Head of People & Culture - HQ (BARCELONA)

As our Head of People, you’ll take ownership of the full People function in a fast-scaling, high-impact company that puts product, pace, and people at the center of everything we do. You’ll balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution, building robust processes, supporting our store teams, and shaping a culture that grows stronger as we grow faster.

Some of your main responsibilities will be:

• Take a hands-on approach, staying close to the store managers and understanding the day-to-day of the business—high-quality burgers made by excellent people.
• Design and lead a focused hiring strategy to attract top-tier Store Managers, with clear qualifiers and disqualifiers, deep market knowledge, and a sharp eye for retail talent that fits VICIO’s culture and performance standards.
• Work closely with the CCO and actively participate in strategic committees to shape the future of the company.
• Lead the definition and execution of the People Strategic Plan, ensuring alignment with the company’s vision and rapid expansion.
• Oversee and structure all HR operational pillars: contracts, scheduling, time tracking, onboarding/offboarding, career paths, internal mobility, conflict resolution, and more—ensuring smooth and compliant operations across all locations.
• Design and implement standardized HR protocols and labor policies (e.g. vacation schemes, dismissal procedures, organizational change frameworks).
• Integrate and scale HRIS platforms and ATS tools, automate workflows, and ensure accurate HR data and reporting (weekly, monthly, yearly, CEO-level).
• Ensure the organization’s full compliance with labor regulations, health & safety standards (PRL), equality and diversity plans, and internal audit readiness.
• Lead the HRBPs and L&T (Learning & Training) teams to build a strong foundation for recruiting, onboarding, and employee development.
• Collaborate with legal advisors on all matters related to labor law, conflict management, litigation, union relations (RLT), and ethical channels.
• Guide the implementation of structured career development frameworks, including promotion protocols, evaluation systems, and recognition programs—tailored to both HQ and store-level teams.
• Define compensation policies and lead C&B initiatives: benchmarking, equity reviews, bonuses, employee benefits (well-being, flexibility, family, financial, workplace).
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Senior Area Managers (Sr. AMs) and Store Managers (SMs) to align people strategy with operational excellence.
• Shape the employee experience and internal culture, launching initiatives that promote VICIO’s values, positive work climate, and internal communications across departments.
• Balance strategic thinking and execution—you’ll zoom out to design processes and structures, and zoom in to deep dive into problems and make things happen.
  
  

Profile needed:

• 3–8 years of experience in fast-paced, high-impact environments (e.g. startups, consultancies, investment banking, e-commerce, or food chains).
• A strong passion for being close to the people behind the product—especially kitchen and operations staff—and improving their experience.
• A proven track record in leading cross-functional teams, including recruitment, training, legal, operations, and compensation.
• Experience managing high-volume hiring and onboarding, especially for blue-collar roles, and scaling HR processes in a structured way.
• A solid understanding of HR software (e.g. Factorial, Personio, Bizneo) and ATS platforms to streamline and automate recruitment and employee lifecycle management.
• Extensive knowledge of labor law, health & safety (PRL), union relationships, and workplace compliance—especially in Spain.
• Strong stakeholder management skills—you’re comfortable working with senior leadership, lawyers, and operations teams to align HR initiatives with business priorities.
• A data-driven mindset: you base your decisions on evidence and KPIs while staying pragmatic and business-oriented.
• High personal standards and a focus on excellence, execution, and continuous improvement for yourself and your team.
• Energy, ambition, and a builder mentality—you're proactive, resourceful, and constantly thinking about how to make things better.
• Language skills:
• Spanish – Native (C2)
• English – Advanced (B2/C1)
• Catalan – a plus