Chief People Officer

Rethink Mental Illness; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading national charity seeks a strategic Chief People Officer (CPO) to shape their workforce and organisational culture. The CPO will oversee various functions, driving a high-performance and inclusive culture. Essential qualifications include substantial leadership experience in people management and EDI within social impact settings.

Qualifications

• Substantial senior leadership experience in people management and EDI.
• Proven ability to enhance performance and employee experience.
• Strong track record in leading inclusive cultures.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic development and operational delivery of people agenda.
• Champion EDI and embed inclusive practices across the charity.
• Oversee learning and employee engagement initiatives.

Skills

People management

Organisational development

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Change management

Learning and development

Education

CIPD Membership

Job description

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At Rethink Mental Illness, we believe everyone severely affected by mental illness deserves a life of dignity, hope, and opportunity. As a leading national charity, we deliver over 90 services across England and campaign for systemic change. We are now seeking a strategic and compassionate Chief People Officer (CPO) to join our Executive Team and shape the future of our workforce and organisational culture.

About the Role

As CPO, you will lead the strategic development and operational delivery of our people agenda. You will oversee functions including learning and organisational development, recruitment and shared services, employee relations, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI), and involvement and volunteering. Your leadership will foster a high-performance, inclusive, and values-driven culture that empowers staff and enhances engagement across all levels of the organisation.

You will:

• Develop and implement people strategies that support organisational growth and impact.
• Champion EDI and embed inclusive practices across all areas of the charity.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, and employee engagement initiatives.
• Oversee learning and development, performance management, and leadership development.
• Promote wellbeing, involvement, and co-production with service users and carers.
• Represent Rethink externally in strategic forums and support our sister charity, Mental Health UK.

What We’re Looking For

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• Substantial senior leadership experience in people management, organisational development, and EDI within a care, health, or social impact setting.
• Proven ability to develop and implement people strategies that enhance performance and employee experience.
• Strong track record of leading EDI initiatives and fostering inclusive cultures.
• Experience in change management, learning and development, and performance frameworks.
• Demonstrated success in leading multidisciplinary teams across HR, EDI, and OD.
• Membership of CIPD.

How to apply

To apply, please send a CV and covering letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining your fit for the role based on the person specification to:

Key dates:
• Closing date: 5pm, 4 August 2025.
• Interviews will be held in two stages: the first stage with our Executive Team
and second stage with the Chief Executive and representatives from our Board of
Trustees.
• Candidates may be asked to complete psychometric assessments as part of the
recruitment process.
• Interviews will take place weeks commencing 1 and 8 September 2025.

For informal enquiries, contact Amy Yeates, Head of Chief Executives’ Office & Corporate Governance: .