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VP People - Sustainable start up / scale up, SAISEI TALENTJoin to apply for the VP People - Sustainable start up / scale up, SAISEI TALENT role at Guardian JobsVP People - Sustainable start up / scale up, SAISEI TALENTJoin to apply for the VP People - Sustainable start up / scale up, SAISEI TALENT role at Guardian JobsGlobal remit VP of People – Powerverse London hybrid (Tues & Thurs office days) | £85–95k FTE | 4-day week considered Strategic + hands-on | Sustainability-focused scale-up | Global remitSaisei Talent are absolutely delighted to have been retained by Powerverse - an advanced AI-driven energy management platform. To lead on the search for their next VP of People.To succeed in this high profile position, you will be a calm, emotionally intelligent and commercially grounded HR leader, who’s ready to roll their sleeves up and shape the People function at a critical point in the company’s journey.This is a rare opportunity to join a tech scale-up with purpose at its core and be an integral part of a leadership team who truly value the People agenda as a strategic driver for growth. About PowerversePowerverse are a global technology business who are on a mission to make energy management simpler, more connected and sustainable. Originally incubated within Lightsource bp, it is now independently owned and scaling with purpose.With a team of 50 employees across the UK, Ireland, Spain, Greece, and Malaysia (plus third-party teams in India and Ukraine), Powerverse is entering a stabilisation and growth phase after significant reorganisation. Their product and engineering teams work in agile, cross-functional squads, and the business values curiosity, challenge, and collaboration at every level.They’ve got a powerful product, a clear purpose, and now need a people leader who can build the next phase of maturity and culture. The Role: VP of PeopleThis role sits on the executive team, reporting directly to the CEO. We are looking to appoint a leader who will shape and deliver a people strategy that supports growth, builds capability and enables high performance, whilst still being hands-on enough to embed strong operational processes.Key areas of ownership: Build the FoundationsDesign and implement core HR policies and processes across multiple geographiesStandardise and embed recruitment, onboarding and performance frameworksSupport internal communication and collaborationManage payroll, benefits and HR systems (HiBob) Enable GrowthDevelop a company-wide approach to L&D and introduce management development.Support leadership with org design, internal mobility, and succession planning.Own employee engagement, recognition and offboarding initiatives. Partner StrategicallyAct as a sounding board, coach and confident to the CEO and leadership team.Contribute to business-wide initiatives, including fundraising preparation and global expansion.Champion inclusive practices and build manager capability. Coach and Develop the TeamDirectly manage and coach the People Ops Specialist in Malaysia.Foster a feedback-rich, emotionally intelligent, values-led culture.Build scalable systems and people infrastructure that balance structure with agility. What We’re Looking ForThis role is for someone confident navigating both strategy and delivery who can influence senior stakeholders one minute, and design onboarding frameworks the next.We’re looking for someone who:️ Has held senior HR roles in startups or scale-ups (ideally Head of People or VP).️ Understands international employment and has deep UK employment law knowledge.️ Is comfortable with lean teams and hands-on delivery.️ Has experience working in matrixed or squad-based organisations.️ Brings strong experience in L&D, performance, and people systems.️ Has emotional intelligence, presence, and the ability to build trust across cultures.️ Believes in inclusive, values-led leadership and knows how to challenge when it matters. The Offer £85–95k FTE (with flexibility for the right candidate) 4-day week considered (pro rata) London-based hybrid working (core office days: Tuesday & Thursday) Start: ideally early September, to support a smooth transition from the outgoing SVP People Join the exec team and shape the business at a strategic level Why Now?This role replaces their current SVP People, who has supported the business through a huge period of change. She leaves behind a solid foundation and a fantastic opportunity for someone to come in, take ownership, and build something lasting.This is a role where you’ll be heard. You’ll shape culture. You’ll build capability. And you’ll do it in a company that’s creating something meaningful in the world. Interested?This search is being led exclusively by Amanda Watts at Saisei Talent, a boutique HR search consultancy specialising in leadership hires across the creative, tech and media sectors.To receive the full candidate briefing and speak in confidence, please apply via the link and you will receive a response in the next few days.And if someone in your network springs to mind, please feel free to share.Saisei Talent are an equal opportunity agency and will consider all applications.We are dedicated to hiring diverse talent and ensuring that we treat you with respect and support throughout the interview process. We strive to include diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in our everyday work, and we commit to using these for our business and for all our Clients & Candidates.Seniority levelSeniority levelExecutiveEmployment typeEmployment typeFull-timeJob functionJob functionHuman ResourcesIndustriesAdvertising ServicesReferrals increase your chances of interviewing at Guardian Jobs by 2xGet notified about new Vice President Human Resources jobs in London, England, United Kingdom.VP People - Powerverse - Sustainability focused scale-upLondon, England, United Kingdom 1 month agoVice President, HR Solutions Process Excellence Consultant (Global - Location Agnostic)London, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks agoVP - DevSecOps - Up to £140k + Bonus & BenefitsAssistant Vice President, Global HR Solutions Process Excellence Consultant, 12 Month FTC (Global - Location Agnostic)London, England, United Kingdom 1 week agoChief Business Improvement and Technology Officer, NFP People on behalf of Rethink Mental IllnessLondon, England, United Kingdom 1 week agoRegional Human Resources Director (UK, Spain, Italy) - JumeirahRegional Human Resources Director - EuropeLondon, England, United Kingdom 2 weeks agoChief People Officer (CPO) (Relocation to Greece)London, England, United Kingdom 1 month agoSenior Director, Site Head of Human ResourcesSlough, England, United Kingdom 1 week agoCity Of London, England, United Kingdom £100,000.00-£120,000.00 3 weeks agoLondon, England, United Kingdom 2 days agoDirector of Human Resources & Benefits Service DeliveryLondon, England, United Kingdom 2 months agoChief People Officer, NFP People on behalf of Rethink Mental IllnessHarrow, England, United Kingdom 1 week agoLondon, England, United Kingdom 4 weeks agoChief Finance Officer, NFP People on behalf of Rethink Mental IllnessHarrow, England, United Kingdom 1 week agoWe’re unlocking community knowledge in a new way. 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