner- 12 month FTC (maternity cover)

VML

Department: People

Location: London , United Kingdom

Last Updated: 7/3/2025

Requisition ID: 10982

Who We Are:

At VML, we are a beacon of innovation and growth in an ever-evolving world. Our heritage is built upon a century of combined expertise, where creativity meets technology, and diverse perspectives ignite inspiration. With the merger of VMLY&R and Wunderman Thompson, we have forged a new path as a growth partner that is part creative agency, part consultancy, and part technology powerhouse.

Our global family now encompasses over 30,000 employees across 150+ offices in 64 markets, each contributing to a culture that values connection, belonging, and the power of differences. Our expertise spans the entire customer journey, offering deep insights in communications, commerce, consultancy, CRM, CX, data, production, and technology. We deliver end-to-end solutions that result in revolutionary work.

Role: People Partner
Line Manager: People Director
Contract: 9-12 month FTC (maternity cover)

We're seeking a strategic and influential People Partner at VML to be a key member of our team. You'll serve as a trusted advisor to business leaders, ensuring our people strategies directly advance our overall objectives. This role is dedicated to fostering a high-performing, engaged, and inclusive work environment for all employees. Bring your HR expertise to provide strategic guidance, grow our talent, and champion continuous cultural improvement.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Strategic business partnership to your designated client groups, developing a deep understanding of their goals, challenges, and opportunities.
• People strategy development & implementation, by collaborating with senior leaders in your client group to develop and implement people strategies that support business objectives, including talent planning, development, performance management, and employee engagement.
• Talent management & development, by leading talent management initiatives, including succession planning, people development, and supporting career pathways, to ensure a pipeline of high-potential employees.
• Performance management leadership, guiding and supporting leaders in implementing effective performance management practices, including goal setting, performance reviews, and development planning.
• Employee relations expert, providing expert guidance and support to managers on complex employee relations matters, ensuring fair and consistent approach to our policies and mitigating risk.
• Change management leadership, by leading and supporting change management initiatives, ensuring effective communication, employee engagement, and successful implementation.
• Employee engagement & culture building by developing and implementing initiatives to foster employee engagement, promote a positive and inclusive work environment, and strengthen our company culture.
• Data-driven insights, by utilising data and analytics to identify trends, measure the effectiveness of People initiatives, and make data-driven recommendations for improvement.
• Compensation & benefits strategy, collaborating with the People Ops team to develop and implement competitive compensation and benefits programs that attract and retain top talent.
• Legal compliance, ensuring compliance with all applicable employment laws and regulations, and mitigating risks.
• Collaboration & teamwork, working collaboratively with the wider People team and agency leaders to achieve shared goals and objectives.

What You'll Bring:

• Strategic HR expert with a deep understanding of HR principles and practices and a proven track record of developing and implementing successful people strategies.
• Strong business acumen with a strong understanding of business principles and the ability to align People strategies with business objectives.
• Leadership & influence as a trusted People advisor with the ability to influence and inspire others.
• Exceptional relationship-building skills and the ability to build trust and credibility with business leaders and employees at all levels.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, enabling you to communicate effectively with diverse audiences.
• Strategic thinking with strong problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Experience leading and supporting change management initiatives.
• A deep understanding of employee relations principles and best practices.
• Data and analytics knowledge to inform HR decisions.
• A recent background of People Partnering in a complex business.
• Level 7 CIPD or equivalent

We believe the best work happens when we're together, fostering creativity, collaboration, and connection. That's why we’ve adopted a hybrid approach, with teams in the office an average of four days a week. If you require accommodations or flexibility, please discuss this with the hiring team during the interview process.

WPP (VML) is an equal opportunity employer and considers applicants for all positions without discrimination or regard to characteristics. We are committed to fostering a culture of respect in which everyone feels they belong and has the same opportunities to progress in their careers.

When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through ourRecruitment Privacy Policy . California residents should read ourCalifornia Recruitment Privacy Notice . This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.

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When you click "Submit Application", this will send any information you add below to VML. Before you do this, we think it's a good idea to read through our Recruitment Privacy Policy . California residents should read our California Recruitment Privacy Notice . This explains what we do with your personal data when you apply for a role with us, and, how you can update the information you have provided us with or how to remove it.