People Operations Team Leader

People Operations Team Leader

Location:

Milton Keynes (hybrid)

Type: 9-month fixed-term contract

We are looking for an experienced People Operations leader to provide service continuity and leadership for our EMEA People Operations team based in Milton Keynes.

As the People Operations Team Leader for EMEA, you will oversee the delivery of high-quality, consistent and customer-focused service to the People Team, business stakeholders and colleagues across the region. You will lead, coach and support a team of People Operations Specialists, ensuring they have the guidance, tools and clarity needed to deliver operational excellence. You will act as a point of escalation for complex queries and exceptions, using sound judgement, empathy and a commercially aware mindset to drive effective outcomes.

In this role, you will also partner closely with other regional People Operations Team Leads to maintain global alignment across all regional teams (Americas, EMEA, and APAC) and support through a period of continued transformation in global service delivery. Your leadership will help ensure operational stability while contributing to improvements in processes, service quality and cross-regional ways of working.

• Leading, coaching and developing a team of 12 People Services professionals.
• Maintaining continuity of high-quality operational service delivery across EMEA.
• Monitoring service levels, team performance and workload distribution.
• Acting as an escalation point for complex queries, exceptions and judgement calls.
• Providing clear, commercially aware guidance in “grey” situations.
• Building strong relationships with People partners and business stakeholders.
• Ensuring process documentation remains accurate and aligned with local legislation and global standards.
• Stepping in hands‑on where required during peak periods or team absence.

• Proven experience leading an Operational Team, for example People Operations / HR Shared Services / Employee Relations / Recruitment Operations.
• Strong operational mindset, used to managing incoming volume, monitoring case queues and handling escalations.
• A coaching-oriented leader who proactively develops team capability.
• Confidence making sound judgement calls in complex or ambiguous situations.
• Experience working across multiple countries beneficial (EMEA experience ideal; strong UK focus welcomed).
• Familiarity with HRIS and case management systems (Workday experience advantageous).
• Commercial awareness and the ability to balance risk, compliance and employee experience.

We exist to create positive change for people and the planet. Join us and make a difference too!

Grow your career and expand your skills and knowledge. At BSI, we offer opportunities to work across industries and across the globe. You’ll benefit from the different perspectives and experiences of your international colleagues, as well as ongoing training and development. We offer flexible working, as well as 27 days’ annual leave, paid sick leave, bank holidays, health insurance, life insurance, pension plan with company contribution, car allowance (dependent on role), income protection, paid maternity leave, paid paternity leave, paid parental leave, adoption leave, compassionate leave, paid bereavement leave, learning and development opportunities, and a wide range of flexible benefits that you can tailor to suit your lifestyle.

* Please note:

BSI are unable to provide visa sponsorship for this vacancy

We exist to have a positive impact. Our people influence international thinking and action on important issues. Our 86,000 customers are based in 193 countries across the globe.

Now we’re taking on society’s biggest challenges. We’re developing standards and guidelines that will help our customers get to net zero, and we’re defining the way new technologies such as AI impact all our lives.

We’re focused on our future – and we’re looking for people who want to grow with us as we take on the challenges of tomorrow. At BSI, you’ll find a workplace where everyone can flourish and thrive, where innovation is encouraged and where learning is part of your…