Chief People & Culture Officer - High-Growth SME Location: Hertfordshire
About the CompanyOur client is a rapidly scaling SME with ambitious growth plans and a strong leadership team committed to building a truly exceptional workplace. As the business continues its expansion, there is a need for an experienced people leader who can design, implement, and embed a comprehensive people strategy that will underpin sustainable growth, capability development, and a high-performing culture.
The OpportunityThis is a newly created executive role, offering the rare chance to shape the entire People & Culture function from the ground up. Reporting directly to the CEO, the
Chief People & Culture Officer will act as a strategic partner to the senior leadership team, ensuring the organisation is equipped with the talent, structures, and culture required for its next stage of evolution. You will play a pivotal role in professionalising the HR function, rolling out a people roadmap for the next 18-24 months, and building a culture that supports innovation, accountability, and long-term success.
ResponsibilitiesPeople Strategy & Organisational Design - Develop and execute a holistic people strategy aligned with the company's scale-up objectives.
- Lead organisational design work, ensuring the right structures, capabilities, and leadership frameworks are in place.
- Build and embed a high-performance culture rooted in shared values, trust, and accountability.
Talent Acquisition, Development & Retention - Design and implement a modern talent attraction strategy to support rapid growth.
- Introduce robust learning and development programmes, leadership training, and succession planning.
- Create clear career pathways, performance frameworks, and capability development tools.
Employee Experience & Culture - Lead initiatives to elevate employee engagement, wellbeing, and internal communication.
- Foster a diverse, inclusive, and values-driven culture across the organisation.
- Introduce scalable people processes, technology, and policies that strengthen the employee lifecycle.
HR Infrastructure & Compliance - Build the HR function, implementing best-in-class processes, systems, and governance.
- Ensure compliance with UK employment law and evolving people-related regulations.
- Support the CEO and leadership team with workforce planning, reward strategy, and organisational risk.
Leadership & Stakeholder Partnership - Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and Board on all people matters.
- Coach senior leaders, enhancing their people management capability.
- Partner with operational teams to ensure people strategy directly supports business performance.
Candidate Profile - Proven senior HR leader (CPO, People Director, Head of People) with experience in a scaling SME or fast-paced growth environment.
- Strong background in building or transforming a People & Culture function.
- Commercially minded, strategic, and able to balance long-term planning with hands-on delivery.
- Demonstrated success in designing and implementing people strategies over 12-36 month horizons.
- Excellent communication, influence, and stakeholder management skills.
- Passionate about creating great places to work and developing high-performing teams.
