Chief People and Culture Officer

Brunel University; Uxbridge; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Brunel University is seeking a strategic Chief People and Culture Officer (CPCO) to lead its HR services and develop its People and Culture Strategic Plan. The role requires significant board-level experience and expertise in workforce transformation, team building, and employment policy.

Qualifications

• Extensive expertise in developing HR strategy.
• Experience leading transformational workforce change programmes.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and policy innovation.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver Brunel’s People and Culture Strategic Plan.
• Lead the University’s HR services.
• Inspire large teams and build consensus across diverse stakeholders.

Skills

Team building

Performance management

Trade union consultation

Financial acumen

Resource planning

Education

Professional qualifications in HR

Job description

Brunel has a proud history of being different. We trace our origins back to 1798 and the establishment of three technical Colleges established to educate people in professional, technical and applied subjects. Through our establishment as a university in 1966 to today, these foundations remain at the heart of our identity – we have a global reputation for the excellence of our teaching and research, and remain committed to serving the needs of business, industry and the professions.

This is an exciting time to join the University. In July 2023, we launched our new strategy – Wielding Brunel’s World-class Difference – which aims to propel Brunel to new heights and establish us as a world-leading technical university, and we are on a positive trajectory. In the past two years, we have climbed more than 70 places over the 2024 and 2025 QS League Table surveys, our National Student Survey results, and key research metrics.

We are now seeking a talented and strategic Chief People and Culture Officer (CPCO) to support the continued development of the University. Reporting directly to the Vice-Chancellor & President, and a key member of the University’s Executive Board, the CPCO is the most senior HR professional in the University, responsible for the development and delivery of Brunel’s People and Culture Strategic Plan and for leading the University’s HR services.

We are seeking a strategic and astute HR professional with board-level experience who combines extensive expertise in developing and delivering institutional HR strategy with proven success in leading transformational workforce change programmes. The ideal candidate will demonstrate significant experience in team building, performance management, trade union consultation, and formal HR processes, with strong financial acumen and resource planning capabilities. They must possess the strategic vision to create long-term people and culture provisions, deep knowledge of employment law and policy innovation, and the leadership skills necessary to inspire large teams while building consensus across diverse stakeholders.

Applications should consist of a full curriculum vitae detailing professional qualifications and experience, accompanied by a covering letter describing briefly how candidates meet the candidate specification outlined in this document, why the appointment is of interest, and what they believe they can bring to the role.

For details of the appointment, including further information about the job description, person specification and how to apply, please visit https://PLusPortal.PerrettLaver.com quoting reference 7915.

For informal inquiries please contact Research Associate, Kyle Adams on [e-mail] or [phone].

The closing date for applications is Midnight BST on Sunday 22^nd June 2025.

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