Head of People at Brunel's SS Great Britain

Role Title: Head of People

Reports to: Director of Development

Contract Type: Permanent, full-time (36.25 hours per week)

Salary: £42,000 – £44,000

The SS Great Britain Trust is a pioneering and ambitious organisation with a proud history and a bold future. Our people – our staff and volunteers – are at the heart of everything we do, shaping visitor experiences, safeguarding heritage, and ensuring we deliver on our mission. We are seeking a strategic, empathetic, and visionary Head of People to join our senior leadership team. This is not just a role about HR systems and compliance; it’s about shaping our culture, championing inclusion, and ensuring every person who works with us feels valued, supported and able to thrive.

This is an exciting moment to join us. Working alongside the CEO and leadership colleagues, you will play a central role in building organisational resilience, leading change, and ensuring the Trust continues to be an inspiring and supportive place to work.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Strategy

• Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO, senior leadership team and Board on all people-related matters.
• Shape and deliver the Trust’s People strategy, aligning it with organisational priorities.
• Contribute actively to the senior leadership team, helping set the overall strategic direction of the Trust.
• Champion an inclusive, collaborative, high-performing culture that reflects our values and ambitions.

People & Culture

• Lead the full People function: recruitment, retention, performance management, learning and development, and employee relations.
• Embed diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) at every level of the organisation.
• Ensure all colleagues have access to training, development and wellbeing support that enables them to perform at their best.
• Provide expert guidance to managers, building their confidence and capability in managing their teams.

People Operations

• Oversee accurate and timely payroll, pensions and benefits administration.
• Ensure effective use of HR systems and data, enabling informed decision-making and efficient processes.
• Maintain the Employee Handbook and People policies in line with current legislation.
• Support managers with formal People processes such as grievance, capability and disciplinary cases.
• Safeguard confidentiality and data protection across all People and volunteering records.
• Although this is a standalone People role, you won’t be alone, you’ll have the support of an
  external People consultancy providing advice on employment practices.

Team Leadership

• Lead, inspire and develop the people you work with, creating a positive, collaborative and high-performing environment.
• Promote cross-team working across the organisation, role-modelling openness, trust and accountability.

Person Specification

Essential

• Proven experience in senior-level People leadership, with both strategic and operational impact.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement people strategies that deliver cultural and organisational change.
• Build and embed a new performance management process, where everybody is confident in their abilities to give and receive feedback, set meaningful goals, and have honest conversations about performance.
• Knowledge of People policies, procedures and employment law.
• Exceptional communication and influencing skills, able to build trust at all levels, including Board and external stakeholders.
• Strong leadership skills: collaborative, empathetic, decisive and resilient.
• Ability to balance detail and compliance with a big-picture, people-centred vision.
• Attention to detail when it comes to numbers and payroll are really important.
• High levels of emotional intelligence, diplomacy and discretion.

Desirable

• CIPD qualification.
• Experience of working in a charity, heritage, or visitor attraction environment.
• Knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing the charity and cultural sector.

Staff Benefits

• 23 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays
• Stakeholder Pension of 5%
• Health cash plan after completion of probation service
• Death in Service – 2 times annual salary from start date
• Free tickets to other attractions
• 25% discount off Restaurant and Shop
• Cycle Scheme and Tech Scheme
• Family Friendly policies
• Hybrid working

How to Apply

Please see further details at Head of People - SS Great Britain. Please download an application form by clicking here. Send your completed application form to jobs@ssgreatbritain.org by the deadline advertised below.

Closing date for applications:  12pm, Monday 6th October 2025

Interview date:  Interviews will be held on site on Monday 13th October 2025

SS Great Britain is committed to diversifying our audiences and workforce. We actively encourage applications from candidates from groups under-represented in our organisation including; Black, Asian and minority ethnic, Disabled people. All full-time posts can be considered for job share.