Transformational leadership in a sector that truly matters.

Metanoia Institute is at a pivotal moment in its development. With taught degree-awarding powers on the horizon and a new institutional strategy bedding in, we are investing in the infrastructure and leadership required to take us into our next chapter, confident in purpose, and connected to the needs of our community.

As Head of People & Culture, you’ll join us at a time of significant but carefully stewarded change. Reporting directly to the CEO, and working closely with senior colleagues, you’ll take the lead on shaping a People & Culture function that is fit for a growing, specialist higher education provider. This means strategic oversight of all people systems and practices, from job architecture to appraisal, from line management capability to HR operations, all with a focus on integrity, inclusion, and proportionality for our scale and sector.

You’ll also play a central role in supporting the evolving culture of the organisation not just through policy and process, but through leadership tone, behavioural clarity, and emotionally intelligent working relationships. We’re looking for someone who brings not only professional credibility, but also personal maturity someone who can lead confidently while listening carefully.

This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of a high-impact organisation, working directly alongside a CEO who is both ambitious and deeply attuned to the importance of cultural alignment in leadership.

We're looking for someone who can offer:

A strong track record of leading people and culture functions, ideally in education, non-profit, or values-led settings
Evidence of successful delivery in periods of change, growth, or cultural transformation with the ability to balance decisiveness with cultural sensitivity
Experience designing and embedding HR frameworks (e.g. job architecture, appraisal, policies) with clarity and credibility
Emotional intelligence, professional confidence.
We’re looking for someone who brings not only professional credibility, but also personal maturity, someone who can lead confidently while staying attuned to organisational context and relationships
A commitment to people-first leadership and enabling others to thrive
Someone who can quickly pivot from strategic oversight to operational deliver
Chartered MCIPD qualification
A minimum of 5 years in a HR leadership role

Above all, we’re looking for someone who gets it, who understands that good leadership is never just structural, but relational. If you want to do purposeful work, in a place that takes people seriously, and at a time when it really counts, we’d love to hear from you.

OTHER INFORMATION:

The Head of People and Culture will also be expected to demonstrate their commitment to:

Metanoia values and regulations, including Metanoia’s social, economic, and environmental responsibilities.
Metanoia’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion responsibilities and ensure that you engage in the successful implementation of Metanoia’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy; and
to their Health and Safety responsibilities to ensure their contribution to a safe and secure working environment for staff, students, and other visitors to the Institute.

Metanoia Institute is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, or disability status.

We strive to ensure that individuals with disabilities receive reasonable accommodations to participate in the job application and interview process, perform essential job functions, and access other benefits and privileges of employment. If you require accommodations, please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your individual needs.

We value diversity and are dedicated to creating an environment where all employees can thrive.

References to be included at application stage to include current or most recent line manager. Your references will only be contracted with permission at the point of offer.

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Head of People & Culture