Director of People & Culture

Lancashire | Fully on site | £75,000-£84,000 per annum | Temporary day rate or 12-month fixed-term contract | Public sector

We are currently partnering with a leading public sector education body based in Lancashire, who are recruiting for a Director of People & Culture to join their senior leadership team.

Available either as a temporary day-rate appointment or on a 12-month fixed-term contract, this is a fully on-site role offering the opportunity to shape an ambitious people agenda across a complex, values-led organisation.

Reporting to the CEO, the successful candidate will provide executive leadership across people strategy, organisational culture, workforce capability and employee experience, ensuring the organisation has the people and conditions required to deliver its strategic ambitions.

Duties will include (but are not limited to):

• Leading the development, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive People and Culture Strategy
• Acting as a trusted strategic adviser to the CEO and senior leaders on workforce, culture and organisational matters
• Providing strategic leadership and professional oversight of the HR function, including HR operations, recruitment, employee relations and workforce administration
• Leading workforce planning, organisational design, talent management, succession planning and leadership development
• Shaping a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture through effective employee engagement, organisational listening and workforce communications
• Leading complex employee relations, organisational change and consultation, while maintaining constructive relationships with recognised trade unions
• Providing assurance on employment law, safer recruitment, safeguarding, equality, diversity, inclusion and people governance
• Using workforce data and insight to inform strategic decisions, monitor risk and report to senior leaders and governors

Experience required:

• Significant experience in a senior HR or People leadership role within a complex organisation
• A strong track record of leading people strategy, organisational development, culture change and wider organisational improvement
• Experience of advising executive leaders, governors or boards and influencing at senior level
• Strong knowledge of employment law, employee relations, safer recruitment and people governance
• Experience of strategic workforce planning, talent management, succession planning and leadership development
• Experience of working constructively with recognised trade unions and representative bodies
• Successful leadership and development of high-performing teams and services

Skills, knowledge and expertise required:

• Excellent communication, influencing and relationship-building skills
• The credibility and confidence to advise, influence and constructively challenge at executive and governor level
• Sound judgement, integrity and resilience, with the ability to lead through complexity and change
• The ability to translate strategic vision into clear plans and measurable outcomes
• A data-led approach to workforce planning, organisational insight and continuous improvement
• A strong commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion, employee wellbeing and safeguarding

The opportunity:

• Temporary appointment on a day-rate basis or a 12-month fixed-term contract
• Executive-level opportunity to make a visible and lasting impact
• Work with a values-led public sector education organisation
• Lead a broad people and culture portfolio with organisation-wide influence
• Fully on-site working in Lancashire

Working pattern:

• Full-time, 37 hours per week
• Fully on site in Lancashire

Please note that applicants will require recent senior-level People or HR leadership experience within a complex organisation. Experience within education or the wider public sector would be advantageous.

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