Head of People (Parental Leave Cover)

Head of People (Parental Leave Cover)
We are now looking for a Head of People to join us on a 12 month contract.
This is a key leadership role overseeing HR and the Craft Manager group across the studio for a 12 month period, temporarily assuming the people responsibilities currently held by our Chief of Staff.
Reporting to the CEO, you will directly lead the Craft Managers and HR Business Partners across the studio. You will ensure that recruitment, people processes, performance management, and day to day people leadership operate smoothly and consistently. At the end of the contract, you will oversee a clear and well documented handover to the permanent Chief of Staff.
Who you are:
You are an experienced HR leader who is equally comfortable leading the HR function and developing managers. The right person can distinguish great from good and sets the bar accordingly. You bring sound judgment to sensitive situations such as employee relations cases, union matters, compensation decisions and know how to handle and document them properly. You build trust quickly. You can step into an existing organization, understand how it already works, and lead its people functions without a long ramp-up.
You combine strategic leadership with a practical approach and are comfortable taking an active role in performance cycles, compensation processes, and recruitment when needed. You have high integrity, strong communication skills, and a genuine desire to help both people and the organization succeed.
What you'll do:
As Head of People, you will lead HR and the Craft Manager group, with all Craft Managers and HR Business Partners reporting directly to you.
In short, the Head of People will:
- Lead, prioritise, and develop the HR team.
- Lead and align the Craft Manager group, making sure they are equipped, supported, and held accountable.
- Own workforce planning, talent management, and organisational design, working closely with studio leaders.
- Lead performance management cycles, including ratings, reviews, performance improvement plans, and development plans.
- Handle and support employee relations cases, including documentation and follow-through
- Lead compensation processes, including salary reviews and profit share elections.
- Represent the studio in union negotiations and statutory employee representation meetings, including preparing for and participating in these discussions.
- Shape and reinforce the studio’s culture by promoting effective collab oration and recognising the behaviours and contributions we value.
- Set strategic priorities and oversee workload planning for HR and the Craft Manager group, reporting progress to senior management.
What we're looking for
- An experienced HR leader who can quickly take responsibility for an established people function and provide direction to both HR professionals and people managers.
- Sound judgement and discretion, with the confidence to navigate complex employee relations, union, performance, and compensation matters.
- A collaborative and credible communicator who can build trust and influence stakeholders at every level of the studio.
- A practical, adaptable approach and the ability to make a meaningful impact within a 12 month assignment while preparing for a smooth handover.
- Professional fluency in Swedish and English, both written and spoken
How to apply
If you think that this position matches your background and skills, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your CV in English as soon as possible.
We interview candidates continuously and hire when we find a good fit.
Practical Information
Scope: Full-time, 12- month contract, reporting to the CEO
Location: Office first, hybrid solution possible. You need to be eligible to work in Sweden.
We are a pet friendly office! You can expect to find dogs and occasionally some cats around.
What we offer
Arrowhead Game Studios is a growing team of about 140+ people, best known for our co-op titles. Despite our size, we remain a friendly and down to earth bunch, who love to indulge in our passion for video games together.
Located in the heart of Södermalm, in Fatburen in the middle of the Game Dev scene we enjoy everything Stockholm has to offer. The is a a lot of different types of activities immediately available on our doorstep.
Our talented developers are crucial to our success, therefore we put a lot of emphasis in creating and maintaining a prosperous culture. We’re committed to open and transparent communication. Your ideas are welcomed, valued, appreciated - the ceiling for creative discussions is high.
We also have numerous work benefits for all our employees. You can read about them here!
Required Languages
🇸🇪 Swedish, 🇬🇧 English