Director of People & Culture

JR United Kingdom; Dartford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Albyn School is seeking a Director of People & Culture to lead HR functions, enhance staff culture, and support operations in a cohesive environment. Ideal candidates will possess a CIPD qualification and experience in creating an inclusive, people-focused culture. This pivotal role requires strong leadership to align operational delivery with the school's educational mission.

Qualifications

• CIPD qualified HR professional.
• Strong interpersonal, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Track record of shaping a positive organisational culture.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership across HR, staff culture, and daily operations.
• Ensure operational delivery aligns with school values.
• Support admissions, marketing, and co-curricular logistics.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation skills

Influencing skills

Collaboration

Education

CIPD qualified

Job description

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Founded in 1867, Albyn School (‘Albyn’) is one of Scotland’s leading independent schools, offering an exceptional education to pupils from nursery through to sixth form. Located in the heart of Aberdeen, we combine academic excellence with a vibrant co-curricular offering, a strong sense of community, and a forward-thinking approach to learning and development.

Albyn was founded on a pioneering belief in empowerment, enabling young women to attend university and access opportunities that had long been denied to them. That same principle of empowerment still defines us today. As a modern co-ed school, we believe in equipping every pupil to pursue their own path, while supporting others to do the same. This is why our school values centre on developing self-awareness, ambition, and an outward-looking mindset, so that Albyn pupils not only thrive, but contribute meaningfully to the world around them.

We are now looking to appoint a Director of People & Culture who will play a pivotal role in ensuring Albyn School operates efficiently, feels cohesive, and provides a professionally rewarding environment for staff and pupils alike. As a key member of the School Leadership Team (SLT), you will provide leadership across HR, staff culture, daily operations, admissions, marketing, co-curricular logistics, and user-facing digital systems.

This wide-ranging and integrated remit brings together several of the School’s core support functions, ensuring that operational delivery is aligned with Albyn’s values, supports its educational mission, and that more young people in Aberdeen and the North East benefit from all that an Albyn education offers.

The role requires a a CIPD qualified HR professional with both strategic and operational experience. Candidates should bring strong interpersonal, negotiation, and influencing skills, along with the ability to work collaboratively with operational and academic colleagues to deliver an exceptional experience for pupils, staff, and families alike. Bringing a strong track record of shaping and embedding a positive organisational culture, underpinned by inclusivity, wellbeing, and staff engagement, the successful candidate will also be values-led, people-focused, and deeply committed to the wellbeing of both staff and pupils.

If interested in a confidential discussion, please apply or contact our retained advisor, Douglas Adam at [emailprotected] .

Any applications or third-party introductions to Albyn will be forwarded to Livingston James for consideration.

Albyn is an equal opportunities employer and positively encourages applications from suitably qualified and eligible candidates regardless of sex, race, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, religion or belief, marital status or pregnancy and maternity.