Interim VP, People Partner

VP, People Partner (Senior HR Business Partner)

About the role

We are looking for an experienced Senior People Business Partner to join Pacific Life Re (PL Re) on a 15-month fixed-term contract, providing maternity cover for a senior member of our PX (People Experience) team.

This is a highly visible global role supporting senior leaders across Technology, Legal, PX and two of our growing front office lines of business, Savings & Retirement (S&R) and Capital Solutions (CapSol). You'll work closely with business leaders to provide both strategic HR partnership and hands-on HR delivery, helping teams navigate a period of significant change and growth. The role is approximately a 60/40 split between strategic business partnering and operational HR support. Based in London, the role will also have overall accountability for people activities for the Europe region. You'll be supported by HR Centres of Excellence (Talent Acquisition, Employee Relations, Learning & Development, Reward, Mobility etc). The role is a member of the PL Re PX Leadership team and sits on the Management Teams of the business areas that it supports.

You'll manage two HR Generalists and play an important role in supporting and delivering Pacific Life Re's ongoing integration into the wider Pacific Life Mutual Group in the United States, alongside our broader 'PX Transformation' programme. Experience supporting large-scale business and HR transformation programmes is essential.

Contract Details

• Reports to: Chief People Officer / Head of HR, Pacific Life Re
• 15-month fixed-term contract
• Start date: September 2026
• Contract end date: December 2027
• Full employee benefits package
• Highly competitive salary
• Attractive retention bonus payable upon successful completion of the contract
• Current Location: Tower Bridge House, London
• Hybrid working model: Currently a minimum of 2 days per week in the office
• Planned office move to Liverpool Street during 2027, with office attendance expected to increase to 4 days per week following relocation

What you'll be doing

Strategic Business Partnering

• Act as the senior HR partner to leaders across Technology, Legal, PX, Savings & Retirement and Capital Solutions.
• Build trusted relationships with executive and senior leadership teams.
• Lead and facilitate organisation design, workforce planning, succession planning and talent management activities.
• Coach and support leaders through change, growth and business transformation.
• Use people data and insights to support decision-making and improve business outcomes.

Transformation & Change

• Support leaders through a significant period of organisational change and integration.
• Partner with stakeholders on major transformation initiatives and operating model changes.
• Help translate enterprise-wide people strategies into practical, local execution.
• Support change management, communication planning and stakeholder engagement activities.
• Ensure employee experience remains a priority during periods of uncertainty and change.

HR Delivery

• Lead and support a range of employee matters, including performance management, employee relations, restructuring, talent reviews and career development.
• Work with Centres of Excellence to ensure efficient, high-quality delivery of HR services.
• Support annual people cycles including performance, compensation and talent reviews.

Leadership

• Manage and develop two HR Generalists.
• Contribute to the wider enterprise PX leadership agenda.
• Act as a role model for collaborative, high-performing HR partnership.

Skills and Essential needed:

• Significant experience as a Senior HR Business Partner in a complex, global and highly matrixed organisation, ideally within Financial Services.
• Proven track record of partnering with senior leaders and executive stakeholders, providing both strategic advice and practical HR support.
• Experience leading or supporting large-scale business transformation, organisational redesign, or change programmes.
• Experience managing, developing or mentoring HR professionals.
• Excellent stakeholder management, influencing and communication skills, with the ability to build credibility quickly at all levels.
• Commercially minded, pragmatic and able to make sound decisions in a fast-moving environment.
• Confident using people data, technology and AI tools to improve outcomes and ways of working.
• Previous experience within the insurance or reinsurance sector would be an advantage.
• Knowledge of Workday is desirable.

Benefits (Only for Permanent and Fixed Term Employees)

Leave

• 25 days of annual leave with option to buy/sell more days
• Adoption and fertility leave
• Generous enhanced parental leave

Healthcare

• Comprehensive private insurance coverage for employee and dependents
• Group Life Insurance coverage of 9x basic annual salary and Group Income Protection up to 75% of basic annual salary
• Optical benefits

Savings & Retirement

• 15% combined employee/employer contributions

Wellness

• Subsidized gym membership
• Access to Employee Assistance Program
• Cycle to Work and Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Time off for volunteering
• Charitable matching of employee donations