Head of HR (People and Culture)
| Company: | The Society of St James |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £46,000 to £50,000 a year |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | Southampton, SO14 3FR |
| Working pattern: | On-site |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Posting date: | 20 Oct 2026 |
| Closing date: | 16 Nov 2026 |
Summary
Head of (HR) People and Culture (Maternity Cover)
Southampton/Hybrid – with travel across Hampshire to SSJ operational sites
Salary: £46,000 – £50,000 per annum (depending on experience)
Hours: Part time 30 hours or full time 37 hours
Contract Type: Fixed Term (Maternity Cover, up to 12 months)
About the Society of St James (SSJ)
The Society of St James is a leading Hampshire-based homelessness charity delivering housing, care, and support services to vulnerable adults across the region. We are passionate about empowering individuals to overcome challenges related to homelessness, addiction, mental health, and social exclusion, creating lasting positive change in our communities.
About the Role
Are you an experienced operational HR leader looking to make a real impact in the charity and supported housing sector?
We are seeking a Head of People and Culture to provide senior operational leadership across our HR and People function during a period of maternity leave. Working closely with the Executive Director of People and Culture, you will play a vital role in translating our strategic goals into smooth, high-quality, day-to-day HR operations.
In this hands-on leadership post, you will lead an established operational team to deliver responsive employee relations guidance, talent acquisition, policy implementation, compliance management, and payroll integrations across SSJ.
You will report to the Executive Director of People and Culture and be accountable for the Training Manager, People & Culture Advisors, and the People & Culture Admin.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership: Lead and manage the operational People and Culture team (Advisors, Administrators, and Training Lead), embedding high standards of service delivery.
Employee Relations & Advisory: Oversee complex employee relations casework, formal disciplinaries, grievances, absence management, and trade union consultations.
Recruitment & Onboarding: Manage day-to-day talent acquisition workflows, values-based recruitment, and pre-employment compliance checks.
Policy & Compliance Assurance: Ensure strict operational compliance with UK employment law, Right to Work, DBS standards, CQC requirements, and GDPR.
Systems & Payroll Integration: Oversee HRIS operations, produce operational workforce metrics, and manage monthly payroll data coordination with Finance.
Change Management: Support service managers through organisational change, restructuring, and TUPE transfers.
What We Offer
Competitive salary of £46,000 – £50,000 per annum.
Generous annual leave and sick pay, employer pension, salary sacrifice, flexible working.
Up to 12 months fixed-term contract offering senior leadership experience in a values-driven organisation.
A supportive, collaborative working environment working directly alongside the Executive Director.
The opportunity to shape workplace culture and support teams making a genuine difference to vulnerable people.
How to Apply
SSJ are an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applicants from all backgrounds and walks of life.
If you are an energetic, strategic-minded operational HR specialist looking for a rewarding interim role, we would love to hear from you.
To apply, please submit your CV and a supporting statement detailing how your experience meets the person specification.
We do reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the advertised end date.
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