We're looking for a senior, hands-on leader to drive People & Operations for a fast-growing educational organisation. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on solving complex problems, building scalable systems, and ensuring the business has the people, policies, and processes to grow confidently. You'll work closely with the leadership team, shaping recruitment strategy, HR, operational systems, compliance, and cross-functional projects.
What You'll Do
- Lead Recruitment: Own workforce planning and recruitment strategy, ensuring high-quality talent pipelines. Manage a recruitment team, track KPIs, and hold outcomes to account.
- Drive Operational Excellence: Optimise systems, data tools, and processes to improve efficiency and reduce friction. Ensure compliance and manage operational risk.
- People Leadership: Oversee HR strategy, policies, and workforce management. Support performance, engagement, retention, and organisational design.
- Project & Change Management: Lead cross-functional initiatives, system rollouts, and process improvements. Act as a trusted escalation point for operational challenges.
- Collaborate Across Teams: Partner with leadership to align operational capacity with business growth and strategic priorities.
What Success Looks Like
- Reliable recruitment pipeline aligned with demand.
- Streamlined systems, data, and policies actively informing decision-making.
- Reduced operational friction, with proactive problem-solving embedded.
- Strong, accountable teams delivering consistently.
Who You Are
- Experienced in senior operations or people leadership in a service-focused organisation.
- Proven track record of leading recruitment teams and holding them accountable.
- Strong HR knowledge, confident managing complex people matters.
- Strategic thinker with ability to build scalable systems and processes.
- Highly organised, outcome-driven, and comfortable making decisions with imperfect information.
- Excellent communicator, able to influence and collaborate at all levels.
Bonus if You Have
- Experience scaling teams in high-growth organisations.
- Familiarity with CRM, HR software, and process automation.
- Strong data literacy in HR or recruitment metrics.
- Knowledge of education, alternative provision, or commissioned services.
