People & Culture Director

About us

x+why launched in 2019 with a simple belief: there’s a better way to do business.

We’re a Founder-led, Certified B Corp creating inspiring places for people to work, meet, connect and celebrate. From beautifully designed workspaces to multi-purpose event venues and exclusive Members’ Clubs, we now have 17 sites across London, Birmingham, Manchester and Milton Keynes - with more launches on the horizon.

With a current team of 162 awesome humans we've come a long way since 2019, but there is still plenty we want to achieve - which is where you come in!

About the role

Today, our People function is currently delivered by a trusted external HR partner, who has played a critical role in building a solid foundation for the business.

As we enter our next phase of growth, we feel this is the perfect time to bring the function in-house and appoint a People & Culture Director. There will be a healthy transition period with our external partners, who will be on hand to share context, and offer guidance as you get under the skin of the business.

Working closely with our Founders, COO and Senior Leadership Team, you’ll be a trusted adviser - helping navigate the opportunities, challenges and typical growing pains of a scaling business. You’ll shape and deliver our People strategy, making sure how we develop, reward, engage and support our teams, keeps pace as we evolve.

And while this is a strategic role, it won’t operate from a distance. You will be a highly visible and approachable presence across our sites, getting to know the business from the ground up - building relationships, earning trust and being on hand for day-to-day support.

We can be flexible around hybrid working, but we want you to really know our teams, so there will be regular travel across the portfolio. We are also open to hearing from candidates who would prefer a 4 day per week position.

About you

You’re an experienced People leader who believes that successful businesses are built by good humans, doing great things. You understand that looking after your people and delivering strong commercial performance go hand in hand.

You have a natural ability to connect with people, build trust and see the bigger picture. You’re approachable, open-minded and bring a healthy balance of empathy, common sense and commercial awareness.

You’ve previously led or significantly shaped a People function, have strong UK employment law and employee relations knowledge, and genuinely enjoy coaching and developing leaders.

Just as importantly, you’ll understand what makes a founder-led business special. You'll recognise the importance of protecting our DNA, while bringing fresh perspectives and the confidence to challenge how we do things. We don't want to lose what makes us, us - but we're equally excited about what the future could look like.

Ideally, you’ll have experience in coworking, hospitality, leisure or another multi-site, customer-facing environment. You’ll be comfortable with the pace, variety and occasional curveballs that come with a growing business, and enjoy being part of the journey.

Why x+why?

Our environment is ambitious and agile. Good ideas move quickly, great work is recognised and you’ll see tangible results from the initiatives you put in place.

Yes, we have strong foundations, but there is still plenty to shape. This is a unique opportunity to build something meaningful and with a genuine seat at the table, you can help define how we scale.

We are a good bunch – curious, passionate, kind, open-minded and refreshingly low on ego. We care deeply about our members’ experience and although we take our roles seriously, we like to have a little fun along the way.

We welcome people from all walks of life and believe the best teams are shaped by different stories, experiences and perspectives. And if there’s anything we can do to make the application or interview process work better for you, just let us know.

What next?

Simply click on the apply button and upload your CV.

One small ask: while AI has its place, we'd love your cover letter to sound like you. Keep it short, honest and in your own voice and, in return, we promise every application will be reviewed by a real person.

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK; unfortunately, we're unable to offer sponsorship for this role.