Head of People - Engine (Hiring Immediately)

Engine is Starling's software-as-a-service (SaaS) business, the technology that was built to power Starling Bank.

Starling Bank has seen exceptional growth and success, and a large part of that is down to the fact that we have built our own modern technology from the ground up. This SaaS technology platform is now available to banks and financial institutions all around the world, enabling them to benefit from the innovative digital features, and efficient back-office processes that has helped achieve Starling's success.

We draw upon our experience as knowledgeable bankers, and best in class technologists to become the chosen option for these banks, and preferred partners for leading consultancies.

As a company, everyone is expected to roll up their sleeves to help deliver great outcomes for our clients. We are an engineering led company and we’re looking for someone who will be excited by the potential for Engine’s technology to transform banking in different markets around the world.

We are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Head of People to support Engine, Starling Group’s fast-growing, international software-as-a-service business.

Partnering closely with Engine’s CEO and Senior Leadership Team, you will play a key role in shaping the People's agenda for a business of approximately 450 colleagues, supporting its continued growth, organisational effectiveness and international expansion.

You will be a trusted advisor and constructive challenger to senior leaders, helping them make better decisions about their people, organisational structures, leadership capability and talent. You will translate business priorities into practical, forward-looking people plans that strengthen performance, build organisational capability and support sustainable growth.

As part of the wider Starling People Partnering function, you will work closely with our specialist People teams to deliver integrated solutions, balancing Engine’s distinct commercial and cultural needs with the wider Group’s strategy, frameworks and values.

This is a highly visible individual contributor role requiring strong judgement, independence and the ability to operate confidently with senior stakeholders.

What you'll get to do

• Strategic business partnering: Act as a trusted partner to Engine’s CEO and leadership team, understanding the commercial strategy and translating business priorities into a clear, actionable people agenda. Provide constructive challenge and influence key decisions.
• Performance and accountability: Coach and challenge senior leaders on their leadership impact, decision-making and team effectiveness, helping them build a high-performance culture.
• Talent and succession: Identify critical capabilities, talent and succession risks, working with leaders and specialist teams to strengthen leadership pipelines, internal mobility and long-term organisational capability.
• Culture and engagement : Help shape and embed Engine’s distinctive culture and employee value proposition within Starling Group, using engagement insights and employee feedback to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Enable Global Growth: Support rapid international mobilisation by developing and implementing People policies and practices that meet regulatory and legislative obligations globally.
• R isk and employee matters: Provide sound judgement on sensitive and complex people matters, working with People Advisory, Employee Relations and other specialist teams to ensure fair, consistent and commercially appropriate outcomes.
• Group collaboration: Work collaboratively across the People function, contributing Engine’s perspective to Group-wide people priorities and ensuring that Group frameworks are applied effectively and pragmatically within the business.

Requirements

Experience and expertise

• Strategic People Partnering: Significant experience in a senior People Partnering role, with a proven ability to translate business strategy into people priorities and deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Commercial Acumen: Strong understanding of business drivers, commercial priorities and organisational challenges, with the ability to connect people decisions to business performance, growth and operational effectiveness.
• International Growth and Expansion: Demonstrable experience supporting international expansion and scaling businesses across multiple markets, including building organisational capability, navigating different employment and regulatory environments, and adapting people practices to enable sustai]]>