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People & Operations Partner

People & Operations Partner – Sports Interactive

Position Overview

A unique role in a unique studio for an experienced HR professional to support and develop a world-class team delivering world-class interactive entertainment.

This role presents an amazing opportunity for an experienced HR professional with an eye for HR operations to join a newly formed and growing HR team in a fast-paced, creative environment with some of the very best in UK Games Development.

As a People & Operations Partner reporting to the People & HR Director, you will contribute directly to the success of the Studio by supporting and partnering with the line managers in their business areas. You will support the growth of the Studio, driving change & improving performance, maximising colleague engagement, and developing talent.

You will become an integral part of the management team, delivering value-add HR activities aligned with Studio’s People Strategy and overall direction. You will underpin the foundations of the HR department by introducing and improving HR processes and operations across the employee life cycle. You will proactively support business operations by ensuring high-quality HR data is maintained and produced for reporting and monitoring purposes.

The role will work closely with the People & HR Director and be part of a newly formed HR team consisting of two People Partners (including this role), an HR Administrator and a wider operational team.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Business Partner to Leaders and Line Managers:

• Collaborates with Line Managers to understand departmental priorities and assesses needs in staffing, organisational design, performance management, change management, employee relations, new leader coaching, talent management and career development
• Synchronises with Line Managers regularly to update on HR initiatives, discuss HR issues and collate feedback. The People & Operations Partner will be an active member in the Line Manager Group and play a key role in ensuring alignment across the Studio
• Guides Line Managers on performance & appraisal issues and enhance managers’ engagement in people management
• Supports department heads/ LM’s with talent acquisition and development, partnering with Line Managers and external recruiters to source talent, manage the candidate experience and onboarding journey
• Advises managers on relevant UK & Local Employment Law (countries of particular interest being the UK, Republic of Ireland, Sweden & France)
• Coordinates initiatives that enhance work relationships, employee retention, and reinforcing & promoting the Studio’s values and culture – e.g., collaboration, agility, tenacity, passion, ambition and always considering the bigger picture.

HR Operations:

• HR Process Owner – introduce and improve HR processes and operations across the employee life cycle
• Be the main point person for HR Portal (Sage People) - Working to ensure the system is fit for purpose, creates efficiencies, and improves workflows
• HR Systems overall Point Person and partner with Sega on – HR database, Culture Amp, Jobvite, Lattice etc with a focus on better utilising the systems to benefit the Studio
• Responsible for creating HR dashboard’s, analysing data, highlighting key areas and trends for discussion to drive engagement and high performance - i.e., collating exit interview data, issuing onboarding surveys and reviewing feedback, reviewing engagement survey data
• Facilitates HR solutions and initiatives, implements new processes or tools in support of Studio priorities, project operations and overall team engagement
• Be visible to the Studio and be the ‘go to’ person for HR data and operational and process improvement and advice
• Responsible for OMC Approvals and compliance, ensuring an audit trail of approvals and paperwork at all times
• Review, enhance and develop new starter, onboarding, changes, and leaver processes
• Partnering with Sega HR on Payroll, Benefits, compliance, and governance matters.

Generalist HR & HR Projects:

• Supervises all aspects of the employee lifecycle with Line Management of the HR Administrator, ensuring contractual paperwork generation and KPI’s are met
• Leads on growth/ foundational talent - Identifies opportunities for emerging apprentice/intern/postgraduate schemes and finds new ways to access/develop talent
• Supports the Studios learning & development initiatives in line with the People Strategy and Studio strategic goals. Align with the Studio’s Developer Advocate to assist with the continued development and technical growth of the Studio
• Focus on EDI – supporting Studio committees and various initiatives
• Liaise and partner when required with Central HR services & wider SEGA Studios HR teams to roll out group-wide ‘SEGA Studios’ initiatives as appropriate
• Partner with studio operational resources to support with studio headcount and compensation proposals and planning
• As an ever-evolving Studio and a newly formed HR department, there are opportunities for HR project work and advancement. This is an excellent opportunity to practice HR in a creative and truly people-focused environment.

Requirements - Knowledge, Skill and Experience

Experience

• Proven HR generalist experience working at a HRBP level
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced and constantly changing environment, working at an operational and management level
• Previous experience within a creative digital or technological environment is preferred
• Experience in supporting organisational change within a growing business
• Experience in identifying and implementing appropriate development solutions within an unstructured and forming environment
• A flexible team player and self-starter who is well organised and detail orientated
• Able to respond and adapt quickly under pressure, identifying and implementing process change where appropriate, with minimal supervision
• Comfortable working with employees at all levels within the Studio across a variety of departments and disciplines, with the ability to interact and influence up to exec level
• Commercially aware and customer-focused, displaying strong competencies in resilience, coaching, influencing, process development, analysis and problem solving
• An individual with a passion for continuous learning and growth is essential
• Proficient in MS Office packages; specifically, in Excel, Outlook and Word
• Proficient in various HR software and databases, such as Sage, Culture Amp, Lattice etc.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Human Resources, Humanities, or related disciplines preferred
• CIPD qualified – Level 5 and above preferred

Studio Overview

Sports Interactive (SI) is an ambitious development studio creating immersive sports management simulations. Since 1994, we’ve captivated a global pool of players with our iconic, BAFTA award-winning game, Football Manager. We’re a wholly owned subsidiary of SEGA having caught their attention in 2006 with our continuous critical and commercial success. We’re a tenacious community, coming together at the Here East technology hub in Stratford, East London. Always expanding, the SI team takes on the gaming genre through a diverse array of disciplines. But no matter how big we dream, we keep our approach (and your schedule) flexible, creating a relaxed atmosphere where collaboration can thrive.

Working Here

We approach everything with passion, whether that’s making our mark on the gaming and football industries or doing our bit for the world around us. We want to share that outlook with everyone who shows up to work here each day.

We like our talent tenacious, so you can expect to surround yourself with other ambitious individuals bringing their A-game to many different disciplines. We know collaboration is the key to constantly topping our best and encourage our people to fiercely realise their own personal potential.

We believe everyone matters, no matter which part of the business you’re in. Above all else, we’re a team. A team with a down-to-earth dynamic, that works and plays together. We have fun doing what we do; one of the many reasons we’re one of the best places to work in the UK games business (Gameindustry.biz 2021 Large studio category).

And if you want a work/life balance, we’re behind you. Because while we live to create extraordinary games, we know that’s not all you’ve got going on. You can trust that we always keep things in perspective, fostering an environment where work can be more than just a job.

Our flexible working culture gives team members the responsibility to optimise their workloads, with in-office, hybrid, and remote working options. Even in countries where we don’t directly employ*, we’ll even explore what’s possible via third parties and do our best to accommodate location preferences.

And when you’re not here making the world’s best management games, there’s a top-class benefits package for permanent team members based in the UK, including gym membership, private health, and dental care, plus many more perks. For those permanent team members outside of the UK, we strive to offer equivalent and localised benefits. We’re also a London Living Wage employer and proudly boast one of the lowest staff turnover rates in the industry.

*We’re able to directly employ in the UK, Ireland, France, Sweden, and Finland.

Inclusivity Matters

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from any relevant candidate irrespective of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, religion, or belief. Our studio has disabled access and facilities.