Interim Head of HR
Application Deadline: 9 June 2026
Department: People Experience
Employment Type: Fixed Term - Full Time
Location: The Grange
Compensation: £55,000 / year
Description
Job title: Interim Head of HR
Responsible to: Director of People and Culture
Based: Hybrid (ideally 2 days in office) The Grange, Saunderton, Princes Risborough
Contract: Fixed Term (until 31 December 2026)
Hours: Full Time, 35 hours a week (part time applications considered, min 3 days a week)
You will support the delivery of the People & Culture plan, ensuring the organisation has the capability, culture and capacity to achieve its strategic objectives.
You will act as a trusted partner to SMT, translating organisational priorities into people solutions and driving a high-performance, values-led culture.
Key Responsibilities
Key Activities
* Lead, coach and develop the People team, line managing the People Business Partner and People Operations Manager, to deliver quality people services across the employee lifecycle
* Lead workforce planning aligned to organisational strategy and service delivery needs
* Provide expert HR advice and guidance on complex ER, risk and organisational change
* Oversee recruitment strategy and employer brand
* Ensure compliance with employment law, safeguarding and regulatory requirements
* Use people data and insights to inform decision-making and drive continuous improvement
* Develop organisational approach to pay progression and employee benefits
* Lead on the development of a new EDI strategy
Customer and Service Delivery Expectations
* Leading and developing the People Experience function (made up of People Business Partnering and People Operations teams) to be high performing
* Timely, pragmatic and risk-aware HR advice
* High-quality, consistent and fair people processes
* Clear, simple and accessible guidance for managers
* Regular data reporting and people analytics support evidence-based recommendations aligned to organisational priorities
* Proactive rather than reactive support
* Compliance maintained with minimal risk exposure
* Positive feedback from SMT and other stakeholders on quality and impact of People team effectiveness
Key Deliverables
* People services and initiatives foster an inclusive, positive and high performance culture in line with organisational values, and are delivered on time and within resource
* Improved employee engagement scores, measurable progress and clear action plan delivery
* Workforce plans aligned to service delivery needs and budget
* Achievement Development Review process is embedded with high completion rates and quality outcomes
* EDI strategy and policy developed, with implementation plan
* Pay progression framework and updated benefits package
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
* Proven track record of successfully leading a small HR/People team, with a situational leadership approach
* Strategic and operational HR leadership expertise, with a good understanding of the HR business partner function
* Well developed coaching and/or mentoring skills with experience of supporting both line managers and HR professionals
* Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build positive working relationships quickly and hit the ground running
* Strong influencing and stakeholder management at a senior level
* Thorough working knowledge of current and proposed UK employment law and risk management
* Data-driven decision making
* Ability to lead change and embed culture
Benefits
* Employee Assistance Programme.
* Death in Service Payment.
* Annual leave enhancements recognising long service
* Day off for your birthday
* Defined contribution group personal pension plan
* Enhanced sick pay
* Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption pay
* Eye care
* Hearing tests
* Learning and Development opportunities
* Discounts on merchandise at Hearing Dog gift shops
* Pet Dog Policy
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