London, UK
People lead
at Stanton Williams
Stanton Williams is hiring a people lead to join its team in London.
Details:
- role: people lead (HR manager)
- full‑time
- Islington studio
- one day WFH
- standalone role reporting to operations director
We are a design-led architectural practice with a 40-year track record of delivering high-profile, award-winning projects in the UK and internationally. Since 2018, we have been an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT), meaning our people have a meaningful stake in the future of the practice and in how we work together.
We operate from our studio in Islington, London. Our culture is creative, collaborative and project-focused, with a genuine passion for craft. We’re looking for a People Lead to help nurture and strengthen that culture through thoughtful, pragmatic and inclusive people practices.
This is a hands-on HR role in a studio where relationships matter. You’ll be a visible and approachable presence; someone colleagues feel comfortable turning to at every level of the practice.
You’ll work as a standalone People Lead, closely supported by a wider Operations team, and reporting to the Operations Director. Experience in a project-based environment (architecture, construction, engineering, design, professional consultancy, or similar) would be valuable; someone who understands shifting resourcing needs, project rhythms, and the importance of enabling teams to perform at their best.
Key responsibilities:
People and culture:
- be a trusted, pragmatic advisor to the Operations Director, leadership team and line managers on day‑to‑day HR matters
- champion and embed a collaborative, creative studio culture, supporting great teamwork across roles and levels
- lead engagement and culture initiatives that improve communication, inclusion and ways of working
Employee lifecycle:
- manage end‑to‑end recruitment and onboarding to attract and integrate the best people
- manage employee relationship matters with fairness, consistency, good judgement and discretion
Learning, development and wellbeing:
- identify development needs and help shape learning programmes, mentoring and career pathways
- ensure that the Personal Development Review process is carried out effectively and that the output is shared and actioned appropriately
- promote wellbeing and healthy working practices that support sustained high performance in a busy studio
Operations, policies and compliance:
- maintain and continuously improve HR policies, procedures and documentation, ensuring legal compliance and best practice
- manage HR administration and record‑keeping, producing clear reporting and insights
- managing salary reviews, benefits administration oversight, tracking and advising on equality, maintaining job descriptions
- payroll is outsourced – you’ll liaise with the provider and operations colleagues as needed to ensure smooth monthly processes, accurate data flow and timely inputs
EOT and relationship-building:
- help bring the EOT ethos to life, supporting transparency, participation and shared ownership values
- suild strong, respectful working relationships across the studio, from graduates to senior leadership
Project support:
- engaging with the project teams to support, review and identify resource requirements
- support project teams to maintain management software employee data
What we are looking for
Essential:
- proven HR generalist experience
- strong employee relations skills and confidence advising managers/leadership
- a collaborative style: approachable, credible, and able to influence
- a process mindset: you enjoy improving how things work and bringing structure without unnecessary bureaucracy
- excellent communication and judgement; you handle sensitive matters with discretion
- solid understanding of UK employment practices
- CIPD Level 5 (or above) qualification
- setting and maintaining budgets
Desirable:
- experience in a project‑based or professional services environment (i.e. architecture/design/construction/professional consultancy)
- experience supporting organisational change, growth, or culture/engagement initiatives
- comfortable working in a single-studio environment where visibility and relationships are key
Salary: £50,000 – £65,000 per annum