Project Lead

Oakleaf Partnership; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A fast-growing organisation in Greater London seeks a Project Lead - People Data & Systems on a 6-month fixed-term contract. This hybrid role emphasizes leading a critical transformation project within the People function, focusing on improving data management and harmonising employment documents. The ideal candidate will have strong project management skills, experience with HR systems like HiBob, and a passion for enhancing systems and processes. Start ASAP, ideally before Christmas.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading people data, systems or HR transformation projects.
• Experience with contract harmonisation and employment documentation review.
• Strong project management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the transformation of people data and systems.
• Audit and refine people data standards.
• Restore confidence in documentation across contracts.

Skills

Leading people data transformation

Project management

HR systems knowledge

Attention to detail

Problem-solving

Tools

HiBob

Job description

Project Lead - People Data & Systems

6-month fixed-term contract

Based in Central and West London - Hybrid, 2x days a week

Start ASAP - ideally before Christmas!

A fast-growing organisation operating across the UK and Europe is seeking an experienced Project Lead - People Data & Systems to take ownership of a critical transformation project within its People function.

As the business scales rapidly, people data, systems and employment documentation must evolve with it. This role leads a focused, high-impact project to rebuild the foundations: repairing historic gaps, creating consistent and reliable data standards, and ensuring employment documents reflect the organisation today – not the legacy of past growth.

Embedded within the People team, the Project Lead will work closely with senior stakeholders and People partners and will lead the project end‑to‑end. Supported by a Project Associate handling hands‑on delivery, this role is all about strategy, structure and decision‑making: setting standards, driving clarity and ensuring the work leaves a lasting impact.

Together, the team will deliver a single source of truth for people data and a harmonised contract landscape that gives confidence to leaders and clarity to employees.

What you'll be doing

This is a leadership role for someone who thrives on complexity, enjoys problem‑solving, and brings order to fragmented systems.

Leading the transformation of people data

• Auditing people data held across contracts, payroll files, spreadsheets, shared drives and legacy systems.
• Building a clear picture of what exists today, where it came from, and what’s missing.
• Refining the project scope and strengthening standards using professional judgement and experience.
• Identifying historic gaps, validating key fields and back‑dating records where appropriate.
• Establishing data standards that prevent future issues and maintain long‑term integrity.

Restoring confidence in documentation

• Reviewing historic contracts and employee files across multiple locations and entities.
• Identifying risks, inconsistencies and outdated practices.
• Ensuring records are complete, compliant and stored consistently.
• Providing assurance that every employee record reflects the reality of their terms.

Harmonising employment contracts

• Mapping differences across current and legacy contracts.
• Identifying anomalies, gaps and improvement opportunities.
• Leading the development of a modern, aligned suite of employment templates.
• Supporting change planning and communication to ensure clarity and confidence across the organisation.

How you'll work

• You’ll lead with structure and clarity, setting direction for the Project Associate and guiding delivery through strong standards and priorities.
• You’ll be hands‑on where needed while retaining focus on the bigger picture.
• You’ll collaborate widely but operate comfortably with autonomy.
• You’ll handle sensitive information with professionalism and care.
• You’ll bring energy, momentum and a methodical mindset to a complex environment.

What you’ll bring

• Proven experience in leading people data, systems or HR transformation projects.
• Experience with contract harmonisation and employment documentation review.
• Strong project management skills and experience working with HR systems (HiBob highly desirable).
• Familiarity with UK and European employment frameworks is a plus.
• A structured mindset, excellent attention to detail, and the confidence to make informed decisions.
• A passion for improving systems and leaving things better than you found them.

Why this role matters

By the end of the project, the organisation will have:

• A single, accurate dataset for all employees – past and present.
• Complete and compliant employee records.
• Clear standards for how data is captured and maintained going forward.
• Harmonised employment templates with an implementation roadmap.
• Stronger compliance and a robust foundation for future growth.