The Role Job Title: People and Culture Manager Reference number: CF26-26 Location: Edinburgh or Glasgow (Hybrid) Salary: Band E, £44,087 – £50,726 per annum Post Type: Permanent, Full-time (35 hours per week) Closing Date: 24th June 2026 Interview Date: Week commencing 6th July 2026 Make a real difference for children and families across Scotland Children First is Scotland’s national children’s charity. We stand up for every child because every child deserves a safe and happy childhood. By joining us, you’ll play a key role in helping us build a workforce that can deliver life-changing support to children, young people and families. We are looking for an experienced People and Culture Manager to help shape an engaged, inclusive and high-performing organisation where colleagues can thrive and where, together, we can make a lasting difference. About the role This is a key leadership role within our People Team. You’ll lead the delivery of people strategies and practices that support organisational success and create a positive colleague experience from recruitment through to development and retention. Working closely with leaders across the organisation, you will: Provide expert advice and guidance on complex people matters Lead high-quality HR service delivery and continuous improvement Shape workforce planning, recruitment and retention approaches Drive a positive, inclusive and values-led culture Use people data and insights to inform decision-making You’ll balance strategic thinking with hands-on leadership, ensuring our people practices meet both current and future needs. What you’ll bring We’re looking for a passionate and experienced People professional who thrives on building strong relationships and making a real organisational impact. You’ll bring: Significant experience in a senior HR / People role Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice Proven experience managing complex employee relations matters Experience developing and implementing people strategies A track record of influencing and coaching stakeholders at all levels Confidence using data and insights to drive improvements Experience supporting culture, engagement, wellbeing and DEI initiatives Excellent communication, coaching and relationship-building skills It would be great if you also have: CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent) Experience in the charity, public or third sector Experience with HR systems and process improvement Why join us? At Children First, our values guide everything we do: With love: we put children first With purpose: we transform children’s lives together With strength: we do whatever it takes We offer a supportive and flexible working environment along with: 40 days annual leave (including public holidays) Flexible and hybrid working Pension scheme Health and wellbeing support, including counselling services Access to Westfield Health and lifestyle benefits Blue Light Card discounts A Fair Work accredited workplace Our commitment to inclusion We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive and authentic workplace where everyone feels they belong. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. Apply now If you’re passionate about creating great colleague experiences and want to play a key role in improving outcomes for children and families, we’d love to hear from you FULL JOB DESCRIPTION: Role Summary The People and Culture Manager plays a key leadership role in creating the conditions for colleagues to thrive so that Children First can deliver the best possible outcomes for children, young people and families. The role leads the development and delivery of people strategies, policies and practices that support an engaged, capable and values-led workforce. Working closely with leaders across the organisation, the People and Culture Manager provides expert advice, guidance and challenge on people matters, ensuring that employment practices are legally compliant, relational in approach and aligned with Children First values. The role has responsibility for shaping a positive employee experience across the colleague lifecycle, from attraction and recruitment through to development, wellbeing and retention. The post holder leads the continuous improvement of people systems, processes and workforce insights, using data and evidence to support organisational decision-making and workforce planning. They play a central role in fostering a culture where colleagues feel valued, supported and empowered to make a difference for Scotland's children. The People and Culture Manager contributes to organisational effectiveness by balancing strategic thinking with operational leadership, ensuring that people practices support both current priorities and future organisational needs. Key Results Areas 1. People Strategy and Organisational Impact Develop and implement People/HR strategies aligned to organisational priorities Support workforce planning to ensure capability for current and future needs Contribute to organisational effectiveness through strategic people leadership 2. HR Service Delivery and Operations Lead a high-quality, consistent HR service across the organisation Develop and continuously improve HR processes and systems Embed and optimise HR Information Systems (HRIS) Provide expert HR advice and guidance on complex issues 3. Recruitment, Retention and Workforce Planning Oversee attraction, recruitment and onboarding processes Ensure effective workforce planning tools and practices are in place Support retention through engagement, development and culture initiatives 4. Employee Relations and Professional Practice Lead on complex employee relations matters (disciplinary, grievance, capability, change) Ensure legal compliance and best practice across all HR activity Build strong, constructive relationships with Trade Union Representatives 5. Performance, Learning and Development Develop and maintain effective performance management frameworks Support learning and development strategies and workforce capability building Enable managers to lead high-performing, engaged teams 6. Culture, Engagement and Wellbeing Foster a positive, inclusive and values-led organisational culture Lead wellbeing initiatives supporting mental, emotional and physical health Promote engagement and a strong employee experience 7. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Champion DEI across all people practices Embed inclusive policies and behaviours Support the organisation’s commitment to anti-racism and belonging 8. People Data, Systems and Continuous Improvement Develop and utilise people metrics and insights to inform decisions Lead reporting, workforce analytics and performance data Drive continuous improvement and innovation in people practices 9. Stakeholder and Partnership Working Build trusted relationships with leaders and managers Influence and coach stakeholders at all levels Support collaborative working internally and externally About us Children First is Scotland’s national children’s charity. We stand up for every child because all children should have a safe childhood. We protect children from harm and support them to recover from trauma and abuse through our national and local services. We help children, their families and the people that care for them by offering emotional, practical, and financial support. We give children hope and a safer, brighter future. Our core values guide how each one of us works in our individual day to day job: • With love, we put children first. • With purpose, we transform children’s lives together. • With strength, we do whatever it takes to protect Scotland’s children. These values are reflected in everything we do. If you share our vision and values and would like to join our team then we would love to hear from you.