People Manager

College Group; Greater London; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Two pension schemes

Generous holiday package

Free onsite parking

Gym access

Spa and Salon discounts

Job summary

College Group is seeking an experienced People Manager to lead the delivery of a high-quality service across its colleges. This key leadership role blends strategic partnering with hands-on delivery, shaping workforce strategies that support performance and staff/student experience.

You will lead a team of HR professionals, partner with senior leaders, manage complex cases, ensure compliant policy application, and drive change programmes across allocated areas.

Qualifications

• Experience in a senior advisory or business partnering role.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and employee relations case management.
• Experience leading or supervising teams.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and decision-making.
• Proactive, solutions-focused and people-centered approach.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage competing priorities.
• Eligible to work in the UK (no sponsorship).
• Opportunity to shape workforce strategy and culture.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of people professionals.
• Partner with managers and senior leaders to design and deliver effective workforce and staffing strategies.
• Provide expert advice across employee relations, performance, absence management, recruitment and organisational change.
• Oversee complex casework, including disciplinary, grievance, capability and restructuring activity.
• Ensure fair, consistent and legally compliant application of HR policies and employment law.
• Support workforce planning, identifying trends, risks and opportunities to improve organisational effectiveness.
• Oversee contracts of employment, compliance and accurate people data management.
• Work closely with Payroll, Recruitment, CPD and external legal advisers to ensure seamless service delivery.
• Lead on attendance management and wellbeing interventions across allocated areas.
• Support and deliver organisational change programmes, including restructuring and consultation processes.

Skills

Senior business partner

Employment law

Team leadership

Stakeholder influence

Complex case management

Workforce planning

Diversity & inclusion

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and motivated People Manager to lead the delivery of a high-quality service across our College Group. This is a key leadership role within the People function, combining strategic partnering with operational excellence and team leadership. You will work closely with senior leaders and managers to shape workforce strategies that support our ambition, strengthen performance, and enhance the experience of both staff and students. If you are passionate about people, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and enjoy balancing strategic influence with hands-on delivery, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

• Lead and develop a team of people professionals, ensuring high performance, collaboration and continuous improvement
• Partner with managers and senior leaders to design and deliver effective workforce and staffing strategies
• Provide expert advice across employee relations, performance, absence management, recruitment and organisational change
• Oversee complex casework, including disciplinary, grievance, capability and restructuring activity
• Ensure fair, consistent and legally compliant application of HR policies and employment law
• Support workforce planning, identifying trends, risks and opportunities to improve organisational effectiveness
• Oversee contracts of employment, compliance and accurate people data management
• Work closely with Payroll, Recruitment, CPD and external legal advisers to ensure seamless service delivery
• Lead on attendance management and wellbeing interventions across allocated areas
• Support and deliver organisational change programmes, including restructuring and consultation processes

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Proven experience in a senior advisory or business partnering role
• Strong knowledge of employment law and employee relations case management
• Experience of leading or supervising teams
• Confidence working with senior leaders and influencing decision-making
• Ability to manage complex, sensitive and high-risk cases
• A proactive, solutions-focused and people-centered approach
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities
• A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in everything you do, Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK as we do not sponsor work permits, and work permits from other organisations are unacceptable as proof of right to work in the UK.
• A leadership role with real influence across a diverse College Group
• The opportunity to shape workforce strategy and organisational culture
• A supportive and collaborative People & Culture team
• Continuous professional development opportunities
• The chance to make a tangible difference to staff and student experience
• In return, we offer a competitive salary, as well as staff benefits such a choice of two excellent pension schemes, a brilliant holiday package, free onsite parking and access to our fully equipped gym along with discounted in house Spa and Salon treatments.