VP of People

We are seeking a VP, People or fractional CPO who will partner closely with the CFO and executive team to scale the company’s human capital strategy across international markets. This leader will architect and execute a forward-looking plan that enables high performance, innovation, and sustainable growth.

The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with operational excellence—able to design global people systems that leverage data, technology, and AI to drive decision-making, workforce planning, and culture. A proven track record leading international teams (with UK & US experience strongly preferred) is critical to success in this role.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership

  • Partner with the CFO and executive leadership to align people strategy with financial and growth objectives.
  • Lead the design of scalable, compliant global people operations that support rapid international expansion.
  • Introduce AI-driven workforce analytics and automation to optimize hiring, retention, and performance management.
  • Advise on organizational design, leadership structure, and talent allocation to enable strategic agility.

• Talent Strategy & Culture

  • Build a world-class talent acquisition and retention framework across the US, UK, and other international markets.
  • Lead diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging initiatives globally.
  • Develop leadership and succession programs to cultivate future executives and technical leaders.
  • Champion a high-performing, values-based culture that balances innovation and accountability.

• People Operations & Systems

  • Oversee global HR operations, policies, and systems; ensure compliance with local regulations (including UK/EU employment law).
  • Leverage AI-enabled tools to streamline workflows, enhance engagement, and predict workforce trends.
  • Implement scalable HR technology and data governance to support accurate, real-time decision-making.
  • Review system contracts with vendors for efficiencies and needs

• Compensation, Benefits & Total Rewards

  • Collaborate with Finance to align compensation and incentive programs with company goals and budget discipline.
  • Design equitable, competitive, and regionally compliant global rewards frameworks.
  • Use data-driven insights and external research to optimise pay, equity, retention, and performance outcomes.

Qualifications

• Proven progressive HR or People leadership experience, including scaling in fast-growth, global technology companies.
• Demonstrated success leading HR strategy across multiple regions, with direct experience in the UK, US and EMEA.
• Deep understanding of AI and data-driven people practices, including HR analytics, automation, and predictive modelling.
• Strong partnership with Finance and Operations; adept at translating people metrics into business performance.
• Exceptional leadership presence, communication skills, and ability to influence at board and executive levels.
• Demonstrated experience and understanding of the unique challenges with technical organizations, particularly in start-up and high-growth environments, with populations focused on product management, engineering, and data science.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or HR certification (e.g., CIPD, SHRM-SCP, SPHR) preferred. MBA a plus.

How we will measure success in this role?

• Scalable, compliant people infrastructure supporting growth across all markets.
• Improved global engagement, retention, and leadership effectiveness.
• Reduction in manual HR processes through automation and AI integration.
• Strong alignment between workforce planning and financial performance.

$200,000 - $250,000 a year

We are open to a full-time employee OR a fractional CPO working on a part-time basis. The most important thing for us is finding the right person to collaborate with our executive leadership team.

Our People

At Sapio Sciences, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Our lab informatics solutions are powered not just by technology, but by a shared commitment to our core values—what we proudly call The Sapio Seven, aka EMBRACE:

- E mbrace the future - M ake a difference - B e true partners - R emember why we’re here - A ct with empathy - C ommit to transparency - E xcel in quality

These values shape how we work, how we grow, and how we deliver impact for our clients every day.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to ensuring an inclusive and accessible recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments, at any stage across the application, interview & assessment processes then please let us know. We will work with you to support your needs in confidence.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

We do not discriminate based on race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or any other status protected by law or regulation. We intend that all qualified applicants be given equal opportunity and that selection decisions are based on job-related factors. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage applications from all qualified individuals.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.