Head of People & Payroll As an integral part of our Senior Leadership Team we are looking for a passionate professional to drive the success of our strategy through our People function. Job Purpose As the Head of People & Payroll you will primarily be responsible for the development and delivery of a professional and responsive operational HR and payroll service. You will also play a pivotal role in the definition and delivery of strategies and strategic objectives that align to the overall business objectives of the charity and our ambition to positively impact more lives. Your focus will be on cultivating a positive work environment, creating a Great Place to Work® and driving organisational success through effective people practices. Dimensions Responsible for: People Support Team – People Manager (Group) Recruitment, Talent & Attraction – Recruitment & Talent Manager Employee Experience (incl. ED&I) – Employee Experience & Benefits Manager Budget responsibility: Pay: ~£1.5m Non-pay: ~£500k Principal Accountabilities People Lead the People & Payroll team to deliver a high-quality, responsive service and positive employee experience. Foster collaboration, continuous improvement, and alignment to organisational values and strategy. Deliver the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion strategy and promote an inclusive culture with strong belonging. Develop and promote the Employee Value Proposition. Build effective stakeholder relationships and align workforce planning to organisational growth and priorities. Quality Ensure services deliver a positive customer experience aligned to values. Maintain effective policies, procedures, and legally compliant people practices. Oversee disciplinary, grievance, and employee relations processes, including union engagement. Ensure robust payroll, audit, and core control processes are in place and compliant with legislation and CQC standards. Maintain job evaluation effectiveness and develop people metrics to demonstrate impact. Analyse workforce data to inform decisions, manage risk, and meet reporting requirements. Ensure effective use of external partners and compliance with data protection and records management. Financial Ensure compliance with financial policies and procedures. Support budget setting, forecasting, and financial performance management, identifying risks and variances. Drive efficiency, value for money, and cost control. Manage contractor relationships and support organisational efficiency and change programmes. Work with operational leads to align workforce and financial planning to strategy. Growth / Organisational Development Contribute to the People & Culture Strategy and work with Learning & OD to deliver aligned initiatives. Lead projects supporting organisational growth, best practice, and strategic development. Oversee due diligence and integration of new business, ensuring effective workforce integration and risk management. Develop workforce plans to build capacity and capability. Person Specification Skills & Knowledge Strong knowledge of UK employment legislation Excellent communication, presentation, and facilitation skills Strong interpersonal skills with high self-awareness Ability to analyse complex information and develop solutions Excellent leadership and people management capability Able to work independently, manage competing priorities, and apply policy effectively Strong working knowledge of Office 365 Evidence of continuous professional development Values & Attitudes Embraces change and continuous learning Inspires others and leads with enthusiasm Solution-focused with a positive approach Strong people focus and encourages openness Takes accountability and maintains high standards Balances detail with strategic thinking Works independently with a methodical approach Experience Minimum 5 years’ HR management experience Experience developing and delivering people strategies Proven team leadership and development Experience delivering multiple programmes/projects Budget and financial management experience Job evaluation experience (ideally Hay) Qualifications Chartered CIPD membership Other Predominantly home-based with regular travel across the North West, including Liverpool. Applicants must live within the region and be able to travel. Interview Dates: 1st Stage – 22nd April (Liverpool, in person) 2nd Stage – 30th April (Teams) Flexible working: 35 hours over 9-day fortnight or 4.5-day week. A more comprehensive job description is available on our website Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme Disability Confident About Disability Confident A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .