Deputy Head of People


Company:	South Devon College
Salary:	£34,481 to £39,360 a year
Hours:	Full-time
Location:	Paignton, TQ4 7EJ
Working pattern:	On-site
Job type:	Permanent
Posting date:	9 Oct 2026
Closing date:	1 Nov 2026

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Summary

Salary: £34,481 to £39,360 per annum. Plus excellent Benefits

Contract Type: Full Time, 37 Hours per Week, 52 Weeks per year

Location: Paignton, Devon

Help Shape the Future of Our People Strategy

South Devon College is seeking an experienced and proactive Deputy Head of People to join our People Team at an exciting time of development and growth.

Reporting directly to the Head of People, you will play a key role in delivering the College's People Strategy, providing expert HR advice and supporting leaders across the organisation. This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled HR professional looking to take the next step in their career within a values-led and ambitious educational environment.

About the Role

As Deputy Head of People, you will act as the deputy to the Head of People across all People functions, supporting both strategic initiatives and operational excellence.

You will:

Provide expert advice and guidance to managers on a broad range of employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, performance, probation and attendance management.

Support the development and implementation of the College's People Strategy.

Lead and improve People processes, systems and customer service delivery.

Supervise Senior People Administrators and support the wider People Team.

Build strong relationships with leaders and managers across the College.

Lead and contribute to key People projects and organisational initiatives.

Produce management reports, statutory returns and workforce data.

Support compliance activities including safeguarding, safer recruitment and maintenance of the Single Central Record.

Manage mandatory training programmes and key employee lifecycle processes.

About You

We are looking for a confident and knowledgeable HR professional who can balance strategic thinking with a hands-on approach.

Why Join South Devon College?

At South Devon College, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating an inclusive, supportive and ambitious environment where colleagues can thrive and make a real difference to learners and the wider community.

You'll join a collaborative team that values innovation, continuous improvement and professional development, whilst enjoying the opportunity to influence and shape the future of our People services.

In return, you can expect access to an exciting range of training, apprenticeship and opportunities for degree level study alongside your work to keep you at the top of your game, as well as generous holiday allowance of 27 days pro rata and a strong emphasis on work-life balance.

Our staff are integral to maintaining our passion and high-performance levels, and we reward our staff for this. Our benefits are designed to encourage a healthy work-life balance, and include:

27 days annual leave (pro-rata if fractional) including the option to purchase additional holiday days;

1 additional day’s holiday for your birthday (does not have to be used on your birthday);

1 additional day’s holiday for every 5 years served;

Christmas Closure of up to 2 weeks in addition to annual leave entitlement;

Access to a wealth of training, apprenticeships and funded higher education opportunities as well as dedicated training days;

Local Government Pension Scheme Employer pension contributions of 15.1%;

Hybrid and flexible working patterns;

Subsidised fitness suite facility, onsite hair and beauty salon, access to a wide range of catering facilities, outdoor gym and free eyesight tests;

Major supermarket and high street employee discount schemes;

Life Assurance (if member of pension scheme);

On Site Nursery (Mama Bears);

Employee Assistance Programmes;

Access to Blue Light Card membership;

Discounted travel schemes.

Apply Now

If you are an experienced People professional looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a significant impact within a forward-thinking College, we'd love to hear from you.

Closing Date: Midnight, Sunday 1st November 2026

Interview Date: TBC

For a full Job Description and Person Specification please click here.

To apply and for a full job description please visit the Jobs page of the South Devon College website www.southdevon.ac.uk/jobs. Please do NOT send CVs, we only accept applications via the relevant form on our dedicated recruitment website.

We offer hybrid and flexible working patterns and welcome applications from people who wish to apply using these options.

Please note that you will be required to be in possession of an Enhanced DBS Certificate or be willing to undertake an Enhanced DBS check as a condition of employment at the College.

This College is committed to Safeguarding/Prevent and promoting the welfare of students, including children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

The College is committed to applying its Single Equality Scheme at all stages of recruitment and selection. Shortlisting, interviewing and selection will always be carried out without regard to gender, transgender status, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, colour, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion/belief, age, pregnancy or maternity leave, or union membership.

Reasonable attempts will be made to accommodate the particular needs of any candidate who has notified us of a disability. This may include changing the timing or location of any interview to enable the candidate to attend, providing information in different formats or larger type, etc.

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare any cautions, convictions, reprimands and final warnings that are not protected (i.e. that are not filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013 and 2020).

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