People & Culture Manager

People & Culture Manager - FutureBrand New York

Hybrid: 3 days in New York City office

FutureBrand:

We’re FutureBrand, the flagship branding agency within the multi-award-winning global advertising agency network McCann Worldgroup. 24 years young with a head full of big brand experience and a gaze fixed firmly on the future, our work over the last two decades has changed the brand landscape today. What we do next will change tomorrow. We’re based in some of the most exciting and vibrant cities on the planet, balancing global scale with cultural connection. That means we’re on the doorstep of many of the world’s biggest brands, and within reach of the very best talent around.

Together, we are a diverse brand, experience and design community who believe that brand is how a company’s people, products and services behave wherever and whenever they show up in the world. Our work focuses on measuring and maximizing brand behavior by connecting corporate purpose with everyday lived experience.

It's through this work that we deliver our purpose: To transform the future of businesses by changing how their brands behave today. And because we believe strongly that the future our brands create must be a future for us all, our shared values - Progressive, Adaptable, Collaborative and Empowering - put difference and diversity at our core.

We're now looking for an experienced People & Culture Manager to support our North American Human Resources team.

We are a dynamic and forward-thinking company seeking to hire a manager to join our People and Culture Team. This is an excellent opportunity to work for a company that believes that if we ‘Change the Brand’ we really can ‘Change the Future’. With ambitious plans, we are seeking someone with a positive outlook and the determination to drive the team towards success. We are in search of a creative and solution-oriented individual who enjoys taking initiative and can contribute to challenging the norm and fostering a positive employee experience. Your role will be instrumental in shaping the agency's culture, while also being central to the operational functions of the People and Culture Team. We are a small team so it will be hands-on and fast-paced. The ideal candidate will possess a robust foundation in HR and experience working with senior leaders to create a positive culture.

This role reports to the People & Culture Director, FutureBrand NAM.

Overall responsibilities:

Business partnering:

• Support the People & Culture Director and New York leadership team with the implementation of the People and Culture strategy alongside best practice, policies and procedures to create a positive employee experience.
• Responsible for implementing core strategic processes such as talent / succession planning, performance management, talent acquisition and retention and employee relations matters and ensuring they add value to the business and our employees.
• Demonstrate tact and diplomacy in order to prove to be a credible business partner with the ability to manage conflicting priorities and high-volume activity.

Recruitment:

• Manage the applicant tracking system to align with recruitment needs, collaborate with Hiring Managers on resourcing, promote direct recruitment methods, advise on best practices, and recommend inclusive recruitment techniques while assisting in job description updates and interviews for senior roles.

Employment offer/onboarding of talent:

• Ensure recruitment processes were finance compliant, manage the People & Culture Coordinator in employee appointments, liaise with Finance, Legal, and HR on contracts, sponsorships, and right-to-work compliance, and ensure a positive onboarding experience for new employees.

Employee Relations:

• Act as a trusted advisor on employee relations, providing guidance on issues such as performance management, discipline, and grievances, while ensuring compliance with legal requirements and mitigating risks.
• Manage employment terminations and conduct exit interviews, challenging leadership when necessary to protect the company's interests.

Talent/People Development:

• Manage the annual appraisal process, ensuring alignment with company culture, providing training for managers, and supporting learning and development initiatives.
• Ensure consistency in performance ratings and develop personal development plans for employees, collaborating on the annual Learning & Development program.

Reward, Benefits & Payroll:

• Ensure a consistent and fair approach to pay rises, promotions, and benefits management, coordinating with the People & Culture Coordinator on related documentation and projects.
• Secure necessary finance approvals, align benefits with company offerings, and thoroughly review payroll changes.

Positive impact responsibilities:

FutureBrand is committed to being a positive impact employer and it is the responsibility of anyone in a leadership position to ensure that our activities reflect our commitment to conscious inclusion, sustainability, progressive governance and provide opportunities for, and have a positive impact on, our local communities in any way we can.

• Examples of this appropriate to this role include, but are not limited to:
• Active participation in, and a driver of, our Charitable Giving Strategy and Day for Meaning.
• Ensuring that ESG commitments are central to decision making at all micro and macro levels.
• Taking an active role in ensuring that your office and teams meets their ESG goals

This role will work closely with the Global People & Culture Director, FutureBrand to drive positive impact initiatives and actions across FutureBrand New York to meet our ESG commitments.

Skills and competencies:

• 6+ years of experience in collaborative and diverse teams, with a strong mix of commercial understanding and HR knowledge.
• Previous experience in a supervisory or leadership position.
• Skilled in US employment law, immigration processes, and advising at all levels, with relevant HR qualifications being a plus.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and IT skills, with a high attention to detail and a proactive, can-do attitude.
• Strong presenter with storytelling abilities, adaptable leadership, and a team player mindset, always well-prepared and organized.

Equal Opportunities

We believe that ideas get better when they are inherently diverse and shared in highly inclusive ways and we want to hear from those who think differently from us. We truly believe in the strength of diversity and the richness it can bring. By bringing different people together great things happen.

FutureBrand is an equal opportunity employer (EEO). We provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran or disabled status, or genetic information.

FutureBrand is a disability-confident committed employer and will guarantee an interview to any disabled candidate who meets the minimum criteria for the role. Exceptions may apply if due to the volume of applications, we are not able to interview all eligible candidates who qualify under the scheme. If you have a disability, we want everyone to feel at ease when going through our recruitment process. We are working to make our website and processes more accessible, if you encounter any issues and would like this information in an alternative format, or if you need further support with your application, please contact us at FBHR@futurebrand.com for any adjustments you may need to perform at your best.