Interim head of people

📋 Description

• • Seccl Technology Limited, an Octopus-owned embedded investment platform, is seeking a highly experienced and strategic Interim Head of People to cover a 12-month fixed-term contract, ideally commencing in May 2026. This pivotal role reports directly to the CEO and collaborates closely with the executive team, offering a unique opportunity to lead the People function during a significant growth and transformation phase.
• • As a B-Corp certified company with strong product-market fit and impressive early traction, Seccl is poised to revolutionize an outdated industry. We are part of the Octopus group, a multi-billion pound entity dedicated to revitalizing broken industries through innovative companies. Our mission is to empower more people to invest effectively, and our People team is central to achieving this ambitious goal.
• • The Interim Head of People will be instrumental in shaping Seccl's culture, developing leadership capabilities, and ensuring our people foundations are robust, scalable, and compliant. In an era where technology and AI are rapidly reshaping the fintech landscape, this role requires a leader who can guide the business and its people through thoughtful and responsible adaptation. You will be responsible for building essential skills, establishing strong governance, and defining future ways of working.
• • This leadership position involves managing a capable team across People Partnering, Learning & Development, People Operations, and Talent Acquisition. The role demands a balance between setting strategic direction and ensuring hands-on, effective delivery. With upcoming priorities including major governance changes (transitioning to Enhanced SMCR), potential European expansion, evolving our hybrid and location strategy, and navigating the impact of AI on work, this is a chance to influence at the highest level.
• • You will leave a lasting impact on how Seccl scales, enhancing our readiness not only for regulatory shifts but also for the future of work. Your responsibilities will encompass a broad spectrum of strategic and operational people initiatives, ensuring Seccl remains a high-performing and compliant organization.
• • Key Responsibilities and Impact:
• • Strategic Alignment and Executive Partnership: Partner directly with the CEO and executive team to ensure the people strategy is seamlessly integrated with overarching business objectives and ambitious growth plans. This involves translating business needs into actionable people initiatives that drive commercial success.
• • Culture and Leadership Development: Hold senior leaders accountable for actively embedding Seccl's core culture and consistently role-modelling our operating principles. Foster an environment where leadership capabilities are continuously developed and reinforced.
• • Enhanced SMCR Governance: Lead the organization's readiness for Enhanced SMCR requirements, focusing on strengthening governance structures, defining clear accountability frameworks, and implementing comprehensive regulatory learning programs to ensure compliance and robust oversight.
• • Organisational Design and Workforce Planning: Shape the organizational design and develop strategic workforce plans to ensure Seccl possesses the right skills, optimal structure, and robust succession planning to meet current and future demands.
• • European Expansion Readiness: Prepare the business for potential European expansion by overseeing critical aspects such as talent acquisition strategies, policy localization, and the establishment of operational frameworks in new markets.
• • Hybrid and Location Strategy Evolution: Drive the ongoing development and implementation of Seccl's hybrid and location strategy. This includes managing office moves, planning future office footprints, and ensuring comprehensive health and safety oversight across all locations.
• • Responsible AI Adoption: Support the responsible integration of AI across the business. Ensure our approach enhances productivity and fosters innovation while upholding principles of fairness, compliance, and establishing clear, effective ways of working.
• • Performance and Engagement Management: Oversee performance management and employee engagement frameworks. Ensure that insights derived from feedback mechanisms and survey data are translated into tangible, impactful actions that improve the employee experience.
• • Complex Employee Relations and Regulatory Matters: Act as the primary escalation point for complex employee relations issues and significant regulatory matters. Ensure all outcomes are fair, consistent, and fully compliant with relevant legislation and company policies.
• • People Team Leadership and Operational Excellence: Lead, mentor, and enable the People team, setting clear priorities, managing quarterly planning cycles, and driving operational excellence across the entire employee lifecycle, from recruitment to offboarding.
• • Reward Strategy and Financial Planning: Collaborate closely with the Finance department on developing and executing the reward strategy, including salary reviews, executive incentive plans, and long-term workforce cost planning, ensuring competitive and sustainable compensation structures.
• • Influence and Impact: This role offers a significant opportunity to influence strategic decisions at the executive and board level, driving impactful change and ensuring Seccl is well-equipped for sustained growth and future challenges.
• • Adaptability and Pragmatism: Thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment, demonstrating both strategic foresight and operational pragmatism. Be comfortable with ambiguity and energized by the challenges of rapid growth and evolving complexity.
• • Hands-on Approach: While strategic in nature, this role requires a willingness to roll up your sleeves and contribute to hands-on delivery, ensuring initiatives are effectively implemented.
• • Building Trust and Collaboration: Lead through others, building trust rapidly and fostering strong collaborative relationships across all levels of the organization, combining empathy with a clear focus on accountability.
• • Future of Work Leadership: Position Seccl at the forefront of adapting to the future of work, particularly in the context of technological advancements like AI, ensuring the organization remains agile, innovative, and people-centric.
• • Scalability and Compliance: Ensure all people processes and policies are designed for scalability and maintain the highest standards of compliance, particularly within a regulated financial services environment.
• • Employee Experience: Champion an exceptional employee experience, ensuring Seccl remains an employer of choice that attracts, develops, and retains top talent.
• • This role is ideal for a seasoned People leader who thrives in commercially driven, regulated, and scaling environments, possesses a deep understanding of employment law and regulatory frameworks, and is adept at influencing senior stakeholders. You will be a key driver in shaping Seccl's future success.