People Services Team Lead (REQ0116)


Company:	Coastland College
Salary:	from £31,363 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Dorset, DT4 7LQ
Working pattern:	On-site
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	25 Sept 2026
Closing date:	6 Oct 2026

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Summary

Lead Operational Excellence. Strengthen Compliance. Shape the Employee Experience.

At Coastland College, our people are at the heart of everything we do.

We are investing in our people, culture and capability to create an exceptional place to work, learn and grow. We believe that by supporting our colleagues to thrive, we can inspire excellence in every learner, strengthen our communities and help shape a confident, resilient and future-ready Dorset.

We are looking for an exceptional People Services Team Lead to join our People Team and play a key role in delivering a modern, customer-focused and compliant People Service across the College.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity to lead the operational delivery of People Services at Coastland College.

The People Services Team Lead will be responsible for leading and developing the People Services Team, ensuring the highest standards of customer service, compliance, accuracy and operational efficiency.

You will oversee the delivery of employee lifecycle administration, safer recruitment, safeguarding compliance, workforce administration, policy implementation and payroll-related processes, ensuring managers and colleagues receive an excellent service.

This role is central to strengthening governance, improving processes, embedding consistency and creating a People Service that supports both organisational success and an outstanding employee experience.

What You'll Be Doing

As the People Services Team Lead, you will:

Lead, coach and develop the People Services Team, creating a culture of high performance, continuous improvement and excellent customer service.

Oversee the delivery of employee lifecycle processes, ensuring all contractual changes, probation reviews, onboarding, fixed-term contracts and leaver processes are managed accurately and efficiently.

Ensure all payroll-related employee changes are processed accurately, fully authorised and submitted within agreed payroll deadlines.

Take operational ownership of safeguarding compliance, including the management and maintenance of the Single Central Record (SCR).

Lead and monitor safer recruitment processes, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements and College policies.

Support the implementation, communication and ongoing review of People policies, procedures and guidance.

Drive service excellence by continually reviewing customer service standards, operational performance and the overall employee experience.

Monitor compliance, workforce administration processes and audit requirements, ensuring records remain accurate, compliant and audit-ready.

Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes and ways of working, supporting a modern and efficient People Service.

Produce and analyse workforce metrics, compliance reports and management information to support operational decision-making.

Build strong working relationships with People Partners, Finance colleagues and managers across the College to deliver a joined-up approach to people management.

Support the development of a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture that reflects the College's values.

Oversee the management of the HR and Recruitment inboxes, ensuring colleagues, managers and candidates receive a responsive, professional and customer-focused service.

Establish, monitor and continuously improve service standards, ensuring enquiries and employee lifecycle transactions are completed accurately and within agreed timescales.

Oversee the coordination of induction programmes, mandatory training requirements and workforce compliance activities, ensuring colleagues are supported from day one.

Lead operational compliance activities and support internal and external audits, inspections and quality assurance reviews.

Act as the key operational contact for People Services, ensuring consistency, professionalism and high-quality service delivery across the College.

What We Offer

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 30 days with service (pro-rata for part-time roles).

Additional College efficiency closure days at Christmas and Easter.

Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), providing generous employer contributions and long-term financial security.

Ongoing learning and development opportunities, including CPD, professional qualifications and career development support.

Free access to our Employee Assistance Programme, providing 24/7 confidential counselling, wellbeing support, financial advice and legal guidance.

Free eye tests through our corporate eyecare scheme.

Access to Blue Light Card discounts and a wide range of employee savings, discounts and wellbeing benefits.

Free staff parking on both College campuses.

Free access to our on-campus gym facilities.

Staff discounts across College facilities, including Hair & Beauty treatments, dining experiences and theatre performances.

Access to cafés and catering facilities across both campuses, including Coastland Coffee at our Weymouth Campus.

Family-friendly policies and flexible working opportunities where business needs allow.

A supportive, inclusive and values-driven culture where colleagues are encouraged to contribute, innovate and succeed.

The opportunity to work across two unique campuses: our vibrant coastal campus in Weymouth and the stunning historic estate at Kingston Maurward.

Safeguarding

Coastland College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Successful applicants will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check as part of our safer recruitment procedures.

Ready to Apply?

If you are passionate about people, operational excellence, compliance and leadership, and want to help shape a high-performing People function, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and help create an exceptional place to work, learn and thrive.

Applications will be reviewed and shortlisted as they are received. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if suitable candidates are identified, therefore early applications are encouraged.

Interview Dates: Week commencing 19 October 2026, although interviews may be brought forward where suitable candidates are identified.

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