Interim Chief People Officer (12 month FTC)
enterprise‑level CPO role at a pivotal inflection point
At a pivotal point in its organisational journey, Interim Chief People Officer to join the Executive Leadership Team and play a critical role in strengthening organisational culture, performance, leadership capability, and long‑term organisational health.
Key responsibilities
- Working collaboratively with the Executive Leadership Team to define, plan, and embed organisational strategy, delivering people outcomes that support long‑term organisational health and strategic ambitions.
- Leading and role‑modelling cultural evolution; acting as a critical accountability partner to the CEO and Executive Team on leadership behaviours, culture, and the creation of a psychologically safe, high‑trust environment.
- Developing and leading the People Directorate in alignment with purpose and strategy, driving improvements in colleague engagement and progressing the digitisation of the end‑to‑end people experience.
- Leading, coaching, and motivating a high‑performing People Directorate team, fostering collaboration, accountability, and performance.
- Partnering with the CEO and Executive Team on organisational design, leadership capability development, succession planning, and workforce planning.
- Championing and embedding people‑centred transformation and change programmes, ensuring they are sustainable and widely adopted.
- Using internal and external insights to shape future thinking around organisational design, operating models, and culture, enhancing long‑term resilience.
- Taking responsibility for the financial stewardship of the People function, including budgeting, expenditure control, and disciplined resource deployment.
- Working closely with the CEO to embed Enterprise Leadership principles across executive and senior leadership levels.
The Successful Applicant
The successful candidate will be an accomplished executive‑level people leader with a strong track record of delivering sustained organisational change in complex environments.
You will bring
- An organisation‑first mindset, with proven executive leadership experience delivering transformation in a complex and/or regulated environment within a similarly sized or larger organisation.
- Demonstrable experience of digitising the people experience and increasing people data maturity.
- A track record as an inspirational leader who develops high‑performing teams and delivers measurable outcomes at senior and executive level.
- Evidence of successfully building and sustaining positive organisational cultures during periods of significant change.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to contribute meaningfully to enterprise‑level decision‑making.
- Deep expertise in organisational change, transformation, and contemporary people best practice.
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with credibility at Board and Executive level.
- A collaborative leadership style, balancing support and challenge, with high personal accountability and a commitment to equity, continuous learning, and improvement.
- Clear evidence of advocating for and delivering specific organisational changes, supported by strong communication and influencing capability.
- Experience of managing and controlling significant budgets.
What’s on Offer
- A high‑profile interim executive role within a purpose‑driven national charity.
- The opportunity to shape organisational culture, leadership capability, and people strategy at a pivotal moment in journey.
- Hybrid working with regular travel to Cambridge and central London.
Interim Chief People Officer (12 month FTC) in Brentwood employer: White Glove
Join a leading food wholesaler that values operational excellence and fosters a collaborative work culture. With a strong emphasis on employee growth, you will have access to continuous training and development opportunities while working in a dynamic environment that encourages innovation and teamwork. Located in a thriving area, this role offers the chance to make a significant impact while enjoying a supportive atmosphere that prioritises both personal and professional success.
