Head of People Advisory and Employee Relations (12 Month Fixed Term Contract)

Hello, we’re Starling. Banking was broken – so we decided to fix it. The vision? Fast technology, fair service and honest values. All at the tap of a phone, all the time. We built Britain’s first digital bank. One hard-won banking licence later, we set about giving people a new way to spend, save and manage their money (and take better care of the planet, too). We’re changing banking for good. Back then, we were obsessed with unravelling the knotty world of finance and solving people’s problems rather than selling them stuff. We still are. Since then, we’ve grown. A lot. Over four million accounts (and four account types!). A team of thousands. Headquartered in London with offices in Cardiff, Dublin, Manchester and Southampton. Five years voted Which? Recommended Provider and Britain's Best Banking Brand. Still zero branches. Our culture is open, inclusive and focused on solving real customer problems, with an emphasis on doing the right thing, even when it’s not always the easy thing. From our approach to working together and sustainability to how we build our products, our decisions need to make the world – and Starling – a better place to be. Everyone at Starling is essential to our mission, which is really quite simple: to solve our customer’s problems – and build the best bank in the world! And now we're providing Starling to other banks, via a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) proposition through our subsidiary Engine, using the proprietary technology platform that it uses to power our own bank. The Role: At our core, we are dedicated to finding fantastic people and creating an environment where they can truly thrive. To support our continued growth, we are looking for a Head of People Advisory and Employee Relations (12 month FTC) to lead this critical function. Reporting to the Director of People Solutions, you will be the strategic architect of our Employee Relations framework across the Group. This isn't just about managing cases; it’s about setting the gold standard for how we support our people. You will provide expert leadership on complex ER matters, shape our people policies, and ensure we remain fully aligned with UK employment law and financial regulations (FCA/PRA and SMCR). Your mission is to ensure our People Advisory team is seen as a trusted, proactive partner - one that balances commercial needs with a culture of inclusion, accountability, and psychological safety. Requirements Knowledge • In-depth knowledge of UK employment law, case law, and employee relations best practice. • Strong understanding of financial services regulation, including FCA, PRA, and SMCR requirements as they relate to people management. • Knowledge of people policies, procedures, and frameworks in a banking context. • Awareness of HR strategy, organisational design, and cultural change within a regulated banking context. • Familiar with HR systems and case management tools, ideally Workday. Experience • Proven experience of leading ER and People Advisory teams within financial services or a highly regulated environment. • Proven track record of handling complex, high-risk ER cases, including tribunal preparation and negotiation with external stakeholders. • Experience of building senior stakeholder relationships and influencing at executive/board level. • Experience in developing and applying people policies and procedures. • Experience of working collaboratively with legal, compliance, and risk teams. Skills • Excellent leadership, people management, influencing, and negotiation skills to constructively guide and challenge senior leaders. • Advanced problem-solving and analytical skills, balancing legal, commercial, and cultural factors, and applying employment law practically. • Highly organised with attention to detail, g