Purpose of the role:
The Head of People will lead the day-to-day delivery of People operations, developing a short-term strategy alongside the SLT of Opera North and utilising the strong People team resources across the Company to translate this into the delivery of practical, high-quality services. Working closely with the General Deputy Director, the postholder will drive compliance, deliver strategic initiatives through practical people practitioner skills, and oversee the development of HRIS systems, policies, and processes that enable colleagues and managers to thrive.
Critical to success in this role is the ability to work autonomously, having meticulous attention to detail, with HR Project management skills to turn strategic aims into practical deliverables.
Key Accountabilities:
Leadership & Management
- Lead and support a small HR team, including 2 x Senior HR Advisors and a People Assistant ensuring effective performance, development, and well-being of the team.
- Devise and translate the People Strategy into practical operational delivery, aligning day-to-day activities with long-term organisational goals.
- Be the lead contact for the People team.
Operational HR
- Manage day-to-day whole life cycle HR service delivery, ensuring responsive, professional, and customer-focused support for managers and employees.
- Create and implement effective SLA’s for the team to deliver against, and engage stakeholders accordingly to champion change in skills and behaviours.
- Partner with the Senior Leadership team, providing support and guidance, and ensuring the Senior HR Advisers are partnering effectively with their respective areas.
- Provide expert advice on employee relations, performance, absence management, and organisational change, both to the Senior Leadership Team and coaching of the People Team.
- Oversee compliant HR policy development, review, and implementation, ensuring best practice and legal compliance along with appropriate stakeholder engagement to ensure continuous change for the overall improvement of the Company.
- Lead on the practical delivery of EDI and Staff Forum initiatives, ensuring that ON is welcoming and collaborative and is seen to be actively living the behaviours that underpin the Values of the organisation.
Compliance & Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with employment law, regulatory requirements, and internal policies.
- Proactively identify areas of risk and implement improvements in HR processes and controls.
- Oversee the development of the HRIS software to enable the systemisation of the Payroll function.
Data, Systems & Reporting
- Lead on the continuous improvement of the organisation’s HRIS system.
- Oversee the project management of the HRIS system, its development and roll out to the Company, utilising your expertise in project management skills.
- Analyse workforce data, identify trends, and provide insight to support decision-making.
- Produce regular HR reports and dashboards for senior leadership.
Strategic Support
- Design, plan and deliver the short to medium term People Strategy, alongside the Deputy General Director, and Employee voice advocates.
- Support organisational change initiatives, including workforce planning, restructuring, and culture programmes.
- Contribute to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, embedding inclusive practice across HR policies and processes.
Employee Engagement & Development
- Promote a positive employee experience, contributing to high levels of engagement, well-being, and retention.
- Support learning and development initiatives, ensuring opportunities for continuous professional growth.
- Improve the provision and service delivery levels to stakeholder groups across the Company, making data-led decisions, in consultation with the Deputy General Director and where appropriate the General Director.
Job Requirements:
Experience / skills required:
- Proven experience in an HR management role or equivalent senior advisory role.
- Proven project management skills that drive operational performance
- Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
- Experience managing and developing HR professionals.
- Ability to translate strategy into effective operational delivery.
- Strong employee relations expertise with the ability to influence and coach managers.
- Excellent organisational, analytical, and communication skills.
Functional/ leadership competencies:
- CIPD qualification (Level 7 or equivalent experience).
- Experience within the Arts sector is a distinct advantage
- Track record of leading HR projects that drive cultural and organisational change.
- Experience of HR systems (HRIS) optimisation.
Terms and Conditions:
Contract type: Full-time, permanent
Salary: £50,000
Hours of work: 35 hours per week
Holiday entitlement: 33 days inclusive of 8 statutory holidays, per annum
Pension: Opera North will automatically enroll you into the company pension scheme upon appointment and after 3 months’ service will contribute equivalent to 5.5% of your basic pay, should you meet the current legislative criteria. You will be required to make a personal contribution of 2.5% of your basic pay. We reserve the right to make future changes to our pension arrangements.
Equity, diversity and inclusion: We promote equity, diversity and inclusion in our workplace and make recruitment decisions by matching our needs with the skills and experience of the candidate. As we work to address underrepresentation in our workforce, we are particularly keen to hear from applicants from the global majority or those with other protected characteristics.
The successful candidate must have the right to work in the UK or be ready to obtain it.
General responsibilities of everyone who works for us:
- Represent the company values and purpose to create extraordinary experiences everyday
- Work collaboratively and co-operatively with all team members and take an active part in team meetings and discussions
- Be an ambassador for Opera North and follow our policies and procedures
- Play your part in ensuring that everyone who comes through our door is welcomed and treated with respect
If you need any help completing your application including any adjustments to the application process please contact appointments@operanorth.co.uk to make us aware.
Good luck with your application and we look forward to hearing from you.
