People Manager

Location: Hybrid, London, two days per week in office Level: Manager level, partnering across SMG and reporting to the Senior People Manager. Who are we? We’re the original pioneers in connected commerce marketing. Since 2008, we’ve been partnering with major retailers, powering global brands, and building meaningful connections with shoppers. We simplify the mind-boggling complexity of today’s retail media landscape. We deliver impactful campaigns that connect with people where it matters. We create seamless and personalised shopping experiences. Above all, we deliver amazing results for our partners, driven by our unshakeable desire for growth. Time after time, we change the game. SMG is home to a world-class suite of commerce advertising capabilities powered by data and cutting-edge technology. We constantly push ourselves, our tech and our industry to discover innovative new ways to connect, sell and grow. About the role We are looking for a People Manager to join our People Team at SMG . You’ll be a trusted partner to leaders, managers and employees, providing practical people expertise that enables high-performing teams and creates a great place to work. Alongside coaching managers and leading people initiatives, you’ll help develop the SMG Learning Academy, deliver impactful learning programmes and continuously improve the processes that shape our employee experience. If you love variety, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and embrace change with energy, this could be the right role for you. What You’ll Be Doing Your days will be dynamic. You might find yourself: Partnering with leaders and managers to turn SMG’s People Strategy into practical initiatives that improve employee experience and business performance. Building trusted stakeholder relationships and providing pragmatic, commercially focused people advice. Identifying capability gaps and helping create development solutions that strengthen teams across SMG. Supporting the continued growth of the SMG Learning Academy and delivering high-quality learning programmes. Championing employee engagement, helping leaders interpret feedback and turn insights into meaningful action. Exploring how technology and AI can increase efficiency and enhance the delivery of People services. A Little Bit About You You’ll bring: Experience as a People Manager or Senior People Adviser, with the confidence and capability to take the next step in your career. Experience or demonstratable potential of proactive business partnering. You don't wait for issues to land, you spot challenges and work with leaders to provide solutions A CIPD Level 3 or Level 5 qualification, or progress towards one. Strong knowledge of UK employment law and hands-on experience managing employee relations matters. Experience supporting or delivering engaging learning and development initiatives. Previous line management, coaching or mentoring experience. Excellent communication, coaching, influencing and relationship-building skills. The ability to build trusted partnerships with managers and senior stakeholders. Don’t meet every single requirement? We still want to hear from you. If you believe you’d thrive in this role, your unique perspective might be just what we’re looking for. Why SMG? At SMG, we hire for the future, which is fast-moving and changing shape. Do you have the potential to help shape our business? We’re looking for brilliant, diverse talent who want to grow with us - people who are curious, ambitious, and eager to learn, whether as specialists or across teams. We value those who take ownership of their growth and bring fresh perspectives. That’s why we’re committed to equity, inclusion, and building a place where everyone feels empowered to grow. At SMG, it’s not just about filling a role but building the future together. ● 10% discretionary bonus ● £1,800 yearly wellbeing fund (on top of your salary!) ● Free Headspace subscription ● £500 yearly “Uni Fund” for learning ● 4 extra Wellbeing Days off per year ● Annual Summer conference + year-round celebrations ● 4pm finishes every Friday ● Flexible and hybrid working Explore all our benefits here Useful Links Before You Apply Learn about our agencies Our values Our hiring process EDI at SMG FAQs Our full data retention policy can be found here .