An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and operationally focused Head of People to join a purpose-led, wellness and fitness business. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring a commercially minded HR professional who thrives in dynamic environments and is confident balancing people priorities with business needs.

The successful candidate will lead the HR function across a multi-site operation, supporting a diverse workforce of employees, freelancers, healthcare experts and fitness professionals. The business operates within a highly people-centric and regulated environment, requiring a people leader who combines strong emotional intelligence with sound commercial judgement.

This is not a purely strategic position. The role is predominantly operational execution with strategic contribution, requiring someone who understands broader business goals while remaining highly engaged in delivery and day-to-day execution.

The Company:

Our client is a rapidly growing wellness and fitness business operating across multiple studio locations with a workforce of almost 200 people. Sitting at the intersection of fitness, healthcare and wellness, the organisation manages a blended workforce of employed staff, freelancers and regulated practitioners, creating a uniquely complex operating environment.

The culture is entrepreneurial, collaborative and purpose-driven, with a strong focus on delivering exceptional experiences for both clients and employees. The business is evolving quickly and requires a people leader who can create structure and consistency without slowing momentum or overcomplicating processes.

This is a company that values transparency, accountability, fairness and commercial awareness. Leadership teams work closely together, and the successful candidate will be expected to build strong partnerships across operations, finance, recruitment and SLT.

The Basics:

● £60,000 - £70,000

● Full-time, hybrid work set up

● Reporting to: The Founder + Chief of Staff

The Role:

The Head of People will take ownership of the full people function across multiple sites, partnering closely with senior leadership, studio managers, operations, finance and recruitment teams.

This role requires someone who is comfortable rolling up their sleeves and leading from the front. You will be expected to manage operational HR activity day-to-day while also contributing to wider business objectives and people strategy.

The successful candidate will bring calm authority, sound judgement and the confidence to manage sensitive people matters pragmatically and commercially.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and delivering all operational HR activity across the business

• Managing complex employee relations matters with maturity, pragmatism, and strong judgement

• Supporting managers with performance management, investigations, disciplinary matters, grievances, and conflict resolution

• Encouraging informal and practical resolutions where appropriate, while understanding when escalation is necessary

• Acting as a trusted advisor to leadership teams and operational managers

• Ensuring compliance across a regulated workforce, including areas such as DBS, GDPR, professional registrations, insurance, right-to-work requirements, and wider governance obligations

• Supporting ongoing implementation and optimisation of Factorial HR software to improve compliance tracking, reporting, and operational efficiency

• Building effective relationships across multiple departments and studio locations

• Helping managers navigate difficult people situations confidently and consistently

• Working closely with leadership teams to ensure HR decisions align with commercial and operational priorities

• Creating structure, accountability, and consistency within a fast-moving and evolving environment

• Developing practical HR processes that support delivery without creating unnecessary bureaucracy

• Providing clear communication, visibility, and escalation of people-related risks and challenges

• Operating effectively within a lean HR team, demonstrating strong self-sufficiency, prioritisation, and adaptability

The Person:

The ideal candidate will be an experienced HR professional with a highly operational mindset and the confidence to work autonomously in a demanding, fast-paced environment.

You will bring emotional intelligence, resilience, and commercial awareness, alongside the ability to build trust and credibility across all levels of the business.

Key qualities and experiences include:

• Proven experience in a senior HR leadership role within a fast-paced, multi-site environment

• Comfortable operating in a role that is heavily operational rather than purely strategic

• Able to understand strategic business goals while remaining focused on execution and delivery

• Mature and balanced approach to employee relations, with strong judgement and pragmatism

• Calm, credible, and confident handling sensitive or challenging situations

• A genuine people person who can build strong relationships without losing professional boundaries

• Understands that “people-first” does not mean avoiding accountability or difficult decisions

• Commercially minded with a clear understanding of how HR decisions impact operational performance, profitability, and wider business culture

• Agile, adaptable, and comfortable working within ambiguity and change

• Startup mentality with a proactive, solutions-focused approach

• Comfortable building structure and improving consistency without becoming overly process-dependent

• Pragmatic and action-oriented, using process to enable progress rather than create delays or unnecessary complexity

• Comfortable managing competing priorities with limited resources and support

• Experience within regulated industries such as healthcare, wellness, fitness, hospitality, or similar environments is highly desirable

• Strong understanding of compliance, governance, and risk management requirements

• Experience supporting blended workforces including employees, freelancers, and practitioners

• Experience using HR systems, ideally Factorial HR

• Excellent communication skills with the ability to influence, coach, and challenge stakeholders effectively

This role would suit someone who enjoys being hands-on, thrives in a collaborative environment, and takes pride in delivering practical, commercially aligned HR support that genuinely adds value to the wider business.

Your recruiter for this role is Izzy Roberts, Senior Recruiter at Jobs In. Fitness, and can be contacted simply by applying for this role below. Jobs In. Fitness are a fitness recruitment agency, specialising in hundreds of fitness jobs in the UK like these. If you are keen to be considered please ‘apply now’. Please note that only applicants matching the strict criteria above will be contacted as part of the recruitment process.