People Director

An exciting opportunity to join an award-winning independent school with circa 1850 children across 3 schools and 650 staff. Highgate School are looking for a People Director to play a leading role in shaping our people agenda to ensure Highgate is sought after place to work which further embeds an environment where people flourish.

We are looking for a dynamic leader with experience in creating and implementing people strategies, ability to modernise working practises and managing people change. Highgate are embarking on an exciting next phase and we are looking for a People Director that has an appetite for change.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic development, planning and implementation

• Contribute to the development of the school’s vision and strategic goals to enable the organisation to grow and develop by placing people and wellbeing at the forefront of everything we do
• Develop and implement a people strategy which supports the school’s development plan and encompasses work already been carried out around staff wellbeing
• Within the people strategy, create and implement a learning and development approach, embedding diversity & inclusion and wellbeing within everything we do at Highgate
• Oversee the coordination of all nominated projects, ensuring effective planning, communication and implementation throughout
• Create a robust measuring and reporting system within the people function, with clear KPIs to report to senior management or governors on any trends or issues that have occurred
• In partnership with the bursarial management team, identify opportunities for automation within the department to remove the manual ‘heavy lifting’ and ensure we are following practises at the forefront of the sector
• Where required, review organisational structures in the light of the needs of the school and work with the Head and Bursar to implement changes as required

HR Leadership and Management

• Work with the bursarial management team to develop a culture of open communication, wellbeing, inspirational leadership, innovation and excellence across the support functions of the whole school
• Provide day-to-day support to the people team and ensure thorough objective setting, appraisal management and the agreement of personal development plans. Ensure that all team members’ objectives are specific and measurable and in line with strategy, aligned to Highgate’s ethos, aims and business plan
• Provide leadership and motivation to all staff in the department, ensuring that the necessary skill and competency levels are in place, developed or acquired
• Drive a culture within the team that is supportive, nurturing and delivers excellence in everything it does

Recruitment

• Lead the school’s support staff recruitment processes alongside the recruitment manager, from on-boarding to off-boarding, ensuring we have frequent dialogue with candidates and provide a seamless experience for employees starting at Highgate
• Introduce people metrics and KPIs to measure the performance and market so information can be communicated to the senior team, allowing agile decisions
• Create a consistent approach across support staff and teacher recruitment, and work with the teaching recruitment team, to ensure a seamless experience for the candidates
• Review and be responsible for processes, ensuring compliance with regulations relating to recruitment, immigration and employment, and work closely with the Compliance Director
• Have overall responsibility for all employment checks and the maintenance of the Central Register of Appointments

Employee Relations (ER)

• Provide best practice advice and guidance to the Head or his deputies, Bursar, directors and managers on staffing issues such as absence, capability, the management of performance, disciplinary and grievance and settlement procedures
• Work with HR manager to create a process where ER cases can be effectively managed and reported on so any improvements can easily be identified
• Provide advice to staff at all levels on all relevant aspects of people policies and procedures
• Alongside HR manager take overall responsibility for the effective management of employee relations casework across Highgate
• Improve management/employee communications where needed, including mediating disputes and advising line managers on how to implement HR policies
• Ensure effective absence management and occupational health procedures are in place

Employee Reward and Recognition

• Develop a reward and benefits policy which meets Highgate’s needs, contributes to maximising employees’ contribution to organisational performance and enhances employee retention and satisfaction
• In consultation with the Bursar, advise on annual pay awards, conduct salary surveys, undertake job evaluation and bench-marking, review and implement relevant salary scales.

Appraisal, Learning and Development

• Within the people strategy, manage an appropriate and effective appraisal system for the support staff that is embedded into the culture
• Provide professional guidance for the teaching staff appraisal system
• Create a training and development strategy in line with Highgate’s strategic direction
• Ensure that cost-effective training and development plans are in place and that training activities are co-ordinated and delivered either internally or, when appropriate, outsourced.
• Support the development of line management skills across Highgate, including improving motivation, handling under-performers and using capability and disciplinary procedures, through guidance and appropriate training
• Manage the induction procedures for support staff, and assist staff responsible for the induction of teaching staff, monitoring consistency of practice across the whole school
• Ensure group and individual training records are maintained
• Ensure the development of a register of training resources, effective training providers and approved courses

Policies, Procedures and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure overall compliance with employment legislation and regulations, safeguarding and safer recruitment. Equity, Diversity and Inclusion; work with the compliance director to maintain an excellent standard
• Ensure compliance with ISI Regulations in relation to People Management
• Manage the development, review, and regular updating of all people policies and procedures ensuring compliance with current legislation and best practice and their consistent application across the School
• Give direction to and monitor processes within the department to ensure that responsibilities are met with regard to regulatory requirements and an efficient service is provided

Budget Management

• Be accountable for the departmental budget
• Ensure day-to-day budgetary management and develop and implement monitoring procedures for in-year expenditure, reporting to the Deputy Bursar as necessary

General

• Provide reports for the Governors and senior management and attend internal meetings as required
• Represent the school at appropriate meetings and People networking forums as required
• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the responsibilities of the post as may reasonably be requested by the Deputy Bursar and Bursar