Trust Deputy Lead for People & Culture

maryroseacademy; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational trust in Portsmouth is seeking a Trust Deputy Lead for People & Culture. The role involves providing strategic leadership to the HR team and ensuring effective employee relations within the trust. You will guide policies and practices based on a strong relational culture. This position offers excellent professional development and a supportive workplace, alongside a full benefits package including pension and insurance schemes while fostering wellbeing within the team.

Benefits

Professional development opportunities

Life Insurance

Local Government Pension Scheme

Wellbeing Inset Day

Employee Referral Scheme

Qualifications

• Strong leadership skills and ability to manage complex casework.
• Expert judgement and compassion in employee relations.
• Commitment to fostering a relational culture.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise the HR team.
• Provide advice on employee relations matters.
• Ensure adherence to policies reflecting relational culture.

Skills

Leadership

Expertise in Employee Relations

Effective Communication

Education

Experience in HR roles

Job description

Are you passionate about people, relationships, and creating environments where everyone can thrive? Do you believe that a strong, relational culture is the foundation of a successful organisation? If so, we would love to hear from you.

Personal attributes

Solent Academies Trust is seeking a Trust Deputy Lead for People & Culture to play a key strategic and operational role in shaping an exceptional staff experience across our family of academies.

Working closely with the Executive Lead for People & Culture, you will provide strong, credible leadership across the Trust’s HR and recruitment functions. You will lead and supervise the HR team, modelling our values and ensuring that our people policies, processes and approaches consistently reflect the principles of our Relational Culture Charter, where trusting relationships sit at the heart of everything we do.

This role requires a leader who is confident in managing complex and sensitive casework, offering clear professional judgement, compassion, and resilience. You will provide expert advice on employee relations matters, ensuring that issues are handled fairly, consistently, and in line with employment legislation and best practice, while maintaining dignity and respect for all involved.

At Solent Academies Trust, we are proud to be a community built on connection, respect, and belonging.

Our Relational Culture Charter guides us to work together and support each other through:

• Effective Communication
• High Challenge & High Support to Empower
• Respect for All
• Solution-Focused Approaches

We believe that when relationships thrive, people thrive — and so do the children and young people we serve.

Salary & Benefits

Full time 37 hrs 52 weeks

Band 11

By joining Solent Academies Trust, we offer you:

• Excellent staff induction with a commitment to high quality professional development aligned in relational leadership and HR excellence.
• A culture rooted in relational practice, belonging, and wellbeing
• A workplace where your values, voice, and contribution truly matter
• Local Government Pension Scheme with the option of a 50/50 contribution to build over time
• Life Insurance - 3 times annual salary (for members of the pension scheme)
• Wellbeing Inset Day to support the wellbeing of our staff
• Free onsite parking at most of our academies
• Increase of annual leave after 5 years of service from 27 to 31 days
• CPD opportunities to support Career development
• Employee Referral Scheme
• Employee Benefits Platform

Location

Solent Academies Trust
Northarbour Road
Portsmouth
Hampshire
PO6 3TH

Please note we will only accept applications completed on our Solent Academies Trust form.

Closing date for applications is Monday 12 th January 9am.

Interviews will be held on Wednesday 21 st January 2026.

Equal opportunities

Solent Academies Trust welcome applications regardless of age, gender, ethnicity or religion. Only applications submitted on the academy’s application form will be accepted Solent Academies are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. All successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service checks along with other relevant employment checks.