Job Role: Head of People
Salary: £55,080 per year
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Contract type: Permanent
Location: Bath
Additional information:
* The role will involve occasional evening working, including attending board meetings from time to time.
* Some travel across our South West area of operations will be required as part of the role.
This vacancy will close on 18th May 2026, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to first‑stage interviews on 26th May 2026.
About Julian House:
Julian House is a charity dedicated to making a difference to the lives of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people in society. We run several projects and every year we help thousands of people out of homelessness, into employment, away from domestic abuse, and more.
If you’d like a real sense of job satisfaction, great career prospects and a competitive benefits package, you could be who we’re looking for!
About the Role:
The Head of People is a pivotal role at the heart of Julian House, shaping the organisation through its most important asset, its people. As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the Chief Executive, you’ll lead our people strategy, culture, and workforce development, ensuring we have the capability, capacity, and values‑led culture needed to deliver our mission.
This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic and compassionate leader who understands how great people practices drive social impact. You’ll provide senior leadership across HR, recruitment, volunteering, organisational development, and culture, helping to build a high‑performing, inclusive organisation where people feel supported, empowered, and able to thrive in a demanding environment.
You’ll play a critical role in embedding Julian House’s values, strengthening leadership capability, and creating a positive workplace where staff and volunteers feel engaged, valued, and proud of the difference they make. This is a rare opportunity to lead meaningful change and help a mission‑driven charity continue to grow and succeed through its people.
Please refer to our application pack and job description for full details around the role.
What you’ll be doing:
* Lead and shape our People Strategy, ensuring it aligns with our organisational goals, values, and long‑term ambitions, and that our people are fully supported to deliver meaningful impact.
* Build leadership capability at every level, designing and embedding leadership and management development programmes that support confident, values‑led leadership across the organisation.
* Oversee recruitment, HR operations, volunteering, and people processes, working closely with the HR Manager and wider People Team to deliver high‑quality, responsive support.
* Champion robust, modern employment policies, ensuring they remain legally compliant, up to date with best practice, and reflective of Julian House’s values and culture.
* Coach and advise leaders, providing trusted guidance that builds confidence, strengthens people‑management skills, and supports teams to thrive in a demanding environment.
Please note: Job descriptions are not exhaustive, and the successful candidate may occasionally be asked to take on other duties that align with the key responsibilities outlined.
What we’re looking for:
* Significant senior‑level experience in People / HR leadership, with a proven track record of overseeing employee relations, people operations, and leading cultural and organisational change.
* Strong knowledge of HR best practice and employment law, alongside experience in organisational development, workforce wellbeing, and using people data and insights to inform decision‑making.
* Strategic and forward‑thinking, with the ability to translate vision into practical, impactful actions that support teams and strengthen organisational performance.
There are many great reasons to join our team!
* Access to our Rewards Platform, which includes an Employee Assistance Programme and Health Cash Plan
* 27 days annual leave, including an extra day off for your birthday, plus bank holidays - increasing up to 30 days after 4 years of continuous employment (pro rata for part-time staff)
* 30% staff discount at Julian House charity shop
* A generous and competitive pension scheme
* A supportive culture where staff feedback is highly valued and regular supervisions with line managers are conducted
* Great opportunities for career development and free monthly training sessions from experienced facilitators
* For all the fantastic and valuable work, you’ll be doing, you’ll be eligible for the Blue Light Card which offers amazing discounts on thousands of brands
Our Ethos
As an Equal Opportunities employer, we have an Equality and Diversity Action plan in place showing our commitment in ensuring continuous improvement in creating an inclusive culture. We also have a committed group of Inclusion & Diversity champions who meet monthly to ensure progress is being made. We invite applications from people from all backgrounds and cultures, especially minority groups that are underrepresented in the workplace. We also welcome applications from those with lived experience. We embrace flexibility and are proud to be a Disability Confident and Mindful employer, as well as an Armed Forces Covenant Supporter.
If you have any special access requirements or other support needs throughout the application process (including interview), please contact us so that we can let you know how we can support you. We accept CVs and applications in all formats.
DBS Checks
We welcome applications from people with lived experience. All applicants working with our clients will be expected to undertake an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. A criminal conviction will not necessarily prevent you from becoming an employee, the decision will depend on the type of offence and its relevance to the role. If you would like to discuss any convictions you may have, please contact the person named in the advert. All information will be dealt with according to our Data Protection Policy.
Please note: We reserve the right to close our vacancies once the perfect candidate has been found. We recommend submitting your application as soon as possible so that you don’t miss out!