Head of People - EMEA Greater London, United Kingdom Area

About the position (role & team):

We are looking for a passionate, strategic and driven Head of People to join our amazing Global People Team on a one-year fixed term contract (maternity cover). As a Head of People, you will lead our people strategy for a global department, focusing on culture and shaping a great employee experience. You will be part of our EMEA leadership team and support our employees across EMEA. This is a fixed-term maternity cover role, playing a vital part in our HR team. For the right candidate, there may be opportunities to stay with Optibus in another role when the contract ends.This role will report directly to the Chief People Office and will work closely with the EMEA based leadership team.

As a People Team, we strive to maximize our employees’ potential and growth needs, while supporting and driving the company’s business goals. We design and own the entire employee life cycle starting from attracting and hiring top talent, developing employees, coaching managers, motivating and ensuring our people shine in the company and have an outstanding company experience. We have built a strong infrastructure to support our growth and adjust to our unique and open culture. We promote a diverse company, and actively drive initiatives to ensure equality, diversity and a supportive environment.

Responsibilities:

Own the people function and oversee all the HR activities and processes in EMEA.

Lead the people strategy for a global department by working closely with Leadership to identify priorities for the business.

Establish best practices and methods in all HR related areas, including: learning and development, communication, change management, WLB, people engagement, employee development, 1:1s etc.

Design and adjust global HR programs to fit the needs of the functional and departmental needs; implement and track to achieve success.

Model the culture and values of Optibus, including initiatives of open door, equality and D&I, and thrive to generate an outstanding employee experience by all applicable means.

Be the expert and the POC in the UK (and eventually across EMEA) for all HR related aspects, including employment law, compensation & benefits, benchmarks, employee relations etc.

Compile, analyze and capture insights from data to support business decisions.

Always drive local employer branding - be active on social media, be in touch with potential talent and related ecosystem industry for mutual learning and collaboration.

Effectively nurture healthy communication and work relations between local office, Global geos and HQ.

Requirements

A bachelor's degree in related areas; master's degree - preferred.

5+ years of experience in a similar role in a global hi-tech industry.

Experience with employment law in EMEA locations (outside of the UK) is a plus (Spain and Germany are preferred)

Strategic thinker and a data-driven professional with an open, inclusive, and growth mindset.

A confident, everyday user of AI tools, using them to redesign workflows, work smarter, and raise the quality and speed of HR delivery.

Passionate and motivated about people; Great at building relationships and facilitating great work relations and atmosphere.

Collaborator and a team player.

Hands-on, strives to excel with a ‘can-do’ attitude and high execution skills.

Has experience in hiring, building teams, coaching employees and managers, building and leading L&D solutions, and setting HR infrastructure in a growing company.

Resilient, a multi-tasker, and has the ability to work in a dynamic environment and a fast-growing company

Independent, proactive, and has good prioritization skills

About Optibus:

Optibus is a unified software platform revolutionizing public transportation planning, scheduling, and operations in over 6,000 cities worldwide. Using AI, ML, and optimization algorithms, it empowers agencies to design more efficient, equitable, and sustainable transit networks, enhancing passenger access, reducing emissions, and improving driver conditions. With offices globally and a team of 350+ employees, Optibus fosters a collaborative culture centered on innovation, determination, and impact. As the first unicorn in public transportation technology, Optibus is driving the modernization of mass transit to make it the preferred choice for cities and passengers alike.

Optibus is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We hire talented individuals, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, ancestry, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, cultural background, religious beliefs, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. It is our responsibility at Optibus to provide an inclusive and accessible interview experience for all. We will provide reasonable accommodations for all candidates in need of individualised support during the hiring process.