Chief People Officer

Bournemouth University; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 200,000 +; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational institution in Bournemouth is recruiting a Chief People Officer (CPO) to join its Executive Team. This role will shape the university's culture and lead the HR function during a significant transformation. Ideal candidates will have senior HR leadership experience and a successful track record in delivering cultural change. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to an innovative institution focused on digital excellence and stakeholder engagement. Competitive salary offered.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in senior HR leadership positions within complex organizations.
• History of delivering cultural change successfully.
• Ability to create high impact, efficient HR functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the evolution of the university's people strategy.
• Collaborate across the institution to embed performance and development frameworks.
• Enhance staff engagement and deliver value-for-money outcomes.

Skills

Senior HR leadership experience

Cultural change delivery

Operational capability

Staff engagement improvement

Customer-focused HR approach

Job description

Bournemouth University is entering an exciting new chapter. With a bold and distinctive BU2035 strategy and a clear vision for the future, we are redefining what it means to be a future-focused, globally connected institution. Our ambition is to provide learning and skills for a digital future, prepare graduates for a rapidly changing world, and create increased impact regionally and internationally while driving economic growth.

To help us deliver this transformation, we are now seeking to recruit an exceptional leader to join the University Executive Team as Chief People Officer (CPO). Reporting directly to the Vice-Chancellor, you will play a central role in shaping the culture and capability of the university at a time of significant change. You will lead the evolution of our people strategy, ensuring that our HR function is modern, responsive, and aligned to the needs of a dynamic organisation. Working collaboratively across the institution, you will help embed frameworks that support performance and development, foster engagement, and create an environment where colleagues can thrive.

You will bring senior HR leadership experience in complex and comparable organisations, a track record of delivering cultural change, and strong operational capability. You will be able to evidence creating a high impact, customer-focussed, HR function that supports change and delivers continual improvement across a broad range of stakeholders. A proven ability to enhance staff engagement and deliver high-quality, value-for-money outcomes will also be vital

This is a unique moment to join a university on the rise under new leadership. Bournemouth combines the energy of a thriving coastal town with the ambition of an institution investing heavily in innovation. We have recently secured major funding for the South West’s only Cyber Security and AI Centre and are driving forward plans to strengthen our position regionally, nationally, and internationally. Our BU2035 strategy sets out a future focused on digital excellence, entrepreneurial growth, and partnerships that connect our students and research with industry.

If you have the skills and experience we seek, and share our vision, passion and values, we would be keen to hear from you.

Closing date: Friday 20 February 2026

Competitive