Director of People

Royal Holloway, University of London; Egham; Hybrid; GBP 92,000 - 113,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Pension Scheme

Cycle to Work

Free parking

Job summary

Royal Holloway, University of London invites applications for a Director of People to lead the People, Culture and Transformation function. This senior role reports to the Chief People Officer and shapes strategy across employee relations, workforce planning, HR transformation and service modernisation. Hybrid working across campuses, 4 days on campus; 52 weeks per year.

Salary £102,590 per annum including London Allowance. Closing date 30 September 2026.

Qualifications

• Senior HR leader with strategic and operational experience.
• Proven track record in large-scale HR operations and complex employee relations.
• Ability to drive organisational change and build high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead across employee relations, business partnering, and HR transformation.
• Drive workforce planning, service modernisation, and strategic HR initiatives.
• Collaborate with senior leaders and unions to translate priorities into actions.

Skills

HR leadership

Employee relations

Change management

Job description

People, Culture and Transformation (Central)

Salary - £102,590 per annum - including London Allowance

Post Type - Full Time

Weeks per Year - 52

Closing Date - 23.59 hours BST on Wednesday 30 September 2026

Reference - 0926-305

Right to work:

Please note that it will not be possible for the University to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship to the successful candidate for this position. Therefore, the appointable candidate will need to be eligible to work in the UK or have leave to remain in the UK and associated right to work for the duration of their employment with the University, in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.

Full Time, Permanent

Hybrid working across all campuses, 4 days a week on campus

Are you an exceptional HR leader who thrives in complex environments and can balance strategic thinking with operational excellence?

Royal Holloway is seeking an outstanding Director of People to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of our University. Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you will provide strategic and operational leadership across the People, Culture and Transformation function, leading a broad portfolio including employee and industrial relations, strategic business partnering, workforce planning, HR transformation and service modernisation.

This is an opportunity to influence at the highest levels of the institution. Working closely with senior leaders, trade unions and colleagues across the University, you will help translate ambitious strategic priorities into practical, sustainable outcomes for our people and organisation.

We're looking for a credible and experienced people leader with a strong track record of leading large-scale HR operations, navigating complex employee relations challenges, driving organisational change and building high-performing teams. You will be confident operating in politically nuanced environments, able to balance competing priorities, and committed to delivering an exceptional people experience.

In return, you'll join an ambitious People, Culture and Transformation Directorate with a clear vision, a collaborative leadership team and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on one of the UK's leading universities.

Help us create a workplace where people and performance thrive together.

We offer a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Training and Development opportunities
• Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
• Various schemes including Cycle to Work, Season Ticket Loans and help with the cost of Eyesight testing
• Free parking

Please quote the reference: 0926-305

Closing Date: 23:59, 30 September 2026

Interview Date: 15 October 2026

Royal Holloway is committed to equality and diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community. Read here about structures and initiatives around equality and diversity, including information on staff diversity networks.

Further details: Job Description & Person Specification