Head of People

Morson Talent is proud to partner with Astrea Academy in the recruitment of a Head of People for a 9–12-month fixed-term maternity cover.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a strategic and people-centric HR leader to play a pivotal role in shaping and executing Astrea’s People strategy during a period of significant transformation. If you excel in dynamic environments and have a proven track record in building high-performing teams, we would be delighted to hear from you.

The successful candidate will be an experienced Head of People or Senior HR Leader, with a strong background operating at senior leadership level and managing relationships with multiple stakeholders.

In this role, you will work closely with the Director of People & Organisational Development to refine and elevate service delivery across the organisation. You will also collaborate with the Director of Professional Learning, using employee feedback and people data to inform learning and development strategies and identify workforce trends.

This is a site-based position located in Sheffield, with occasional travel to other regional sites.
The role is offered on a full-time basis, with a competitive salary of up to £70,000.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide expert legal and HR guidance, ensuring effective case management and compliance with commercial awareness.
• Develop and implement HR policies aligned with legislation, best practices, and stakeholder input, including union consultation.
• Monitor HR trends in education to proactively support organisational change.
• Lead HR digitalisation projects and optimise HRIS systems for data-driven insights.
• Oversee payroll and pension administration, managing outsourced provider relationships.
• Line manage HR leaders, supporting their development through coaching and delegation.
• Drive improvements in recruitment, retention, succession planning, and performance management.
• Collaborate with senior leaders to deliver strategic people initiatives aligned with business objectives.
• Manage departmental risks, wellbeing programmes, and employee engagement strategies.
• Lead workforce data analysis to inform decision-making, including organisational design and diversity strategies.
• Prepare and present HR reports and business cases for executive leadership.

About You:

• Degree-qualified or CIPD Level 7 (or equivalent senior HR leadership experience)
• Chartered CIPD membership – desirable
• Skilled in using data to drive decision-making and performance improvement
• Exceptional leadership, coaching, and team development capabilities
• Proven experience leading HR functions in complex organisations
• Strong background in employee relations, policy development, recruitment, and case management
• Experience with trade union engagement, payroll/pensions, and HRIS systems
• Extensive knowledge of employment law and HR best practices
• Experience in the education sector – desirable
• Strong project management, influencing, and stakeholder engagement skills
• Resilient, strategic, and solutions-focused with excellent communication abilities
• Committed to inclusion, professional development, and high-performance culture
• Collaborative, adaptable, and integrity-driven with a proactive mindset

Benefits:

• 29 days holiday plus bank holidays
• Competitive pension scheme: 24% employer contribution
• Flexible working hours to accommodate individual circumstances

Think you might be a good fit? Please click apply to register your interest, or email joanna.jarrold@morson.com to find out more.