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- Tasks: Lead and shape the future of our People Directorate with strategic HR leadership.
- Company: Join the University of Greenwich, a vibrant community transforming lives through education.
- Benefits: Enjoy a collaborative culture, wellbeing initiatives, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Be part of a mission-driven team focused on inclusivity and impactful change in higher education.
- Qualifications: Significant senior HR leadership experience, ideally in public or higher education sectors required.
- Other info: We encourage diverse applicants and support mental health during the recruitment process.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Location: Greenwich, Avery Hill and Medway Campuses
Salary: Competitive
ReleaseDate: Tuesday 24 June 2025
ClosingDate: Monday 21 July 2025
Reference: 5002
The University of Greenwich is proud of its heritage, impact and mission to transform lives through education. With a diverse and vibrant community, and a growing reputation for research, enterprise and student success, we are on an exciting journey to become the best modern university in the UK by 2030.
To support this ambition, we are seeking an experienced and values-driven Deputy Director of People to help lead and shape the future of our People Directorate.
The Role
The Deputy Director of People will provide high-level operational and strategic leadership across key areas of the People Directorate. Reporting to the Executive Director of People, the postholder will hold direct line management responsibility for four Senior People Business Partners and the Head of Employee Relations, Change and Business Analytics.
The roleholder will be responsible for leading and enhancing the university’s approach to people management, supporting effective business partnering, driving forward change and transformation programmes, and ensuring robust employee relations frameworks are in place. The role will also have oversight of data-led insight and analytics to support informed decision-making across the institution.
As a key member of the People Directorate Senior Management Team, the Deputy Director will contribute to the development and delivery of our people strategy, support the continual improvement of directorate-wide services, and promote a culture of partnership, trust and service excellence.
About You
We are seeking an individual with significant senior HR leadership experience in a complex organisation, ideally within the public or higher education sector. The successful candidate will bring a proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, navigate organisational change, and build positive and productive relationships with senior stakeholders, including trade union representatives.
A sound knowledge of employment law, employee relations, strategic workforce planning and organisational development is essential. The role also requires excellent judgement, political awareness, and a collaborative, enabling leadership style aligned with our university’s values and ethos.
Why Greenwich?
You will be joining a People Directorate of around 54 passionate and committed professionals who serve staff across the university with a focus on excellence, partnership and care. Our teams include People Business Partnering, People Operations, Staff Visa Compliance, Organisational and People Development (OPD), and Employee Relations, Change and Business Analytics.
We foster a culture of collaboration, wellbeing and continuous improvement. From team meetings and away days to wellbeing initiatives, we take pride in supporting our people and celebrating their achievements.
If you are excited by the opportunity to help shape a people-focused, inclusive and impactful university, we would love to hear from you.
For an informal discussion regarding this role, please contact our advising Research Associate, Edoardo Vachez (edoardo.vachez@perrettlaver.com ). Should you have any recruitment related queries or should you require access to these documents in alternative formats, please contactour advising Principal Project Manager, Simon Epsley (simon.epsley@perrettlaver.com ).
For details of the appointment, including further information about the job description, person specification and how to apply, please visit quoting reference 7944.
Employment Visa: Under the UK Government Points Based System scheme this role does meet the criteria to be sponsored for a Skilled Worker Route application.
We are looking for people who can help us deliver our mission of transforming lives through inspired teaching and research, through our values.
We are committed to building a strong, diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly encourage applications from applicants with protected characteristic(s), who are currently under-represented within the University of Greenwich at these levels/within these areas.
We encourage applicants to disclose experience of mental health problems so we can support them fully during our recruitment process and make any necessary reasonable adjustments. Any information disclosed will be kept confidential and separate from the job application form.
We are making significant strides to understand and continuously improve our employees’ experience and we are committed to implementing progressive diversity talent management.
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5002 - Deputy Director of People (London) employer: University of Greenwich
Contact Detail:
University of Greenwich Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land 5002 - Deputy Director of People (London)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the University of Greenwich's mission and values. Understanding their commitment to transforming lives through education will help you align your experience and vision with theirs during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees in similar roles. Engaging with them can provide insights into the culture and expectations within the People Directorate, which can be invaluable during interviews.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with organisational change and employee relations. Be ready to share specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and navigate complex environments.
✨Tip Number 4
Showcase your knowledge of employment law and strategic workforce planning in conversations. This will highlight your expertise and reassure the hiring team that you can contribute effectively to their goals.
We think you need these skills to ace 5002 - Deputy Director of People (London)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Thoroughly read the job description for the Deputy Director of People position. Make sure you understand the key responsibilities and required skills, as this will help you tailor your application effectively.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your senior HR leadership experience, particularly in complex organisations. Use specific examples that demonstrate your ability to lead teams, manage change, and build relationships with stakeholders.
Showcase Your Values: The University of Greenwich is looking for values-driven candidates. Make sure to reflect their values in your application by discussing how your personal and professional ethos aligns with their mission to transform lives through education.
Tailor Your Application: Customise your CV and cover letter for this specific role. Use keywords from the job description, such as 'employee relations', 'strategic workforce planning', and 'collaborative leadership', to demonstrate that you are a perfect fit for the position.
How to prepare for a job interview at University of Greenwich
✨Understand the University’s Values
Before your interview, take some time to research and understand the core values of the University of Greenwich. This will help you align your responses with their mission to transform lives through education and demonstrate that you are a good cultural fit.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
As a Deputy Director of People, you'll need to highlight your senior HR leadership experience. Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully led multidisciplinary teams and navigated organisational change in previous roles.
✨Prepare for Strategic Questions
Expect questions about strategic workforce planning and employee relations. Be ready to discuss your approach to driving change and transformation programmes, as well as how you would enhance the university's people management strategies.
✨Demonstrate Collaborative Skills
The role requires building positive relationships with senior stakeholders and trade union representatives. Prepare to discuss instances where you've successfully collaborated with various parties to achieve common goals, showcasing your enabling leadership style.
