Head of People (2d)

We’re looking for a part-time Head of People (2 days a week)

We're looking for an experienced, empathetic and pragmatic Head of People to join us two days a week (flexible hours). In this role, you'll lead our people operations, ensuring our processes are robust, compliant, and scalable as we grow, and our people-related company communications are top notch. You’ll develop scalable people processes and reporting to support a high-performing team, own strategic HR projects and strengthen our culture including through wellbeing, learning, development, equity and inclusion.

You will be a key member of the leadership team, reporting to the CEO and coaching our excellent People Manager. This is a strategic, hands-on role for a seasoned HR professional who thrives on planning and execution.

We help holidaymakers love their journeys

We're not just another travel company – at Byway, we're pioneering 100% flight-free holidays with Journey AI, the world’s first tech for journey-based trips. We’re a certified B Corp committed to making flight-free travel mainstream and building an inclusive business. Since our inception in March 2020, we've booked over 15,000 travellers onto unforgettable holidays, with over 95% five-star reviews. We’re growing 2x YoY and are regularly featured in the press, including the Guardian, BBC, and New York Times.

Your key responsibilities

• Create and refine systems and analytics to support our growing team, including hiring, learning and development, wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, performance management, compensation, goal setting and reporting.
• Develop and execute our people strategy in partnership with the leadership team and People Manager for company-wide values alignment as we scale, including organisational design, eNPS optimisation, feedback loops, employer branding, internal comms and headcount planning.
• Lead and resolve complex/sensitive people issues, ensuring fair and consistent outcomes.
• Own, run, and improve our HR policies and processes, making sure they are pragmatic, fair, inclusive and compliant with employment law, and advising on people-related risk and compliance in partnership with legal.
• Oversee international People Ops, supporting team leaders with contractors and/or outsourcing and maintaining a roster of approved markets for hires via Deel based on employment risk/reward.
• Act as a coach and mentor to our People Manager, supporting their professional development and the delivery of values-aligned people and culture initiatives.
• Roadmap and manage the recruitment of senior roles.

A core part of performance in any role at Byway is to live up to our Byway values, exhibiting behaviours aligned with our values, on a daily basis. Read more here .

What we’re looking for

• Strong experience as a senior HR leader in a high-growth business, with examples of initiatives that improved happiness, performance and inclusion.
• Deep and current knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• A pragmatic and commercially-minded approach to HR, with a track record of creating simple, effective solutions.
• A strong track record of building and implementing scalable people policies and frameworks alongside robust reporting, with excellent numerical skills.
• An ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders and board members to influence decision-making through a people lens.
• Great judgment and strong experience running and resolving complex and sensitive people issues. Superb communication skills.
• Comfort flexing between strategic and operational support, and coaching more junior team members.

What would be great (but isn’t required)

• B Corp or values-centred business experience.
• Experience in B2C, tech scale-up and/or remote-first environments, ideally 80+ people.
• Prior fractional, consulting or advisory experience.

What we offer

• Part-time, flexible working: This is a 2-day per week role (0.4 FTE), with flexibility on how those hours are structured across the week. Work remotely but join our team in the London office for key meetings (e.g., quarterly leadership offsites, full team office days) at least twice per quarter.
• 2 days/week for £22,000 - £26,000 p.a. (£55k-£65k pro-rated), depending on experience. Company ownership through equity.
• One cost-price Byway holiday per year, an annual Interrail pass, and agency rates with Eurostar for you and a family member/friend.
• An annual autumn Away Afternoon and optional Weekend Away in spring.

How to apply

Please apply here with your CV and a short covering letter. We're more interested in your covering letter than your CV.

We’re eager to receive applications from all backgrounds, including from people of colour, the LGBTQ+ community, people with disabilities, neurodivergent people, parents, carers, and people from lower socio-economic backgrounds. If there’s anything we can do to accommodate your specific situation, please let us know.

The process: If we like your application, we'll schedule an initial call with Holly (CMO). After that, there will be a scenario-based discussion with Cat (CEO), Maya (FD) and Becca (People Manager), focusing on real-world HR challenges. The final stage will be a values-based interview with Cat and Rich (CTO). We offer flexible scheduling for our multi-stage interview process and are open to adjustments based on candidate needs.

Applications close

Sunday 14th August 2025.