Chief People Officer

Dixon Walter; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK-based applied university is seeking a Chief People Officer to provide strategic leadership and oversee a high-performing, inclusive workforce. This role requires proven experience in strategic management, the ability to switch between strategic and operational tasks, and knowledge of employee relations. The successful candidate will work closely with the executive team to translate strategic ambition into sustainable performance and ensure compliance with employment legislation and workplace practices.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in strategic management of services in large organizations.
• Ability to work at both strategic and operational levels.
• Experience in delivering high-performance cultures.

Responsibilities

• Lead the University’s people agenda and strategic leadership.
• Attract, develop, and retain a high-performing workforce.
• Ensure compliance with employment and workplace practices.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Team management

Interpersonal skills

Understanding of employee relations

Transformative change delivery

Education

Graduate (or equivalent) with chartered membership of the CIPD

Job description

A values-led, applied university located in the home of England’s industrial revolution, University of Derby is the only University in Derbyshire. Offering industry-relevant, expert teaching across foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate provision alongside a growing research portfolio the University’s strategic aim is to be an applied university of today and for tomorrow, delivering excellence and opportunity for students, staff and the region it serves. The university is home to an exceptional academic community and has outstanding facilities which is reflected in the University being awarded Gold in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023. Recognising that an outstanding student experience can only be achieved through a high-quality staff experience critically important People strategy is closely aligned to the Strategic Framework (2018 to 2030) setting clear objectives on how to deliver corporate ambitions through the people it employs and the culture it creates.

As Chief People Officer you will be joining an institution that understands and values the life-changing power of education. As a key member of our Executive team, the CPO provides strategic leadership for the University’s people agenda and is accountable to the Vice‑Chancellor for attracting, developing and retaining a high‑performing, inclusive workforce, while ensuring strong governance and compliance. Operating at the heart of our leadership and decision‑making structures, the CPO plays a critical role in translating our strategic ambition into sustainable organisational performance. As CPO managing a team of high-quality professional staff, you will lead and deliver strategies for talent, reward, performance, engagement, well‑being and inclusion and embedding a culture that fosters innovation, collaboration and organisational growth. With a deep understanding of the factors affecting employee relations, you will also oversee legislative frameworks governing employment, equality and workplace practices and in ensuring that university policies and decisions are legally sound, ethically robust and aligned with sector best‑practice mitigating risk and safeguarding the University’s reputation.

The successful candidate will be a clear thinker and be able to work at a strategic level but have the ability to switch to operations as necessary to ensure procedures and policies are implemented effectively to achieve the key strategic objectives of the University of Derby. A graduate (or equivalent) with chartered membership of the CIPD you will have proven experience of successful strategic management of equivalent services in large and complex organizations. Understanding of the issues facing higher education would be advantageous but more important will be your experience of delivering transformative change, high-performance cultures and innovative service delivery. A technical expert, you will also possess excellent interpersonal skills and have the ability to work effectively with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.

• a letter of application setting out your interest in the role and details of how you match the person specification
• a comprehensive curriculum vitae (CV)
• details of three referees and notice period (referees will not be contacted without your permission)
• a completed Personal Details Form (available above)

Closing date for applications is Sunday 1 st March 2026.

Longlist interviews will be held with Dixon Walter via Microsoft Teams from week commencing 2 nd March.

Final interviews will take place on campus the week commencing 30 th March.

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