Head Of People & Operations

Compass Associates; Peterborough; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Compass Associates is partnering with a growing care home group to appoint a Head of People & Operations in Peterborough. This hands-on senior HR role leads the people function across multiple sites, overseeing HR, recruitment, compliance, absence and people operations.

You’ll manage an HR team, work with senior leaders, and shape scalable people structures as the business expands. Hybrid working with some travel to sites is expected.

Qualifications

• Proven HR experience in care home or social care sector.
• Experience across multiple sites and travel between locations.
• Strong employment relations and compliance knowledge.
• CIPD qualification preferred.
• Hybrid work arrangement with Peterborough base.

Responsibilities

• Own the overall People/HR function across the care home group.
• Lead and develop the HR team.
• Oversee recruitment and onboarding.
• Ensure robust HR processes and compliance.
• Develop HR reporting and workforce data.
• Support acquisitions and integration.
• Collaborate with senior leadership and operations.
• Shape scalable people structures as the business grows.

Skills

People management

HR leadership

Employee relations

Recruitment

Compliance

HR reporting

Education

CIPD qualification

Tools

HRIS

Job description

Head of People & Operations | Growing Care Home Group | Peterborough | £55,000–£60,000

Are you an experienced HR professional with strong knowledge of the care home sector and ready to step into a Senior People leadership position?

We're partnering with a growing care home group to appoint a Head of People & Operations.

This is a hands-on senior HR position overseeing the people function across multiple care homes, with responsibility for HR, recruitment, compliance, absence, and people operations.

The Opportunity

You'll take ownership of the People function, managing the existing HR team while working closely with senior leadership across the group.

The role will combine operational HR, recruitment, compliance, and people reporting.

You'll initially be hands-on within the function, with the opportunity to develop into a more strategic People leadership position as the business continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the overall People / HR function across the care home group.
• Manage and develop the existing HR team.
• Ensure robust HR processes, systems and compliance are in place.
• Oversee recruitment across the business.
• Improve HR reporting, particularly around absence and workforce data.
• Provide HR support through future acquisitions and integration.
• Work closely with senior leadership and operational teams.
• Develop scalable people structures as the business continues to grow.
• Provide proactive advice around employee relations, compliance and people matters.

The Ideal Candidate

We're looking for an experienced HR professional with strong understanding of the care home / social care sector and the ability to operate both operationally and strategically.

Relevant experience could include:

• Care Home HR
• HR Management
• People Operations
• Employee Relations
• Recruitment

Most importantly, you'll need genuine care sector knowledge, strong HR experience and the ability to take ownership of a growing People function.

Requirements

• Proven HR experience within the care home sector, or home care, retirement living.
• Strong understanding of the operational realities of care.
• Experience working across multiple sites.
• Strong HR, employee relations and compliance knowledge.
• Experience managing or developing HR team members.
• Strong reporting and absence management capability.
• Commercial and operational mindset.
• CIPD qualification preferred, although experience is important.
• Ability to travel between care homes when required.

Package

• Opportunity to step into a senior People leadership position
• Scope to shape and develop the People function
• Opportunity to support future acquisitions and business growth

Location

Peterborough based with a flexible hybrid approach.

The successful candidate will need to be comfortable travelling to the group's care homes, and future acquisition locations when required.