People Director

About the role

Amber Labs is seeking a senior People Director to own the entire People and Culture function. Reporting directly to the CEO and COO, you will transform a founder‑led, reactive HR set‑up into a structured, accountable, and scalable operation.

Key responsibilities

• Design and deliver the People roadmap in partnership with the executive team.
• Build and embed a performance management framework, improving manager capability.
• Identify key talent, develop retention plans, benchmark rewards, and create clear career pathways.
• Lead workforce planning and organisational design across permanent staff and contractors.
• Coach managers, close leadership gaps, and raise the standard of people leadership.
• Ensure HR policies, processes and compliance (including IR35) are robust for a scaling business.
• Develop and guide the existing junior HR team.

Required profile

• Proven experience as a People Director or senior People leader in a scaling technology or professional services business.
• Track record of building People functions and improving performance culture.
• Comfortable advising at CEO and board level, with credibility to challenge and support.
• Experience managing blended workforces (permanent, contractors, FTCs) and knowledge of IR35.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑moving organisation of 50‑200 employees.

Required skills

What we offer

• 25 days annual leave plus public holidays.
• Private medical insurance with Bupa.
• Remote‑first working with optional office base at Liverpool Street.
• Personal training budget for professional growth.
• Generous referral scheme.
• Perkbox access to discounts and perks.
• EV scheme after one year of service.