Director of People and Culture, Arts Council England in Manchester

Contract: Permanent, working 35 hours per week - Arts Council also recognises the benefit of flexible working as a valued part of the way we work, and welcomes applications from individuals who require flexibility.

Salary: £95,743 per annum plus benefits including a final salary pension scheme, generous annual leave, and flexible and hybrid working.

Location: Manchester - The role will be based in Manchester; however, we are operating a hybrid way of working and support our staff to make use of remote working options when combined with regular on-site contact days with other members of the team, normally 1-2 days a week.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join Arts Council England at a pivotal moment in our history. We are embarking on a significant programme of organisational transformation — redesigning how we work so that our services are simple, modern, accessible, and financially and environmentally sustainable. To deliver this, we are strengthening our People & Culture leadership and creating a role that will sit at the heart of our transformation.

As our new Director of People and Culture, you’ll play a strategic and highly influential role: shaping our people strategy and supporting colleagues through a period of organisational evolution.

About the role

You will lead a modern, forward‑looking People function that brings together HR, organisational development, culture, leadership development, EDI and people operations. Your work will ensure our people, structures and culture are fully aligned to our future operating model. As a key member of the Finance & Corporate Services Directorate, you will work closely with the Directors of Digital, Finance and Transformation, advising our Executive Board, senior leaders and the wider organisation on people, culture and change. You will attend Executive Board meetings.

This is a role for a leader who is values‑driven, inclusive, collaborative, and confident at navigating complexity. Someone who can inspire others, support colleagues through change, and help create an environment where people thrive.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the development and delivery of a modern People & Culture Strategy aligned to organisational priorities.
• Acting as the organisation’s principal adviser on people, culture, workforce planning and organisational capability.
• Providing strategic leadership on organisational transformation — helping us become a service‑led, digitally enabled and financially sustainable organisation.
• Overseeing organisational development programmes including culture, leadership, behaviour frameworks and ways of working.
• Ensuring high‑quality, modern People operations across HR, recruitment, reward, policy, employee experience and workforce planning.
• Leading and embedding an inclusive culture, chairing our Inclusion Group, and driving EDI initiatives.
• Supporting wellbeing across the organisation through evidence‑based strategies.
• Leading, motivating and developing a high‑performing People & Culture Directorate.
• Managing the HR budget (c. £1.5m) and having responsibility for policies governing our £20m payroll.

What you’ll bring

We are looking for a strategic, inspiring leader who combines strong people expertise with inclusive leadership and a track record of delivering organisation‑wide change. You will bring:

• Senior leadership experience in HR, OD and people strategy within a complex organisation.
• CIPD membership at full level (Fellowship preferred).
• Deep knowledge of HR best practice, employment law and organisational effectiveness.
• Experience leading culture, leadership and organisational development initiatives.
• Proven ability to influence at Executive and Board level.
• A commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and wellbeing.
• Strong relationship‑building skills, with the ability to engage and inspire colleagues at all levels.
• Experience in public bodies, charities, government, regulated environments or organisations undergoing major transformation is beneficial but not essential.

Working at Arts Council England means contributing to a bold future for creativity and culture — helping shape a sector that enriches the lives of millions of people.

We offer:

• Generous final salary pension scheme
• Flexible working arrangements
• Hybrid working – typically 1–2 days per week in our Manchester city centre office
• A wide range of wellbeing benefits
• A supportive environment built on our values: We are ambitious. We learn. We care.

Equality Diversity and Inclusion Statement: Arts Council are committed to being an inclusive employer, building an inclusive workplace, and recruiting a workforce that is as diverse as the communities we serve. However, you identify, and whatever background you bring with you, we welcome you to apply for a role at Arts Council. Arts Council England are a Disability Confident Employer, and we participate in the ‘Offer an Interview’ scheme, which means that we offer an interview to any disabled candidates, those living with a long‑term condition and/or neurodivergent candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role they’re applying to.