Head of Inclusion & Diversity in Hampshire, Portsmouth

At SSE, we believe that solving climate challenges calls for collaboration, diverse perspectives, and shared ideas. Equality, fairness, inclusion, and diversity are at the heart of everything we do, and we have a well‑established Group Strategy to make sure these values guide us every day. In this role, you’ll shape and nurture our Inclusion & Diversity (I&D) approach, helping us sustain and grow a culture where everyone feels valued and supported.

You’ll work closely with colleagues across the business to embed inclusive decision‑making, strengthen belonging, and ensure diversity principles are woven into all aspects of our work. You’ll encourage continuous learning, external collaboration, and innovation to keep SSE at the forefront of I&D excellence.

You will:

• Guide and support our I&D vision – Collaborate to embed inclusion and diversity into business priorities and ESG commitments, fostering equity and empowering leaders to create positive change.
• Co‑create leadership development – Partner with teams to design programs that build psychological safety, encourage diverse perspectives, and promote fair, thoughtful decision‑making.
• Champion intersectional inclusion – Ensure initiatives reflect the richness of varied identities and work together with colleagues to integrate these insights into workforce planning and talent development.
• Foster belonging and shared growth – Lead initiatives that strengthen connection and inclusion, refresh learning content, and collaborate across HR, L&D, and Talent to build confidence and capability.
• Build trusted relationships externally – Represent SSE with authenticity in industry forums, share best practices, and enhance our reputation through transparent reporting and recognition.

You have:

• A proven track record in designing and delivering comprehensive Inclusion & Diversity strategies, with senior leadership experience in large, complex organisations (ideally FTSE 100, multinational, or regulated sectors).
• Experience in designing and implementing intersectional I&D strategies aligned with corporate purpose, regulatory expectations, and ESG priorities.
• Ability to coach and support senior leaders and boards in inclusive leadership and decision‑making.
• Experience in strengthening I&D maturity through frameworks, capability building, and clear accountability structures.
• Familiarity with UK regulatory and industry reporting (e.g., gender pay gap, ethnicity pay reporting, disability inclusion frameworks, ESG disclosures).
• Skills in identifying systemic barriers and creating inclusive, scalable solutions.

About SSE: SSE has a bold ambition – to be a leading energy company in a net zero world. We’re investing around £10 million a day in homegrown energy to help power a cleaner, more secure future. Our investment will see us build the world’s largest offshore wind farm and transform the grid to deliver greener electricity to millions. Over 14,000 brilliant people work together to power change at SSE. Our Human Resources (integrated Services) teams help make sure they’re getting and giving their best. They design the people strategies that make SSE a great place to work. And they empower our teams to meet the demands of our business today, and tomorrow.

Flexible Benefits To Fit Your Life:

• Enjoy discounts on private healthcare and gym memberships.
• Wellbeing benefits like a free online GP and 24/7 counselling service.
• Interest‑free loans on tech and transport season tickets, or a new bike with our Cycle to Work scheme.
• Generous family entitlements such as maternity and adoption pay, and paternity leave.

Work with an equal opportunity employer: SSE will make any reasonable adjustments you need to ensure that your application and experience with us is positive. We’re dedicated to fostering an open and inclusive workplace where people from all backgrounds can thrive. We create equal opportunities for everyone to succeed and especially welcome applications from those who may not be well represented in our workforce or industry.

Ready to apply? Start your online application using the Apply Now box on this page. We only accept applications made online. We’ll be in touch after the closing date to let you know if we’ll be taking your application further. If you’re offered a role with SSE, you’ll need to complete a criminality check and a credit check before you start work.