Head of People
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We are Wiser, an award-winning Employer Branding & Early Talent agency. We build employer brands to guide the best in the biz into their dream career with our clients.
We’re a home for people who think big and expect more; where creative and recruitment meet to change the way people think about work — not to mention having the only rainforest in Farringdon.
Our creatives use design, product, film, strategy and marketing to capture what makes companies great and showcase it in the market. Our recruitment teams introduce the right people at the beginning of their career to set these companies apart.
We believe that people will do their best work when they're in a space that enables it. And that's what we've shaped at Wiser — a culture where everyone can be real and back themselves, surrounded by high performers who take ownership of their career and make moves, no matter what their background.
To find out more about us, take a look at our website wearewiser.com or check us out on Instagram @wearewiser.
WHAT'S THIS ROLE ALL ABOUT?
As our Head of People, you’ll take ownership for the entire people function at Wiser. From how we onboard and welcome new talent into the business, to our good goodbyes process and all the moments in between, you’ll be responsible for making sure our offering is #1 in our industry.
This role is based in Wiser HQ where 110 purple people are based, but we’re scaling globally, with Wiser people moving to locations in the US and UAE from mid-2026. This creates an opportunity to scale our people offering across global locations, ensuring that whether someone joins Wiser in London, New York, or Dubai, they receive an experience that changes the way they think about work.
We’ve spent a decade building a best-in-class people experience, and have infrastructure that would make a company 10x our size proud. Here are some of the initiatives we have in place, that a Head of People will take responsibility for*.
The person who lands this role will be a combination of senior, but also hands on. We need someone who has the gravitas to stand up in front of the business and present details on our performance cycle or DEI policies, someone who has the credibility to have a PIP conversation with a senior person who’s not hitting their goals, but also someone who’s not adverse to getting stuck into the day to day of the business - chasing 360 responses, managing HiBob (our HR system) or working with the Happiness Team on a new office level-up are also part of the gig.
WHAT WILL YOU SPEND YOUR TIME DOING?
Onboarding new purple people - We run a monthly new starter day where we welcome all our new joiners for that month in one go, host a series of sessions to induct them into the world of Wiser and set them up for success. The purpose of the day is to make sure our new starters have a welcome to Wiser that’s as magical as it is informative.
Probation process - The Wiser probationary period is 4 months, and the Head of People is responsible for working with managers to get through the milestones involved to get each person passed their probation. Collecting 360 feedback, doing a 3 month check in with the manager, and making sure the paperwork is complete and uploaded into Hibob
Offboarding - When someone leaves Wiser, we want to make sure they end on a high. That means clarity around expectations on their notice period, an exit interview where we hear out their feedback, and a good goodbye on their way out the door
Running our monthly leadership pulse survey. Top Form is a 5 question survey that collects data from all our Leaders each month. The Head of People will use this information to gauge happiness, performance levels and spot any upcoming issues, and present a top line back to the COO monthly
Pastoral care of our purple people. You’re not expected to become anyone’s therapist (we have a therapy tribe for that) but being a supportive figure that people can turn to when they’re struggling is something that makes Wiser special. It can be an all consuming part of the role, but you’ll work with the COO to get the balance right between the different elements of the role.
WHERE DOES THE ROLE SIT?
It’s a ‘Head of’ position reporting directly to the COO, with room to grow as Wiser grows
It’s a standalone role with no direct reports
Our People function is not combined with Talent, though they do work in tandem on best practices and ensuring a smooth candidate journey
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
8+ years experience in a People / HR / Culture role
CIPD qualification
Experience using HiBob or a similar HR platform
Creative or agency experience isn’t essential but would be a bonus
Experience in a small/medium sized business. As a 110 person company, there are things we do that aren’t possible in a massive organisation, and vice versa. Experience working at this scale is important
Someone who believes in Wiser’s purpose to change the way people think about work etc etc
Someone who wants to grow with a company over a long period of time etc
Humility and no ego.
Willing to learn the Wiser way
Excellent written skills - we need this person to be able to put thoughts into a deck, write sharp internal comms, etc. You’ll have support from our Head of Brand to make sure everything you create is in line with Wiser’s standards
Someone who’s available to be in Wiser HQ for Monday to Thursday, with Friday as a work from home day.
Solutions focused
This is a full time role, but we’d also consider part time (3+ days a week) for the right person.
PURPLE PERKS: WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
A Happiness team whose role is to make Wiser the best place to work possible. Whether it’s keeping the office stocked up with snacks, sending you a care package when you’re poorly, or planning the next Wiser party, they make the office a much happier place
A culture calendar full of options - from black tie to sports day, book club or run club, there’s something for everyone.
We’re pretty proud of the space we have here - from phone booths to walking pads, all the way to a rainforest for focus-time… whatever vibe you need, you can find it here.
The W breakfast - our Happiness team makes sure everyone starts the day right with a hotel-worthy breakfast spread. Fancy coffee tap and unlimited fizzies on offer too.
On top of your holiday allowance, the office also closes for up to 2 weeks over the festive period so we can all recharge before coming back in the new year.
Wiser Bank Holiday - a beloved Purple People tradition in the form of an extra day off in October each year to celebrate our first ever million-pound-month (Yep, it happened in 2022 and we still celebrate)
Moving House Day - one of life’s most stressful events made easier by an extra day off.
Work from Anywhere allowance - everyone has a number of days to work from home or wherever they fancy. Whether it’s staying home on to snuggle your cat or working from Greece for a week in the summer, WFA is the answer
Learning & development - our monthly ‘Wiser Way’ days give you the chance to choose from a selection of training modules taught by our leaders. Whether it’s how to craft the perfect deck with our Creative Director, how to speak confidently about commercials with our CFO, or get some tips on managing for the first time with our Head of People, the schedule has something for everyone
Therapy - with 5 therapists to choose from, each year you can get up to x3 therapy sessions subsidised through Wiser to take either here in our own secret Log Cabin, externally or online (you pay £20 a session and we cover the rest)
Vitality Health Insurance - full coverage once you’ve passed probation. From necessities like the dentist, doctors and opticians, to mega rewards like Champneys, gym and travel discounts, it’s a winner.
Gymbox - once passing probation, you can access our exclusive Wiser x Gymbox partnership where you can bag your Gymbox membership for less than half price.
Further details available upon Interview progression*
At Wiser, we’re committed to fostering a culture where everyone feels empowered to be themselves and inspired to excel. We know that true creativity and innovation thrive when diversity is celebrated and everyone is given equal access to opportunities. That’s why we welcome applicants from all backgrounds, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, religion, ability, or socioeconomic status.
We believe that everyone should feel comfortable and be able to back themselves in an inclusive environment where individuality is celebrated. We’re building a team as diverse as the brands we work with, and our aim is to change the way people think about work.
If you’re passionate about making meaningful moves in an environment that’s as inclusive as it is high-performing, we can’t wait to see what you’ll bring to Wiser. Feel free to reach out to our Talent Team if you need any adjustments to make our hiring process more accessible.
- Locations
- London
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