Director of People

Affinity Trust; Thame; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Hybrid working

38 days leave incl. bank holidays

Pension contributions up to 8%

Life insurance

Blue Light discounts

Job summary

Affinity Trust is seeking a strategic, visible and values-led Director of People to shape the future of our People agenda. You will lead a broad People function from recruitment to employee engagement, reporting to the Chief Executive and working with executive leadership.

You will operate at Board level, driving culture, performance and growth across 250 locations nationwide, with a hybrid model and regular travel to locations in England and Scotland.

Qualifications

• Executive-level people leadership experience in a large, multi-site organisation.
• Strong strategic HR leadership and Board-level credibility.
• Excellent communication, influencing, analytical and financial judgement.

Responsibilities

• Shape and deliver a progressive People strategy that supports quality, culture, performance and growth.
• Lead strategic workforce planning so we have capacity, capability and flexibility to meet current and future needs.
• Strengthen leadership capability, colleague experience, inclusion, wellbeing and employee engagement.
• Ensure recruitment, onboarding and safer recruitment practices are inclusive and effective.
• Use people data, KPIs and workforce insight to support decision-making, manage risk and drive improvement.
• Advise the Chief Executive, Executive Team, Board of Trustees and People Committee on workforce performance, culture and risk.
• Provide people leadership for organisational change, tenders, TUPE activity and complex employee relations.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic HR

Employment law knowledge

Communication

Analytical thinking

Education

CIPD FCIPD

Job description

Role: Director of People

Who: Affinity Trust

Contract type: Permanent

Role: Director of People

Working hours: 37.5 hours per week

Where: Hybrid, with at least two days per week in Thame and regular nationwide travel

Salary: £108,000 per annum

Lead a people agenda that helps people live their life, their way

Affinity Trust is seeking a strategic, visible and values-led Director of People to shape the future of our People agenda at a pivotal point in our journey.

We are a national charity supporting more than 1,000 children, young people, adults and older people with learning disabilities, autism and other support needs across England and Scotland. With around 250 locations and ambitious plans for sustainable growth, this is a role with real scale, complexity and influence.

Your leadership will help create the conditions for colleagues to do their best work, so the people we support can live their life, their way.

About the role

Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will lead a broad People function spanning recruitment, inclusion, people operations, learning and development, people partnering, and employee engagement.

You will work at Executive and Board level while staying connected to colleagues and support locations across the organisation. This is a role for someone who can combine strategic people leadership with pace, credibility, resilience and a strong commitment to social purpose.

What you’ll lead

• Shape and deliver a progressive People strategy that supports quality, culture, performance and growth.
• Lead strategic workforce planning so we have the capacity, capability and flexibility to meet current and future needs.
• Strengthen leadership capability, colleague experience, inclusion, wellbeing and employee engagement.
• Ensure recruitment, onboarding and safer recruitment practices are inclusive, effective and values-based.
• Use people data, KPIs and workforce insight to support decision‑making, manage risk and drive improvement.
• Advise the Chief Executive, Executive Team, Board of Trustees and People Committee on workforce performance, culture and risk.
• Provide people leadership for organisational change, tenders, TUPE activity and complex employee relations.

About you

You may already be a Director of People, Chief People Officer, HR Director or equivalent executive people leader. You may also bring senior people leadership experience from a large, values‑led, multi‑site organisation, with the breadth and Board exposure to step quickly into this role.

Significant Executive‑level people leadership experience in a complex organisation.

CIPD qualification, ideally FCIPD, with ongoing professional development.

Strong strategic HR leadership, employment law knowledge and Board‑level credibility.

Excellent communication, influencing, analytical and financial judgement.

Experience leading culture change, workforce planning, leadership development and inclusive people practice.

Above all, you will be a visible and connected leader who shares our values: listening, learning, working together, taking responsibility and having the courage to try new things.

Why join Affinity Trust?

This is a chance to make a lasting contribution to a financially stable, purpose‑driven charity with a clear strategy and renewed momentum. You will help shape a stronger, more inclusive and more sustainable organisation, while increasing our impact for children, young people and adults who draw on our support.

Reward and benefits

• Salary: £108,000 plus car allowance
• Hybrid working, with at least two days per week in the office in Thame
• 38 days’ annual leave, including bank holidays
• Pension contributions of up to 8%, depending on employee contribution
• Life insurance, Blue Light discounts and a wider package of colleague rewards and benefits

Dates for your diary

• Role closes: 28 September.
• Engagement sessions and assessments: 14th – 16th October
• Presentation and Panel interview: 19th October
• The timetable is indicative and subject to change.