Head of People & Culture

The Company is seeking a Head of People and Culture to lead and improve its people services, develop the People Team, and ensure colleagues and leaders receive consistent, responsive HR support. The role combines operational leadership with hands-on advice on complex employee relations, employment law, and organizational change. Responsibilities include strengthening HR systems, payroll processes, workforce reporting, and compliance; supporting wellbeing, absence management, recruitment, and workforce planning; and helping integrate new schools. The successful candidate will also deliver initiatives that improve staff engagement, workplace culture, and the employee experience. Candidates should bring strong operational HR leadership experience, including a track record of developing teams and improving services. Excellent employment law and employee relations expertise, experience with HR processes and systems, payroll oversight and workforce reporting, and the ability to advise senior leaders and work constructively with trade unions are required. Applicants should understand staff wellbeing and absence management and be confident supporting managers through sensitive situations. Chartered CIPD membership and a CIPD Level 5 qualification, or an equivalent relevant professional HR qualification, are required.