Chief People Officer

Bournemouth University; England; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in the United Kingdom seeks a Chief People Officer to join the University Executive Team. This role involves shaping the culture and people strategy, enhancing staff engagement, and leading a modern HR function. The ideal candidate will have senior HR leadership experience and a proven track record of driving cultural change. A unique opportunity to impact a university investing in innovation and change. The closing date for applications is February 20, 2026.

Qualifications

• Experience in senior HR roles within complex organizations.
• Track record of delivering effective cultural change.
• Ability to enhance staff engagement across diverse teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the university's people strategy and HR function.
• Embed performance and development frameworks.
• Foster engagement and create a thriving work environment.

Skills

Senior HR leadership experience

Cultural change implementation

Operational capability

Customer-focused HR function

Stakeholder engagement

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.

For further information, including details of how to apply, please visit www.odgers.com/95090

Closing date: Friday 20 February 2026