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- Tasks: Lead cultural transformation and drive inclusion across the organisation.
- Company: Join a dynamic team at Canal & River Trust, focused on culture and inclusion.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Home-based role with UK-wide travel; great career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on workplace culture and champion diversity and inclusion.
- Qualifications: Experience in culture transformation and strong communication skills required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Join Our Team: Head of Culture and Inclusion
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive. Our Head of Culture and Inclusion will join our team with a specific lens on cultural transformation which is key in relation to supporting our Trust vision and strategy. This role reports directly into the People Director and will be a member of the People Leadership team having one direct report (Inclusion & Diversity Manager).
Working Hours & Travel
This role follows 37 hours, 5 days a week, work pattern. This is a home‑based role, with UK wide travel to key sites.
Role Overview
In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for turning strategy into delivered outcomes through evidence-led programmes, strong governance, and clear accountability across leaders and teams. You will measurably strengthen an inclusive, high trust culture that enables performance and wellbeing; to increase colleague voice and engagement; and to ensure your Inclusion & Diversity ambitions translate into sustained behavioural change and business impact.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the development and delivery of a clear Culture & Inclusion strategy that embeds inclusion, belonging and fairness across the organisation.
- Drive a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring inclusive behaviours, practices and decisions are actively reviewed, measured and evolved.
- Build and sustain trusted relationships with senior leaders, Boards and key stakeholders to influence inclusive leadership and organisational change.
- Partner across the organisation to ensure culture and inclusion priorities are integrated into resourcing, talent, learning, performance and reward frameworks.
- Operate credibly across fast paced, complex environments, balancing strategic focus with pragmatic delivery under pressure.
- Champion inclusive, values led behaviours at all levels, adapting communication and influence to engage diverse audiences and workforce groups.
- Use insight, data and qualitative feedback to assess cultural health and inclusion outcomes, translating findings into actionable improvement plans.
- Ensure strong governance, planning and prioritisation of Culture & Inclusion initiatives to deliver impact with pace and consistency.
- Act as a visible advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, supporting leaders and teams to role‑model inclusive practices and decision-making.
About You
You are an experienced culture transformation lead with demonstrable proven outcomes which have driven cultural change and made significant business impact. Confident influencing at all levels, you combine commercial awareness with a passion for belonging, fairness and continuous improvement.
Experience and Skill
- Demonstrable evidence of building and delivering multi-year culture and inclusion and diversity roadmaps with measurable outcomes in complex organisations.
- Demonstrated mastery of listening and insight methodologies, including survey design, driver analysis, segmentation and workforce lifecycle analytics, translating insight into clear, actionable priorities.
- Deep expertise in inclusive leadership and systemic inclusion levers across policy, process, behaviours and environment, with a strong bias toward practical education, habit change and sustainable impact.
- Proven experience designing governance frameworks, KPIs and benefits realisation measures, with regular reporting and assurance to Executive teams and Boards.
- Confident and compelling communicator, able to craft simple, engaging narratives from complex data and influence effectively across senior stakeholders.
- Strong credibility and lived experience working in partnership with colleague networks and communities, ensuring authentic representation, trust and meaningful engagement.
Contact & Application
If you would like more information or a briefing pack, please get in touch with the recruitment team at crt.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.
What We Offer
This is a middle manager role with a package commensurate. Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits
Head of Culture and Inclusion employer: Canal & River Trust
Contact Detail:
Canal & River Trust Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Culture and Inclusion
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, especially those who work in culture and inclusion. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities you might not find on job boards.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your passion! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, share your vision for culture and inclusion. Let them see how your ideas can transform their organisation.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s current culture initiatives. Bring insights and suggestions to the table; it shows you’re proactive and genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are keen to join us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Culture and Inclusion
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Authentic: When you're writing your application, let your true self shine through. We want to see your passion for culture and inclusion, so don’t hold back on sharing your personal experiences and insights that relate to the role.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Head of Culture and Inclusion role. Highlight your relevant experience and how it aligns with our vision and strategy. We love seeing how you can contribute to our goals!
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; showcase your achievements! Use concrete examples to demonstrate how you've driven cultural change and made a significant impact in previous roles. We’re all about evidence-led outcomes here at StudySmarter.
Follow Up: After submitting your application through our website, don’t hesitate to follow up if you haven’t heard back in a week or two. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and gives us a chance to connect with you further!
How to prepare for a job interview at Canal & River Trust
✨Know Your Culture & Inclusion Strategy
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's culture and inclusion strategy. Understand their current initiatives and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will help you articulate how you can contribute to their vision.
✨Showcase Your Impact
Prepare specific examples of how you've driven cultural transformation in previous roles. Use metrics and outcomes to demonstrate your success. This will show that you not only understand the theory but have practical experience delivering results.
✨Engage with Insight and Data
Familiarise yourself with common methodologies for gathering insights on culture and inclusion. Be ready to discuss how you've used data to inform decisions and drive change. This will highlight your analytical skills and commitment to evidence-led practices.
✨Communicate with Confidence
Practice articulating your ideas clearly and confidently. Think about how to simplify complex concepts into engaging narratives. This is crucial for influencing senior stakeholders and demonstrating your ability to communicate effectively across diverse audiences.