People Director

Job Introduction

People Director

Location: Bristol (Hybrid)

Are you an inspirational leader ready to shape the future of people and culture in a values-driven organisation? This is your opportunity to make a lasting impact as our People Director at Brandon Trust.

About the role

This critical leadership role will provide both strategic and operational direction, working closely with the Chief People Officer to implement a comprehensive people strategy that underpins Brandon Trust’s vision and values. Your expertise will drive key areas, including the creation of a People Target Operating Model (TOM), strategic business partnering, reward, employee relations, governance, and leadership development.

You’ll have the opportunity to:

• Lead transformative initiatives that motivate our workforce and strengthen our organisational culture.
• Embed our core values—Recognise, Involve, Equip, Challenge, and Support—across every aspect of the People function.
• Collaborate across Brandon Trust to ensure people, leadership, and culture remain at the heart of our mission to provide the highest quality support to the people and communities we serve.

Why we think you’ll love this role

• Shape the future – You’ll lead transformative programmes that embed values-driven leadership and create a thriving workplace. From designing governance structures to fostering inclusion, your work will shape the future of our organisation.
• Be a values-driven leader – Brandon Trust places people at the heart of its strategy. As People Director, you’ll have the opportunity to align our people strategy with our organisational purpose, driving accountability, collaboration, and trust.
• Make a lasting impact – Your leadership will directly contribute to improving employee experiences, delivering meaningful cultural change, and strengthening our support for communities and individuals with learning disabilities and autism.
• Collaborate across the organisation – This role offers a chance to work alongside a dynamic leadership team and engage with employees at every level, building relationships that drive collective success.

Key deliverables

Strategic leadership

• Co-develop and implement Brandon Trust’s People and Organisational Development (OD) strategy with the Chief People Officer, ensuring alignment with the organisation’s mission and goals.
• Design and embed a People Target Operating Model (TOM) to create a high-performing, values-driven workforce.
• Establish governance frameworks to monitor and evaluate progress against key strategic objectives, providing regular updates to the Executive Leadership Team.

People-centric transformation

• Lead initiatives to improve employee engagement, including pulse surveys and People Forums that amplify employee voices and drive action.
• Develop and implement a values-driven behaviours framework that shapes a positive organisational culture and promotes inclusivity.
• Deliver leadership development programmes that equip managers to inspire and lead high-performing teams.
• Implement career pathways that support employee growth, retention, and professional development.
• Lead and design a variety of forums, where required.

Operational excellence

• Oversee key areas of the People function, including employee relations, reward, and governance, ensuring compliance with employment law and best practices.
• Manage budgets effectively while maintaining high standards of service delivery and quality.
• Resolve complex employee relations issues and oversee organisational changes, such as TUPE transfers and reward framework development.
• The willingness to roll sleeves up and lead operational HR, to ensure we are proactive and future-focused, utilising data/automation opportunities.
• Strong operational expertise, dealing with complex casework, business-as-usual activity, and collaborating with, and advising multi-site stakeholders across multiple levels, including senior and executive leadership groups.

Data and insights

• Use analytics to produce and report on HR metrics, delivering insights that support informed decision-making and drive continuous improvement.
• Identify workforce trends and proactively address challenges through data-driven solutions.
• Bring a dynamic, fresh, and modern approach to people, including robust data reporting, governance, and leadership.

Cultural transformation

• Embed equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) across the organisation to create a values-driven and collaborative culture.
• Champion change initiatives that foster accountability, innovation, and inclusivity at all levels.
• Projects – EDI, Org design and development, competency frameworks, etc.

Coaching and mentoring

• Coaching and mentoring the wider people team.

What you’ll bring

We know that a perfect candidate who ticks every box doesn’t exist, so if you’re excited by the role and can do most of the below – please get in touch. You could be exactly what we need!

• Extensive HR expertise: Proven experience in providing people services within large, dispersed organisations.
• Strategic and operational leadership: A track record of managing change, delivering measurable performance improvements, and embedding professionalism and best practices.
• Collaborative approach: Strong interpersonal skills to build trust, credibility, and positive relationships across all levels of the organisation.
• Growth mindset: Adaptable, resilient, and solution-focused, with a commitment to driving continuous improvement.
• Values-driven ethos: High standards of personal and professional integrity, with a passion for inclusivity and equity.
• Practical experience: Managing budgets, handling complex employee relations cases, and leading large-scale change projects such as TUPE transfers or contract restructures.

About us

At Brandon Trust, we believe in the power of support and compassion. We're a pioneering charity supporting individuals with learning disabilities and autism. Our mission is to enable these individuals to live life to the fullest, with independence, and confidence. As part of our team, you'll be making a direct impact on the lives of the people we support, ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive.

We will be closing applications on 19th December at the latest. However, due to anticipated interest, we may close the process earlier, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible. We will be in touch with you to let you know the outcome of your application shortly after this.

Diversity is key to our success, and we work hard to ensure inclusivity. Let us know if you need any adjustments to the application or selection process, and we’ll be happy to help.

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