Director of People

The Learning Partnership Academies Trust; Crewe; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Competitive benefits

Job summary

The Learning Partnership is seeking an experienced, strategic Director of People to lead the HR and organisational development function within the multi-academy trust. Reporting to the CEO, you will shape the People Strategy and provide expert guidance to senior leaders to foster a high-performance culture and inclusive practices.

You will drive talent development, staff wellbeing and robust HR processes, ensuring compliance and safeguarding across the Trust.

Qualifications

• Significant senior HR leadership experience.
• Proven track record of developing and delivering people strategies.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience managing complex employee relations matters.
• Ability to influence and build relationships at all levels.
• Proactive and solution-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the Trust’s People Strategy.
• Provide strategic HR advice to the CEO, board and senior leaders.
• Oversee all employee relations, ensuring a consistent and fair approach.
• Drive recruitment, retention, workforce planning and talent development.
• Lead on organisational development, culture and staff engagement.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, safeguarding and safer recruitment practices.
• Develop policies and frameworks that support a modern, inclusive and high-performing workforce.
• Line manage and develop the central HR team.

Skills

Senior HR leadership

People strategy

Employment law

Employee relations

Stakeholder management

CIPD Level 7

Education

CIPD Level 7

Job description

We are seeking an experienced, strategic and values-driven Director of People to lead our HR and organisational development function.

Reporting directly to the CEO, you will provide expert leadership across all aspects of people management, ensuring our workforce is supported, developed and aligned to the Trust’s vision and priorities.

You will be instrumental in driving a high-performance culture, strengthening leadership capability, and ensuring best practice in HR across the Trust.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of the Trust’s People Strategy
• Provide strategic HR advice to the CEO, board and senior leaders
• Oversee all employee relations, ensuring a consistent and fair approach
• Drive initiatives around recruitment, retention, workforce planning and talent development
• Lead on organisational development, culture and staff engagement
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, safeguarding and safer recruitment practices
• Develop policies and frameworks that support a modern, inclusive and high-performing workforce
• Line manage and develop the central HR team

About You

We are looking for a confident and credible HR leader with a passion for people and education.

You will have:

• Significant senior HR leadership experience
• A proven track record of developing and delivering people strategies
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice
• Experience of managing complex employee relations matters
• The ability to influence and build strong relationships at all levels
• A proactive and solution-focused approach
• CIPD Level 7 qualification (or equivalent experience)

Experience within a multi-academy trust or school environment is highly desirable but not essential.

Why Join Us?

• An opportunity to shape and influence the future of a growing Trust
• A collaborative and supportive executive team
• A strong commitment to staff wellbeing and professional development
• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Flexible and agile working opportunities

Please note we obtain the right to close the vacancy early if we believe suitable candidates have applied.

We look forward to your application.

The Learning Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All staff appointments are subject to satisfactory references and enhanced checks with the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS).

The Learning Partnership is committed to the promotion of equality of opportunity and the elimination of discrimination; all applicants should note that they will be considered on the basis of suitability regardless of disability, gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation and marital status or any other discrimination which is unfair or unreasonable.

We particularly welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities because we would like to increase the representation of these groups at The Learning Partnership. We want to do this because we know greater diversity will lead to even greater outcomes for children. We are proud to be an employer that holds Disability Committed and working towards menopause friendly status.

The Trust is ‘happy to talk flexible working’. Flexible working increases workplace diversity by making roles accessible to those with caring responsibilities (primarily women), disabled staff, and both older and younger workers.