Military & Elite Athlete Talent Placement – People Operations Lead

Military & Elite Athlete 2026 Talent Placement – People Operations Lead

Intake:
September 2026

Location:

UK wide (Hybrid with occasional office travel to sites such as Leicester, Stockport, London, Windsor, Reading).
Length of Placement: 12‑month Fixed Term Contract with potential to transition into a permanent role.

• Lead and deliver critical People Operations transformation activities under the Future Operating Model and technology roadmap.
• Provide operational leadership across core people processes, ensuring a consistent, efficient and colleague‑centric experience.
• Build capability, governance and consistency across People Operations.
• Support Centrica’s shift to a tech‑enabled, data‑driven People Operations function and a scalable model for managing colleague matters and processes.
• Drive standardisation, governance, and clear ownership across services.
• Lead delivery of People Operations technology changes, simplify and digitise colleague and manager journeys, embed automation and data insight.
• Provide leadership across day‑to‑day People Operations activities, strengthening governance, consistency and operational standards to enable colleague‑centric and compliant people processes.

• Operating Model Transformation – design and implement the Future People Operations model, translate strategic design into practical processes and structures, drive standardisation and governance.
• Technology & Process Transformation – lead technology changes, streamline digitised journeys, embed automation and data insight.
• Operational Delivery & Capability Build – lead day‑to‑day activities, strengthen governance and operational standards.

• Experience in HR / People Operations environments.
• Operational delivery in complex organisations.
• Strong process design and improvement capabilities.
• Ability to translate strategy into practical delivery and lead change in ambiguous environments.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
• High ownership, accountability and resilience.
• Experience operating in structured, high‑accountability environments.
• Leading teams through change or transformation.
• Problem‑solving and decision‑making capability.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• Interest in People transformation and technology & operational improvement.

• Exposure to enterprise‑level transformation.
• Experience in building and scaling operational capabilities.
• Opportunity to lead real organisational change.
• Development of strategic, operational, and people leadership capability.
• £50,000 salary for the 12‑month placement.
• A dedicated mentor and opportunities to meet senior leaders.
• Flexible working and travel to office locations only when collaboration is needed.
• Access to Employee Networks and a Buddy from Ex‑Military or Athlete communities.
• For Service Leavers: chance to begin placement during final four resettlement weeks.

• Military Service Leavers: leaving the Forces or within the 2‑year CTP window at application.
• Elite Athletes: international competition experience and/or professional UK sports experience within the last three years.

• Submit a personal statement (max 750 words) and CV (max 2 pages) in Word or PDF format.
• Personal statement should cover: role you’re applying for, how your skills and experience align, transferable skills, key achievements, qualifications, military or athletic experience.

• Final date to receive applications: midnight Wednesday 1st July.
• Online screening interviews:
  June – mid July.
• Business Area interviews (face‑to‑face):
  July and August at one of our office locations.
• Placement start date:
  Wednesday 30th September (must be able to start).