This is the most senior people role at War Child UK, leading the established People & Culture team within the HR department. The post owns the People Promise, the talent strategy and workforce planning, and oversees people systems and the use of AI in them. It sits alongside the CEO and Directors as their principal people adviser, with budget accountability and external representation. Fit depends on senior experience in people, HR or organisational development and a working grasp of UK employment law, safeguarding and DEI.
What the job involves
- Lead the People & Culture strategy and the People Promise, covering wellbeing, engagement, talent attraction and retention
- Create and implement the talent strategy and a long-term workforce vision and plan with the CEO and Leadership Group
- Lead organisational development and workforce planning, including leadership expectations and organisational structures
- Ensure compliance with employment law, safeguarding (including PSEAH), DEI commitments and policies, and lead policy development
- Advise the CEO and Directors on the people impact of change, growth and new programmes, and lead their implementation
- Oversee people systems and technology, including the responsible adoption of AI
- Lead recruitment and induction strategy and direct learning and development investment
- Lead, manage and develop the People & Culture team, and manage its budget and resources
- Act as escalation point for complex or sensitive people matters
- Be principal People & Culture lead for the CEO, Directors and Leadership Group, and challenge senior leaders on people outcomes
- Embed employee voice mechanisms and partner with leaders on inclusive leadership, wellbeing and flexible working
- Represent the organisation externally and build partnerships across relevant networks
What’s required
Experience
- Senior leadership in People & Culture, HR or organisational development
- Proven delivery of strategic people initiatives that support growth and culture
- Experience leading organisational change, workforce planning and OD programmes
- Experience managing and developing a team delivering people services
Skills & knowledge
- Strong understanding of UK employment law, safeguarding and DEI best practice
- Commercial awareness to balance legal, ethical, financial and cultural risk
- Ability to build trusted relationships up to and including CEO level
- Highly skilled communicator who conveys complex information clearly and sensitively
- Ability to use people technology and data to derive insight and trends
- Practical and curious, with a commitment to continuous improvement
Other
- Commitment to War Child's mission and values, including safeguarding, PSEAH, DEI and belonging
- Commitment to maintaining professional knowledge and ongoing development
Nice to have
- CIPD level 7 or equivalent qualification
- Experience of working in charity, international development or another values-driven organisation
- Skills in modernising people systems and adopting new technologies, including AI
- Understanding of safeguarding in an international or humanitarian context
- Interest or experience in employer branding or becoming an employer of choice
- Experience developing and embedding holistic DEI strategies or culture-change initiatives
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Contact Details:
The Methodist Church in Britain Recruitment Team
