Director of People and Culture

Totalwellnessacupuncture; Greater London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading independent school in Greater London is seeking a Director of People and Culture to lead its people strategy. You will have a strategic role within the Senior Leadership Team, focusing on cultural transformation and fostering inclusive workplaces. The ideal candidate will be an accomplished HR leader with a strong background in education and people management, committed to aligning the people function with the School’s vision and values. Application deadline is February 6th.

Qualifications

• Accomplished HR leader with clarity of purpose and strategic insight.
• Experience in education and cultural transformation is valued.
• Ability to partner with diverse stakeholders at senior levels.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership of the people function and align with the School’s vision.
• Be a senior member of the leadership team, reporting to the Head.
• Lead cultural transformation and foster high-performance workplaces.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Cultural transformation

Inclusive workplaces

Job description

Overview

Latymer Upper School is seeking an outstanding Director of People and Culture to lead and shape their people strategy at a pivotal point in the School’s development. A full member of the Senior Leadership Team, this is a senior, strategic role offering the opportunity to have a significant impact within one of the UK’s most successful academically ambitious and values-led independent schools.

Latymer’s story spans more than 400 years. The Latymer Foundation was established in 1624 when Edward Latymer, a lawyer and philanthropist, endowed funds to provide clothing and education to “eight poore boyes” of Hammersmith. That ethos of social inclusivity and educational excellence remains central to who they are today. Latymer Upper School, based in Hammersmith since 1895, is now a leading co-educational independent day school educating around 1,400 pupils aged 11–18, supported by an exceptional prep school and a staff community of over 350 professionals. They are known for their intellectual rigour, inclusive ethos and strong commitment to social mobility, and through their Inspiring Minds bursary campaign, they have one of the most ambitious bursary programmes in the sector.

They are also at the forefront of educational innovation. From 2027, Latymer will replace traditional GCSEs with a bespoke Middle School curriculum designed to develop deep critical thinking, creativity, resilience and collaboration, preparing students for advanced study and life-long learning.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership of the people function and ensure the People Strategy aligns with Latymer’s vision and values, supporting organisational excellence and innovation.
• Be a senior member of the leadership team, reporting to the Head and partnering with Governors and leaders across the School.
• Lead cultural transformation, shape forward-looking people strategies, and foster inclusive, high-performance workplaces.
• Oversee and develop the people function to enable staff development, professional growth and wellbeing in a dynamic school environment.
• Contribute to embedding new pedagogical approaches and strengthening the School’s reputation for academic ambition and social impact.

Qualifications

• Accomplished HR leader who can bring clarity of purpose, strategic insight and operational credibility to the people agenda.
• Experience in education is valued; the School is particularly interested in candidates with a track record of leading cultural transformation and shaping forward-looking people strategies.
• Ability to foster inclusive, high-performance workplaces and partner with diverse stakeholders at senior levels.

Application and data privacy

To download further information on the role or to apply, please visit the Latymer/Perrett Laver portal quoting “8235”. The deadline for applications is 08:30 GMT on Friday 6th February. The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, online check and two satisfactory references. Perrett Laver will process your data as a Data Controller and Data Processor, with processing based on legitimate interests. You have rights to object to processing. For more information about data protection and privacy, please visit www.perrettlaver.com/information/privacy/