Founded in 2021, Apron is set out to help SMBs win. Small businesses are the backbone of the economy, yet the systems they rely on - especially payments - are slow, manual and not built for them. Cash flow remains their biggest challenge, driven by the gap between the demands of managing payments and the tools available to do it well.
We are closing the gap by digitising and simplifying the payments process: capturing invoices, issuing expense cards, paying and getting paid, all in one place.
We have grown fast over the past few years, expanding our team to 100 individuals across the UK, Germany, Spain and more. We are backed by Index Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Zinal Grow and Tony Fadell and we’ve raised $50m.
The ambition now is clear: build a category-defining, global fintech business. The next phase requires not just great product and ambition, but a world-class operating engine — and a People function that can scale performance without lowering the bar.
Reporting to the COO and working closely with the CEO and founder, you will own and evolve the People function end-to-end - shaping how Apron hires, operates and scales.
Your mandate: build an environment where exceptional people can do the best work of their careers, at pace. This is a hands-on role requiring sharp judgement and strong execution.
Build a High-Performance Culture
Define a clear, founder-aligned people philosophy
Set and maintain a high-performance bar across the business
Ensure expectations are explicit and performance is measurable
Strengthen a highly collaborative, in-person operating model
Maintain consistency as the company scales internationally
Enable Performance & Leadership
Design and embed pragmatic performance frameworks
Equip leaders to run high-quality performance and feedback conversations
Coach senior leaders on team effectiveness, decision-making and conflict
Identify and resolve organisational friction early
Ensure scale enhances, not dilutes, performance
Own Hiring & Talent Quality
Define and uphold a rigorous hiring bar
Improve role design, scorecards and structured interview processes
Introduce robust, case-based assessments
Embed clear 30-60-90 success measures
Partner on workforce planning and prioritisation
Build Scalable People Operations
Own the full employee lifecycle
Ensure compliance across geographies
Build simple, scalable systems — avoiding unnecessary process
Leverage AI and tooling to drive efficiency
Oversee compensation and equity frameworks
Shape Organisational Design
Partner with leadership on org design and structure
Translate strategy into effective teams and capabilities
Support headcount planning and scaling decisions
Contribute to long-term operating and location strategy
A commercial, founder-aligned People leader with experience scaling high-growth, VC-backed companies.
You likely bring:
Experience scaling a VC-backed tech business through rapid growth
Close partnership with founders or C-level leadership
A strong track record coaching senior leaders
Deep expertise in organisational design and performance management
A high-bar, structured approach to hiring
Operational strength - turning strategy into simple, repeatable systems
Sound judgement in complex or sensitive situations
Experience across international teams
Comfort in fast-paced, high-expectation environments
Meaningful stock options
Pension plan
Private health insurance with AXA (including optical and dental)
Life assurance with MetLife
Enhanced parental leave
Weekly Deliveroo allowance
29 days holiday (plus bank holidays)
Flexible working hours
Cycle to Work scheme
Electric vehicle scheme
This role is being managed on behalf of Apron by Hawkwood Partners (recruiting agency). Your application will be processed by both Apron and Hawkwood. Please refer to Hawkwood's privacy policy and Apron's candidate privacy policy for details.
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Every small business is a big deal. SMBs have a major impact on the lives of their owners, as well as the macroeconomic success of their communities and national economy.
Despite their significant impact, these businesses often lack access to tools and resources, leaving them vulnerable. As a result, very few end up making it.
Apron is focused on helping more small businesses make it. The biggest threat to small business is cash flow, often stemming from a gap between the demand payments put on owners and the aptitude to make the payments effectively.
At Apron we are closing the gap by digitising and simplifying the payments process. Whether capturing invoices, enabling collaboration for approvals, or combining long lists of invoices into one simple batch pay solution, Apron is your Powertool for Payments.
Over time Apron will enable business owners to coordinate all outgoing and incoming payments, streamlining time and effort so you are freed up to focus on the business as a whole.
By flipping payments from painful to powerful, Apron is amplifying the next generation of economic drivers.
