Head of People

KnowledgeBrief

Head of People leading workforce strategy, culture and compliance for KnowledgeBrief, a UK leadership and management training provider. Advising senior leaders and shaping organisational growth.

Posted 8/4/2026full-timeLondon • 🇬🇧 United KingdomLeadWebsite

Core Competencies

Role fit

Core Competencies

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Demonstrates expertise in designing and delivering People strategies, leading workforce planning, and managing complex employee relations. Proven ability to shape organizational culture and enhance leadership capabilities while ensuring compliance with UK employment law.

Highest-signal resume keywords

Senior HR Leadership ExperiencePeople Strategy DevelopmentUK Employment Law KnowledgeWorkforce PlanningOrganisational Change Management

ATS Keywords

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Applicant Tracking System Keywords

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Hard Skills

Performance ManagementTalent DevelopmentSuccession PlanningRecruitment StrategyEmployee Relations ManagementOrganisational DesignData-Driven Decision MakingPay and Reward ManagementCoaching and DevelopmentCompliance Management

Soft Skills

Excellent CommunicationRelationship BuildingDiscretion and IntegrityProfessional CredibilityLeadership Capability

Certifications & Qualifications

CIPD Level 7

Industry Keywords

Safer RecruitmentSafeguardingWellbeingColleague EngagementInclusionRemote-First WorkforceEducationTrainingEdTechProfessional Services

About the role

Key responsibilities & impact

Design and deliver KnowledgeBrief’s People strategy and annual People Plan
Lead workforce planning with Finance and departmental leaders
Review organisational structures, roles and resource allocation
Advise and constructively challenge the CEO, C-Suite and Board using People and organisational data
Strengthen leadership and management capability through coaching and management development
Lead performance, talent, development, progression, succession, pay, reward and recognition
Shape a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture supporting wellbeing, engagement and development
Lead complex employee relations matters and organisational change
Set strategic direction for recruitment, safer recruitment, safeguarding-related workforce requirements, right-to-work checks and employment compliance
Lead and develop the People & Culture function
Oversee People operations, systems, policies and governance
Evaluate People activity and identify opportunities to improve outcomes and simplify delivery

Requirements

What you’ll need

Significant experience in a senior HR or People leadership role within a growing organisation
Experience designing and delivering a commercially focused People strategy and annual People Plan
Experience leading and developing a small, hands-on People function
Excellent and current knowledge of UK employment law
Significant experience managing complex employee relations matters and employment risk
Experience advising and constructively challenging CEOs, C-Suite leaders or Boards
Strong experience in workforce planning, organisational design and organisational change
Broad experience across performance management, leadership development, recruitment, talent, succession, progression and reward
Experience shaping organisational culture, colleague engagement, wellbeing and inclusion
Strong commercial judgement and ability to use People and organisational data for evidence-based recommendations
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, discretion, integrity and professional credibility
CIPD Level 7 qualified or equivalent senior People leadership experience
Desirable: experience in apprenticeships, education, training, EdTech, professional services or another regulated environment
Desirable: experience supporting a remote-first workforce
Desirable: experience in a growing small or medium-sized organisation
Desirable: knowledge of safer recruitment, safeguarding-related workforce requirements and UK GDPR
Offers subject to right-to-work checks, references and an enhanced DBS check

Benefits

Comp & perks

Dedicated monthly CPD time to support your development
5.6 weeks’ annual leave plus bank holidays
Two-week company closure over Christmas and New Year
Company sick pay
Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support
Remote-first environment with opportunities to connect in person
Opportunity to shape the People strategy and influence decisions across the organisation
Reasonable adjustments available throughout the recruitment process