Overview
We are seeking a Head of People & Culture for UK to lead the People agenda across our UK schools, working closely with school leaders and the Group People team.
This is a hands-on, operational leadership role, with responsibility for coordinating People activity across multiple school sites, including payroll, employee relations, recruitment and compliance.
The role requires proven experience in education environments and confidence operating in a multi-site context, ensuring consistency, legal compliance and strong day-to-day delivery while supporting change and growth.
Key Responsibilities
Payroll & HR Administration
- Oversee and centralise payroll processes across schools, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
- Act as the operational owner of UK payroll, working directly with providers and Finance.
- Maintain employee records and ensure adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.
Recruitment & Staffing
- Lead recruitment processes for school and central roles, from advertising to onboarding.
- Lead recruitment within a schools / education context, ensuring safer recruitment standards are consistently applied.
- Build strong pipelines of talent and support school leaders with staffing needs.
People Budgets
- Prepare, manage and monitor HR budgets across schools.
- Work with Finance to ensure efficient cost management and resource allocation.
Talent & Performance Management
- Lead the annual talent review process.
- Develop training and professional development initiatives to support staff growth.
- Support school leaders with performance management processes.
Employee Engagement & Culture
- Implement and manage the annual employee survey.
- Analyse results and support action plans to improve engagement and retention.
Labour Relations & Compliance
- Manage employee relations, advising school leaders on best practice.
- Act as the primary contact for legal and regulatory HR matters.
- Ensure full compliance with safeguarding, safer recruitment and education-specific requirements across all schools.
Person Specification
- Significant HR leadership experience within education (schools, academies, multi-academy trusts or similar), coordinating multiple sites.
- Proven hands-on experience overseeing UK payroll.
- Strong knowledge of UK employment law within education environments.
- Confidence operating in a hands-on, operational role supporting school leaders.
- Demonstrated experience in talent management, staff development and employee relations.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
- CIPD Level 7 preferred.
- Minimum of 8 years’ HR experience, ideally in education or a multi-site organisation.
What We Offer
- Opportunity to shape the People agenda across a growing group of schools.
- A collaborative and supportive environment within an international education group.
- Competitive salary and benefits package, aligned with experience and qualifications.
- Hybrid working model, with regular presence across UK schools.
Safeguarding Statement:
ICS London has a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and as such this post holds safeguarding responsibilities. This post is defined as regulated activity and all appointments are subject to Enhanced DBS checks/Overseas Police Checks and Prohibition check, Overseas Teaching Sanctions check, Disqualification from childcare check ( if applicable). Online checks will be carried out on all shortlisted candidates and candidates will be asked to talk through their applications during the interview, including periods when they were not working. ICS London is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from under represented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation or religion. This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.