Director of People and Culture

We are seeking an exceptional and values-driven leader to join our Executive Team as Director of People and Culture across Heartwood Learning Trust. Our Trust’s values of Kindness, Respect, and Teamwork underpin the vision ‘Life in all its fullness - a place to thrive’ and are central to all Trust activities and aims. This is a significant strategic leadership opportunity for an experienced HR professional who is passionate about people, organisational culture, and educational improvement. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the successful candidate will lead and develop a high-quality Trust-wide HR function, providing both strategic direction and operational leadership across all aspects of people management, workforce development, and organisational culture. As Director of People and Culture, you will work closely with senior leaders, Principals, Trustees, and colleagues across the Trust to ensure that we attract, develop, and retain talented staff who feel valued, supported, and empowered to thrive. You will lead on workforce strategy, employee relations, organisational change, wellbeing, inclusion, talent development and compliance, helping to create a culture where collaboration and professional excellence flourish. We are looking for a confident and credible leader with substantial senior HR experience, ideally within education or the public sector, although we welcome applications from candidates who can demonstrate transferable strategic leadership experience from similarly complex organisations. You will bring expert knowledge of employment law and people practice, alongside the ability to influence at a senior level, build trusted relationships, and lead with integrity, warmth, and clarity. The role is primarily based at our central office in Vale of York Academy, with travel required across all of the academies within the Trust. For an informal conversation about the role with Wendy Munro, Chief Operating Officer, please contact hr@hlt.academy. What we can offer: Experienced and supportive leadership with a collaborative approach and an appreciative culture An established, experienced and friendly central team Holiday entitlement 25 days (increases after 5 years continuous service) plus bank holidays Local Government Pension scheme Occupational Health Employee Assistance Programme Cycle to Work scheme Job Details Hours of Work: 37 Hours per Week, all year round Position Type: Permanent Line Manager: Chief Operating Officer Travel Required: Yes The salary is dependent on current qualifications and experience, please see the attached job description for more information. Application Process Please complete the online application form to apply for this role. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application. You should use the information supplied with in the Job Description & Person Specification to make the best of your applica