Director of People and Culture

Volunteer Centre; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A community benefit society in Leeds is seeking a Director of People and Culture to lead their people strategy and enhance organizational culture. The successful candidate will drive workforce planning and engagement while ensuring a values-driven environment. Ideal for those with substantial HR leadership experience, particularly in social care, this role offers hybrid work and opportunities for personal development.

Benefits

Hybrid and flexible working arrangements

Enhanced occupational sick and maternity/paternity pay

Access to occupational health services

Refer a Friend Scheme – £250 high street voucher

Qualifications

• Proven success in leading organisational and cultural change.
• Strong knowledge of employment law.
• Experience in workforce planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of a people and culture strategy.
• Drive workforce planning and employee engagement.
• Champion cultural change that supports innovation.

Skills

Leadership

Emotional Intelligence

Strategic Thinking

Knowledge of Employment Law

Change Management

Education

CIPD Level 7 or equivalent

Job description

Join Aspire as our Director of People and Culture

Location: Leeds (Hybrid working available)

Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Contract Type: Permanent

Closing Date: 4pm on Friday 3 rd October 2025

Interview Date: 9th/10th October 2025 times TBC

Aspire Community Benefit Society is a staff-led mutual and social enterprise supporting over 700 people with learning disabilities across Leeds. We’re one year into an ambitious 5-year strategy to strengthen our culture, systems, and commercial focus — and we’re looking for a visionary Director of People and Culture to help lead this transformation.

Why Join Aspire Now?

This is a defining opportunity to shape the future of a respected organisation with a vital social purpose. You’ll help Aspire thrive during a challenging time for social care — emerging stronger, fairer, and more effective for the people we serve. If you’re ambitious, energetic, and thrive in top-level leadership, we want to hear from you.

The Role

As a key member of our Senior Leadership Team, you’ll lead our people strategy, workforce planning, leadership development, employee experience, and organisational culture. You’ll be instrumental in building a resilient, engaged, and high-performing workforce while ensuring our values-driven culture remains at the heart of everything we do.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and delivery of a forward-looking people and culture strategy.
• Drive workforce planning, leadership development, and employee engagement.
• Champion cultural change that supports innovation, accountability, and person-centred practice.
• Oversee HR operations, modernise systems, and introduce robust metrics for organisational health.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leaders, managing HR and resourcing budgets.

About You

We’re looking for a values-led leader with:

• CIPD Level 7 or equivalent senior HR leadership experience (ideally in social care, health, or a values-led organisation).
• Proven success in leading organisational and cultural change.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, workforce planning, and change management.
• Excellent communication, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking.
• A growth mindset and the ability to thrive in complexity and ambiguity.

Working at Aspire

• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements.
• Opportunities for personal development.
• A culture that values inclusion, empowerment, and continuous improvement.
• Enhanced occupational company sick and maternity/paternity pay
• Access to free occupational health, physiotherapy, counselling, wellbeing and advice services
• Refer a Friend Scheme – £250 high street voucher

Are you ready to make a difference?

• Apply now and help us build a future where everyone is supported to live full and purposeful lives.

For an informal discussion please contact:

Application forms and a job description can be found on our website:

If you are interested in applying for this role, please complete our online application form HERE or submit your CV and covering letter to: Marc Barnes