Head of People

Head of People

Company: Teaching Vacancies

Salary: Not specified

Hours: Full-time

Location: Sunderland, SR3 2RE

Job type: Permanent

Posting date: 7 Oct 2026

Closing date: 29 Oct 2026

Apply for this job

---

Summary

What skills and experience we're looking for

Northern Lights Learning Trust are seeking to appoint to this newly created role of Head of People. You will lead the people service in a friendly, supportive and forward-thinking Academy Trust. The role will be based at the Trust Central Offices in Seaham.

We are looking for an experienced professional as you will operate as a senior people professional within the Trust. You will act as a trusted adviser to leaders, providing advice and expertise in workforce planning, employee relations, organisational development, wellbeing, and compliance.

You will have a unique opportunity to shape excellent people services across the trust. This role involves working with our newly appointed Executive Director of Trust Services to develop and implement the Trust's People Strategy, ensuring it aligns with the Trust's mission, values and strategic priorities.

The ideal candidate will hold a CIPD Level 7 qualification (or equivalent), or significant experience at a senior HR professional level.

Do you…

• Have proven experience in a senior people advisory or business partnering role
• Have experience of leading and line-managing or coaching people colleagues
• Have experience managing complex employee relations cases through to successful resolution
• Have experience of working with trade unions
• Have a passion for people and are driven to deliver excellence in the service provided to schools and colleagues

If so, we would really welcome your application.

What the school offers its staff

In return you will receive:

• A supportive working environment that puts people at the heart of the organisation
• The opportunity to work as part of a growing Trust and shape this role
• Continuous professional development
• A range of Trust initiatives that improve wellbeing. Current initiatives include an annual wellbeing day
• National Terms and Conditions of Employment
• Teachers' Pension Scheme/ Local Government Pension Scheme

Employee welfare package through Education Mutual including:

• 24-hour GP access
• Nurse support service
• Mental health services, including stress management, mental health first aid training and bereavement support
• Free Flu vaccinations
• Counselling Services
• Physiotherapy
• Financial wellbeing coaching
• Maternity and Paternity support
• Menopause support
• Access to useful wellbeing resources

Employee benefits package through Vivup including:

• Cycle to work scheme
• Lifestyle savings including discounts on shops, food and drink and days out

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment. Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance. Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant): childcare disqualification, Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), medical, online and social media prohibition, from teaching, right to work, satisfactory references, suitability to work with children. You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Apply for this job

#s1-Gen

We are looking for an experienced professional as you will operate as a senior people professional within the Trust. You will act as a trusted adviser to leaders, providing advice and expertise in workforce planning, employee relations, organisational development, wellbeing, and compliance. You will have a unique opportunity to shape excellent people services across the trust. This role involves working with our newly appointed Executive Director of Trust Services to develop and implement the Trust's People Strategy, ensuring it aligns with the Trust's mission, values and strategic priorities. The ideal candidate will hold a CIPD Level 7 qualification (or equivalent), or significant experience at a senior HR professional level. Do you…

• Have proven experience in a senior people advisory or business partnering role
• Have experience of leading and line-managing or coaching people colleagues.
• Have experience managing complex employee relations cases through to successful resolution.
• Have experience of working with trade unions
• Have a passion for people and are driven to deliver excellence in the service provided to schools and colleagues
  
  Northern Lights Learning Trust are seeking to appoint to this newly created role of Head of People. You will lead the people service in a friendly, supportive and forward-thinking Academy Trust. The role will be based at the Trust Central Offices in Seaham.
  
  What the school offers its staff
In return you will receive:
• A supportive working environment that puts people at the heart of the organisation
• The opportunity to work as part of a growing Trust and shape this role
• Continuous professional development
• A range of Trust initiatives that improve wellbeing. Current initiatives include an annual wellbeing day
• National Terms and Conditions of Employment
• Teachers' Pension Scheme/ Local Government Pension Scheme
Employee welfare package through Education Mutual including:
• 24-hour GP access
• Nurse support service
• Mental health services, including stress management, mental health first aid training and bereavement support
• Free Flu vaccinations
• Counselling Services
• Physiotherapy
• Financial wellbeing coaching
• Maternity and Paternity support
• Menopause support
• Access to useful wellbeing resources
Employee benefits package through Vivup including:
• Cycle to work scheme
• Lifestyle savings including discounts on shops, food and drink and days out
Commitment to safeguarding