Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust
Chief People Officer
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Chief People Officer
Salary: £125,000 – £145,000
Location: Sutton, with travel across the Trust
About Orchard Hill College Academy Trust
Orchard Hill College Academy Trust (OHCAT) is a family of specialist academies supporting pupils with special educational needs and disabilities across London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. The Trust operates 13 special schools, supporting over 2,000 learners with a wide range of needs, including autism, speech, language and communication difficulties, social, emotional and mental health needs, and complex physical and learning disabilities.
OHCAT was established under the sponsorship of Orchard Hill College (OHC), a specialist further education provider with a long-standing reputation for excellence in supporting learners with severe, profound and complex needs.
As both organisations have matured and expanded, governance and leadership arrangements are evolving to reflect their respective scale and ambitions, with a move toward dedicated executive leadership for each, underpinned by a formal partnership agreement that will sustain the collaboration, shared learning, and mutual support that have defined their relationship.
The Role
This is a pivotal moment for OHCAT, and an exciting opportunity for an exceptional Chief People Officer to help shape the next phase of its development. Reporting to the Chief Executive and sitting on the Executive Senior Leadership Team, you will lead OHCAT’s People agenda at a time of significant organisational change. You will help build the culture, leadership capability and workforce needed to deliver the Trust’s Strategy to 2030, ensuring OHCAT continues to attract, develop and retain exceptional people.
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Key Responsibilities
- Organisational Transformation: Oversee and lead organisational transformation initiatives.
- Workforce Strategy: Develop and implement workforce strategies.
- Talent Management: Oversee talent acquisition and development.
- Culture and Engagement: Foster a positive and engaging workplace culture.
- Reward and HR Services: Manage HR services for the Trust and Orchard Hill College.
- Leadership: Be a key driver of OHCAT’s ‘One Trust’ ambition.
Required Experience and Skills
- Strategic and values-led People leader.
- Experience working across a large, multi-site organisation.
- Strong track record of leading change.
- Experience in shaping and delivering workforce and talent strategies.
- Ability to build strong relationships with senior leaders and Boards.
- Strong judgement, resilience, and the ability to bring people with you.
- Genuine connection to OHCAT’s mission and values.
Experience in education, not-for-profit or the wider public sector would be welcome, but we are equally interested in candidates from other purpose-led organisations who can bring relevant insight and experience to the role.
How to Apply
Applications should consist of:
- A full CV.
- A Covering Letter (maximum of two pages) outlining your motivations to apply for this role, your relevant experience and how you meet the criteria of the person specification.
- Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form and Candidate Supporting Information Form (to be completed on the Veredus online application portal).
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Further Information
For a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultants at Veredus:
- Nataliya Starik-Bludova: nataliya.starik-bludova@veredus.co.uk
- Reece D’Alanno: Reece.DAlanno@veredus.co.uk
Closing Date: 16th October 2026
Safeguarding Statement
Orchard Hill College Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
In line with the statutory guidance in Keeping Children Safe in Education, the Trust will request and review references and carry out online searches on shortlisted candidates prior to interview as part of our safer recruitment process. Any concerns raised will be followed up with the applicant before a recruitment decision is made.
Disability Confident Statement
Orchard Hill College Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.
Orchard Hill College Academy Trust endeavours to make any necessary reasonable adjustments to the job and working environment to enable access to employment opportunities for disabled job applicants or continued employment for any employee who develops a disabling condition.
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