Head of People Services
Contract type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time
Hybrid between home and Poole. There will be a requirement for the successful candidate to work in the Poole office a minimum of 3 days per week.
Interview date: 1st interviews - Friday 16th January
Do you have the drive and passion to lead, inspire, and support our People Services Team in delivering a first-class ‘people through lifecycle’ service to the RNLI?
We are looking for an inspirational and collaborative leader to join us in the new role of Head of People Services, leading our People Services teams in supporting our frontline lifesavers and fundraisers.
You will be coming into this new role at an interesting time, as we shape the organisation to take on the challenges of the future with the delivery of our 5-Year Plan (2026 to 2030) in support of our overall RNLI Strategy 2040.
The RNLI provides a 24-hour lifeboat search and rescue service, lifeguards, fundraising, and drowning prevention. This is your chance to join that team and help save lives every day.
Flexible working
- 26 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
- Competitive pension scheme
- Life assurance
- Health and dental cashplan option
As a member of our People Leadership Team, our new Head of People Services will deliver a first-class, service-led, ‘people through lifecycle’ service to the RNLI through a trusted, customer-focused, highly professional People Services team.
Reporting to the Chief People Officer, you will be responsible for the line management of each of the “people through lifecycle” service managers, with teams including our People Partnering and Advisor service, Reward, Occupational Health, and our HR Shared Service, which encompasses People Administration, Recruitment, and HR MI. This is a key role for our People Department, and priorities will include developing our HR strategy and workforce management capability, as well as leading on departmental digital transformation as we transition to a single HR platform.
As the Head of People Services, we are looking for someone who can:
* Develop HR strategies aligned to the RNLI strategy and overall charitable purpose, working in collaboration with learning and development, volunteer experience and inclusion departments.
* Develop strategic workforce management, informed by the capabilities required to achieve the RNLI strategy.
* Inspire, empower, and develop your direct reports to ensure their career development and personal succession plans.
* Lead the transition to a single HR platform (likely Workday), including functionality and integration, enhancing self-service, automation, and artificial intelligence.
* Ensure data accuracy and governance, delivering meaningful reporting and insights.
* Maintain compliance in line with regulations and legislation across multiple jurisdictions and manage risks and audit requirements.
This is a hybrid role, working between home and our Support Centre in Poole - the successful candidate will be required to work a minimum of 3 days per week in the office.
To be our new Head of People Services, you will have:
* Experience working within a multi-disciplinary HR team, both transactional and advisory, servicing both staff and volunteers.
* Experience implementing/familiar with working with an HCM, ideally Workday.
* Experience of working in the not-for-profit sector or a volunteer environment at a senior management level, with relevant function experience (desirable).
If this sounds like you, and you are an experienced and influential leader who is not only confident and knowledgeable in the HR space but also has the passion and values that align with those of the RNLI, apply today!
The suitability of all prospective employees and volunteers will be assessed during the recruitment process in line with this commitment. This will include relevant criminal record checks being carried out, dependent on the eligibility of the role. (DBS check, Scotland; International, International Child Protection Certificate process).
Diversity at the RNLI
We respect and value diversity of background, skills, and perspectives within our teams, and consider it essential to help us deliver a world-class lifesaving service. In addition to having the skills needed for the role, we also look for applicants who share our commitment to living our RNLI values (trustworthy, courageous, selfless, and dependable), and helping us work towards Our Vision: To save Every One