Head of People Services in Manchester

Head of People Services

Location: Hybrid (with regular travel across England campuses)

Salary: £60,000 per annum

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (37.5 hours per week)

Vetting: Enhanced DBS Check required

Shape the Future of Our People & Culture

Are you a strategic yet hands‑on HR leader ready to drive impactful change across a dynamic, multi‑campus education group?

At Access Education Group (AEG), we empower learners through innovative education. Our group brings together specialist institutions,Access Creative College, Access Sport, Access Industry, and dBs Institute of Music,supported by a centralised ProfessionalServices function.

We are currently embarking on an exciting period of growth and transformation guided by our group‑wide People Plan, built around four key pillars: Compliance, Capability, Culture, and Communication. As our Head of People Services, you will turn this vision into reality, shaping an exemplary employee experience and leading an ambitious team.

The Role

Reporting directly to the Director of People Services, you will lead day‑to‑day operations across HR, recruitment, people development, payroll, and benefits. You will act as a trusted strategic adviser to senior leaders while building robust, scalable processes fit for a growing organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Operational Excellence

• Team Leadership: Lead, develop, and inspire the People Services team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, high standards, and collaboration.

• People Plan Delivery: Partner with the Director of People Services to execute key initiatives, track milestones, and deputise in senior leadership and committee forums.

• Service Quality: Drive performance against People Services SLAs, modernising HR/payroll systems and building data‑driven self‑service capabilities.

• Resource Management: Manage team budgets and key vendor relationships, including legal advisers and occupational health services.

Employee Relations & Organisational Change

• Complex Casework: Oversee high‑level employee relations cases (disciplinary, grievance, sickness absence, and capability), acting as hearing or appeal manager when required.

• Leadership Coaching: Provide pragmatic, expert advice on UK employment law, risk, and best practice to senior leadership.

• Union Relations & Restructures: Manage trade union partnerships, collective bargaining, and lead organisational change initiatives, including restructures and TUPE.

Compliance, Governance & Safeguarding

• Regulatory Assurance: Ensure strict compliance with safer recruitment guidelines and Keeping Children Safe in Education.

• Single Central Record: Maintain an audit‑ready Single Central Record (SCR) across all campuses for Ofsted and regulatory bodies.

• Governance & Data Protection: Update policy frameworks, ensure GDPR compliance across all people operations, and prepare executive papers for the Board and People Committee.

Culture, Talent & Inclusion

• Development & Wellbeing: Partner with the People & Development Manager to deliver impactful leadership programmes, performance frameworks, and CPD.

• EDI & Engagement: Champion equality, diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing initiatives across all group campuses.

• Reward & Integration: Oversee pay benchmarking, annual reviews, and the seamless integration of newly acquired campuses into AEG culture.

What You Bring to the Role

Essential Criteria

• Qualifications: CIPD Level 5 qualified (or equivalent demonstrated experience).

• Experience:

  • Proven background in a senior generalist HR leadership role managing high‑performing teams.
  • Hands‑on expertise managing complex employee relations casework end‑to‑end.
  • Track record of leading organisational restructures and change management.
  • Experience reporting to senior leadership, committees, or governing boards.

• Knowledge & Skills:

  • In‑depth, up‑to‑date knowledge of UK employment law and GDPR.
  • Exceptional communication and influencing skills across all organisational levels.
  • Strong analytical capability—able to convert HR metrics into strategic insights.
  • Strong organisational and multi‑tasking abilities, with a willingness to travel to campuses across England.

• A collaborative, calm, and solutions-driven leader committed to safeguarding and fostering an inclusive workplace culture.

Desirable Criteria

• Chartered Member of CIPD (MCIPD) or higher.
• HR leadership experience within Further/Higher Education or another regulated sector.
• Practical knowledge of KCSIE, Single Central Record oversight, and TUPE processes.
• Familiarity with Teachers’ Pension Scheme (TPS) or Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• Experience implementing or optimising HRIS platforms.

Who are we?

We are Access Creative College, formerly known as Access to Music, and we were founded in 1992. We’re an Ofsted‑inspected provider that reaches every corner of the country, with 7 campuses and over 2,500 students nationwide. We’re proud to have achieved the national benchmark for education quality, recognised across the vast majority of our provision - Ofsted’s 'Expected Standard' under the new inspection framework. We are part of Access Education Group, which boasts 32 campuses nationwide with over 5,000 students & apprentices across Access Creative College, dBs Institute (Higher Education) & Access Sport College.

What we offer?

• Generous Holiday Allocation
• Wellbeing Benefits: Health Cash Plan, Doctorline GP Service, Employee Assistance Programme, Access to Counselling and Cycle to Work
• Staff Discounts & Benefits: access to Accolade, our benefits platform which offers discounts at over 800 retailers!
• Paid Leave:Enhanced Maternity, Paternity and Sick pay.

Safeguarding Statement

Access Education Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults, and expects all staff to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, satisfactory references, and pre‑employment checks in line with KCSIE. We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all sections of the community.

A full job description and person specification is available for download alongside our full benefits booklet.