People Manager

Job Description

BIG is a group of 500+ architects, engineers, urbanists, inventors, researchers and business minds from all over the world who are based in our New York, Copenhagen, London, Barcelona and Shenzhen offices. Our built work ranges from the most diverse urbanplayground and Michelin-star dining - to affordable housing that feels everything but, and a school among the verdant fjords of the Faroe Islands. Our vision spans traveling at supersonic speed with Hyperloop One, to living in floating cities, and eventuallyMars! While we are led by a group of expert partners, directors and associates - a flat hierarchy and collaborative spirit are essential to our BIG ecosystem. We share our collective knowledge and expansive network through study trips and educational workshops.We are infectiously ambitious and unified by the shared mission to craft the world we want to live in, and to give form to our future, one project at a time.Our London office is looking for a highly professional and approachable People Manager, with strong communication competencies and the ability to lead business-critical people initiatives. You will be based in our London office together with 95+ fantasticBIGsters. You will work closely with our people teams in Copenhagen and New York, and report directly to the local Managing Director.As the People Manager, you will act as the professional lead and role model for HR practice and you will play a vital role in designing & implementing new people initiatives that attract, engage & retain the finest talents in our industry, and support ourgrowth. Youll be a trusted partner to the London leadership team, where you will act in an advisory capacity on all people related matters and take the lead on HR and organizational issues - from strategic initiatives to the day-to-day operations.This is a generalist role covering all aspects of HR, where a solid understanding of UK employment law and a pragmatic, hands-on approach is very much required. The People Manager will be responsible for recruitment and retention, policy and process development,feedback and performance management, training and talent development, employee relations and engagement, and reward and recognition.Primary areas of responsibility:

• lead on critical people initiatives relevant to HR
• provide counsel to the office leadership team and think creatively about how to solve office challenges, particularly in areas like organisational development, employee relations and retention
• ensure ongoing review of legislation to safeguard all office policies and procedures are in compliance with local employment law and regulations
• manage all local recruitment matters, including identification of upcoming recruitment needs, creation of recruitment plans, preparation of job descriptions, management of in-house recruitment committees, advertisement via a range of media and agencies,communication with all prospective candidates etc.
• screen, interview, select and secure the best talent from a diverse pool of candidates in line with best practices and employment legislation
• ensure compensation & benefits packages are up to date by conducting research on market rates, while aligning with internal benchmarks
• oversee and conduct pre-employment and reference checks, obtain proof of required qualifications, and undertake prescribed Right to Work checks
• ensure all physical and electronic HR data are managed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR regulations
• manage and monitor immigration and all visa sponsorship requirements, in collaboration with external legal advisors
• deliver a thorough and professional on-boarding induction to all new joiners, arrange on-going checks ins with all staff, and manage the off-boarding process of employees leaving the company
• oversee, manage, and streamline BIGs Annual People Review system
• provide support and feedback training to relevant managers
• advise on matters relating to disciplinary or grievances in accordance with employment law and ACAS guidance
• monitor absence levels of staff and report any issues to the Managing Director
• liaise with staff across all levels of seniority to create and implement bespoke in-house training modules and activities
• research new training and development options based on staff feedback and input from senior management
• effectively manage the general HR budget for the London office
• provide on-going HR reporting to the Managing Director
• participate in monthly global HR meetings to share best practices and ensure alignment across our offices
• participate in annual global workshops to design and implement new people initiatives
• take on special projects together with our people teams in our other offices related to diversity and inclusion, employee engagement, health and wellbeing, and any other HR initiatives that may be beneficial to business and its culture

We seek a person who:

• has extensive experience working in a similar role within the creative sector
• has a CIPD level 5 qualification as a minimum (CIPD level 7 qualification preferred)
• has strong knowledge of employment law and compliance and is able to translate regulations into solutions
• has strong analytical capabilities and can influence managers/leaders with data-driven recommendations
• enjoys a creative and bustling environment with many personalities
• demonstrates clear and concise English written and verbal communication, with excellent interpersonal skills
• is structured, detail-oriented, and has strong time management skills
• is calm, confident, and able to work independently
• is proactive, while taking ownership and responsibility for ones own work

This job description reflects the core activities of the role and is not intended to be either prescriptive or exhaustive; it is issued as a framework to outline the main areas of responsibility at the time of writing. There is a requirement for the postholder to recognise this and adopt a flexible approach to work.