Job Title: Head of People
Salary: PO6
Contract: Term Time Plus 20 Days
Reporting To: Executive Principal

About the Organisation

We are a specialist school providing education and support for children and young people with a wide range of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and strategic Head of People to join our senior leadership team and lead all aspects of the people function across our specialist education setting.This is a pivotal leadership role within a complex SEND environment, requiring a professional who understands the importance of attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional staff who support children and young people with additional needs. The successful candidate will lead on workforce strategy, employee relations, organisational development, recruitment, compliance, and staff wellbeing while fostering a positive and inclusive culture.

Working closely with the Executive Principal, senior leaders, governors, and external stakeholders, you will play a key role in ensuring the organisation has the workforce, systems, and culture required to deliver outstanding specialist education and care.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive People Strategy aligned with organisational objectives.
• Provide strategic HR leadership and advice to the Executive Principal and Senior Leadership Team.
• Lead workforce planning, succession planning, and organisational development initiatives.
• Drive initiatives that promote staff engagement, wellbeing, retention, and professional development.

Human Resources

• Lead and manage all HR operations and people-related services.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation, safeguarding requirements, and regulatory expectations.
• Oversee complex employee relations matters including disciplinary, grievance, capability, attendance management, and performance issues.
• Monitor workforce data and provide strategic insights and recommendations.

Recruitment and Retention

• Lead safer recruitment processes across the organisation.
• Ensure effective attraction, onboarding, and retention strategies are in place.
• Support managers with recruitment campaigns and workforce development.
• Promote the organisation as an employer of choice within the SEND and education sectors.

Leadership and Stakeholder Management

• Build positive relationships with staff, trade unions, governors, local authorities, and external agencies.
• Lead, develop, and support the HR team.
• Champion equality, diversity, inclusion, and staff wellbeing.

Person Specification

Essential

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• Significant senior HR leadership experience within a large or complex organisation.
• Experience implementing workforce strategies and leading organisational change.
• Strong employee relations and case management experience.
• Experience developing HR policies and governance frameworks.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret workforce data.
• Commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and the wellbeing of children, young people, and staff.

Desirable

• CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent.
• Experience working within a special school, SEND, education, public sector, or local authority environment.
• Experience supporting inspections, audits, or regulatory reviews.
• Experience working within unionised environments.