Head Of People

At the heart of our organisation are our people — and as Head of People, you will play a defining role in ensuring they are supported, valued and empowered to thrive.

Reporting to the People Director, you will lead the delivery of our People and Recruitment Strategies, shaping a culture where fairness, respect and inclusion are embedded in everything we do. This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role with real influence across the business.

You will lead and inspire the People Team across the full employee lifecycle — from attracting and recruiting high-calibre talent at volume, to ensuring colleagues are effectively managed, developed and supported throughout their careers with us. Your leadership will ensure we build a workplace where performance and wellbeing go hand in hand.

Due to the early stages of this business, this role is incredibly broad. The Head of People will need to balance the delivery of the people strategy alongside core operational day to day deliverables. The ability to switch between all elements of this function will be key in helping us and our people grow over the coming years.

Duties include:

•  Managing the People Team to ensure all Employee Relations (ER) cases are handled in a consistent, fair, and timely manner, adhering to employment law and regulatory requirement.
• Chairing weekly ER Case meetings with People and Operations Management teams to ensure alignment and compliance with SPS policies and industrial regulations
•  Working with the People Director to draw up an effective recruitment strategy to meet the business needs and support the People Strategy.
• Working with the Learning and Development Manager to ensure all colleagues receive the necessary training to perform their roles effectively
• Working with the Somerset based people team to ensure the weekly payroll process is manage
• Providing support to the Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) team, ensuring they have the resources and training required to offer appropriate support to colleagues
• Managing the implementation of Colleague Survey departmental action plans, ensuring line managers take ownership and deliver meaningful improvement
• Maintain regular interaction with Trade Union representatives to foster positive relationships and ensure early intervention in potential disputes
•  Driving equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) initiatives across the organisation fostering an inclusive workplace culture
• Supporting the People Director to deliver our Social Value responsibilities
• Ensuring GDPR processes are robust and compliant across the business
• Policy creation and updates to ensure these are compliant and communicated 
• Supporting the People Director to ensure all terms and conditions, IR agreements and employment legislation is up to date and in place
• Ensuring performance reviews and objectives are in place and well managed at all levels.

Experience required:

Essential:

• A flexible approach to working hours as we are a 24/7 business.
• Trade Union Relations
• GDPR and Privacy laws and processes
•  Up to date and future Employment Law knowledge
•   At least 3 years in a People/HR role or transferrable equivalent
• Driving licence
• Knowledge of HR systems (Workday is being launched March/April 26)
•  ER Case Management

Desirable:

• Occupational Health management
• Colleague Survey implementation and outcomes
• Performance Management systems and activities
• Payroll
• Social Value 
•  Knowledge of the transport sector
•  CIPD Level 5
• Apprenticeship programmes and levy.

Please note - All employees must be willing to undergo Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) and obtain a DBS certificate. This standard is designed to provide a level of assurance as to the honesty, integrity and values of individuals who are required to work at a Nuclear Licenced Site, or who may have access to sensitive nuclear information.

SPS welcomes applications from a diverse range of candidates regardless of background, gender, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation or age.