Head of People - UK Only (Remote/Hybrid/Brighton)

We’re FuturLab, the award-winning game studio behind PowerWash Simulator 1 and 2, the Velocity series, Peaky Blinders Mastermind, and many more awesome games.

FuturLab is entering the next phase of its development. We operate primarily as a remote-first studio, with a small, intentional team based in Brighton. Maintaining strong communication, alignment and culture across a distributed team is a key part of how the studio operates.

With a studio of around 100 people and a deliberate focus on strengthening consistent, values-led leadership capability and team effectiveness, we are looking for a Head of People who can help shape how the studio operates as it approaches its long-term scale. 

This role sits on the Senior Leadership Team alongside the Head of Production and Head of Technology and works directly with the founders to support the studio’s next stage of development.

Rather than focusing primarily on HR administration, this role centres on leadership capability, organisational effectiveness, and people strategy.

The Role

The Head of People acts as a strategic partner to the leadership team, helping the studio strengthen leadership capability, improve organisational alignment, and ensure the people function supports studio performance.

Key areas of focus include:

• Improving organisational design and team effectiveness
• Shaping and implementing the studio’s people strategy
• Supporting culture, communication and alignment across teams
• Developing and strengthening the people function

About You

You will likely bring experience from organisations that have grown from around 50 to 200 people and understand the challenges of scaling teams, leadership capability and organisational structure.

You will be comfortable working directly with founders and senior leaders and confident helping organisations navigate periods of growth and change.

You are likely someone who:

• enjoys working at the intersection of leadership, culture and organisational effectiveness
• is comfortable advising senior leaders and providing constructive challenge
• brings both strategic thinking and practical judgement

You will align strongly with FuturLab’s values, including humility, kindness, resilience and a commitment to continuous improvement, and be comfortable operating in an environment where behaviours such as collaboration, accountability and “doing the right thing, kindly” are actively expected and reinforced.

Requirements

• Experience in a People / HR leadership role within a maturing company, ideally in games, technology, or another creative sector
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR practices
• Experience supporting managers with employee relations matters, performance management and day-to-day people issues
• Experience building or improving people processes such as onboarding, performance cycles, feedback systems or manager support frameworks
• Ability to build trust and credibility with managers and team members at all levels
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• A practical, pragmatic approach to problem solving

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Experience in the games industry or creative technology companies
• Experience supporting scaling studios or growing teams
• Experience implementing or managing people analytics and engagement tools such as CultureAmp and Personio
• Experience contributing to culture, engagement or leadership development initiatives
• Exposure to HR systems implementation or improvement
• CIPD qualification or equivalent professional experience

Why FuturLab

FuturLab is known for creating distinctive, high-quality games in a collaborative and supportive environment. As the studio continues to mature, there is a clear ambition to become a destination, world-class employer - recognised for both creative excellence and leadership quality.

This role offers the opportunity to help shape how the studio evolves during this next phase, strengthening values-led leadership capability and supporting teams to do their best work.

Benefits

• Competitive salary: 85k to 95k
• Annual performance related bonus.
• Bi-annual salary reviews based on your performance.
• Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm (No weekends, No overtime, No Crunch!)
• Opportunity to work from home (UK only), out of our Brighton office, or hybrid.
• 26 days annual leave + bank holidays, includes:
• Extra day off for your birthday.
• 3 day closure over Christmas
• Our FuturLab ‘bank holiday’ at the end of October (because we all need one then!).

Plus:

• 2 Duvet Days. (No questions asked) 
• 5 paid training and 2 paid volunteer days per year to work on your personal development.
• Opportunities to attend and speak at gaming events/conferences. 
• Free MS Game Pass, Apple Arcade or PS+ subscription
• Free game codes, game swag and merchandise.
• Bike2work scheme.
• Enhanced Maternity - 9 months full pay (statutory benefit topped up by FL)
• Paternity leave - 8 weeks full pay
• Enhanced Sick Pay.
• Enhanced Pension.
• Private Healthcare, includes dental and optical cover.
• Remote therapy service through Spill -8 x 50-minute virtual sessions over 6 months whenever you need them. Unlimited ‘ask a therapist’ text questions.
• Eye tests & standard glasses for display work.
• Amazing offices with a great culture. E.g. Regular social activities, 

FuturLab foster an inclusive and welcoming culture, check out the Life at FuturLab page (www.futurlab.co.uk/life-at-futurlab) for reasons why you’d love working here! 

If you have the skills, experience and passion for the role then please get in touch as we’d love to hear from you!  

Equal Opportunities:
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and are committed to making reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process as required, please add any adjustment requests to your application.

Candidates without a valid UK work Visa cannot be considered.