ActionAid UK
Director of People & Organisational Development
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Director of People & Organisational Development
ActionAid UK
Salary: £81,000 - £92,000
Contract: 18-Month Fixed-Term Contract
Hours: Full Time, 35 hours per week (flexible working, condensed hours considered)
Location: Hybrid, London (12 times per year)
Travel: Occasional travel to Chard, Somerset and international travel as required
Help Shape the Future of a Feminist, Anti-Racist Organisation at a Pivotal Moment of Change.
ActionAid UK works alongside women and girls to challenge injustice, shift power and create lasting social change.
We are now seeking an outstanding people leader to join our Executive Leadership Team as our Interim Director of People & Organisational Development.
This is one of the most significant people leadership opportunities in the charity sector today.
Joining during a period of organisational evolution, the postholder will play a central role in shaping the future of ActionAid UK's people, culture and organisational development agenda. Reporting to the Chief Executive, you will provide strategic leadership across people, culture, safeguarding, organisational effectiveness, employee relations and workforce transformation.
This role is offered on an 18-month fixed-term basis and will appeal equally to established HR Directors seeking a high-impact transformation role, experienced interim leaders looking for a substantial change programme, or values-driven executives attracted by the opportunity to shape lasting organisational impact.
The Opportunity
People and culture have never been more important.
As organisations respond to changing workforce expectations, evolving employment landscapes and increasing demands for equity and inclusion, effective people leadership has become a strategic imperative.
This role offers a rare opportunity to influence organisation-wide change at Executive level. Working closely with the Board, Executive Leadership Team, recognised trade union and colleagues across the organisation, you will shape the systems, structures, leadership capability and people practices that will support ActionAid UK's long-term success.
At ActionAid UK, we are building on strong foundations while preparing for the future.
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As Director of People & Organisational Development, you will help lead that journey.
You will join at a pivotal moment as ActionAid UK seeks to:
- Strengthen organisational effectiveness and future-readiness.
- Continue embedding anti-racist and feminist leadership principles across the organisation.
- Develop future workforce and succession plans.
- Review aspects of organisational design and team accountabilities to ensure structures continue to support strategic priorities and effective collaboration.
- Build constructive and effective employee and union relationships.
- Lead the implementation of a more equitable pay framework and help shape future reward approaches that support fairness, transparency and organisational values.
- Modernise people systems, processes and data capability.
- Ensure safeguarding, wellbeing and inclusion remain central to organisational culture.
- Review how the People function is structured to best support the organisation's future needs.
Why Join ActionAid UK?
Alongside the opportunity to influence a significant people and organisational development agenda, this role offers access to a unique professional network within the charity and international development sectors.
Based in central London, ActionAid UK shares office space with colleagues from Amnesty International UK and operates alongside a community of leading NGOs, creating opportunities for collaboration and professional networking. The successful candidate will also work closely with HR and OD leaders across the wider ActionAid Federation and may have the opportunity to participate in international HR leadership forums and global organisational development initiatives.
Who We Are Looking For
We are seeking an experienced and values-led executive who combines strategic insight with strong delivery capability.
You may currently be:
- A Director of People, HR Director or Chief People Officer.
- An Organisational Development or Transformation Director.
- An experienced interim executive with a track record of leading complex change programmes.
- A senior people leader from the charity, public, international development or purpose-led private sector.
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You will bring:
- Significant experience leading people and organisational development functions.
- Experience leading organisational development, workforce planning, service modernisation or organisational design initiatives that improve effectiveness and support long-term strategic objectives.
- Strong employee relations and employment law expertise.
- Strong experience of trade union consultation and negotiation.
- Experience leading reward, workforce planning or pay framework programmes.
- Knowledge of HR systems implementation, integration or transformation.
- A collaborative and inclusive leadership style.
- Deep commitment to feminist principles, anti-racist practice and social justice.
Whether you are an experienced HR Director, Chief People Officer, Organisational Development leader or senior interim executive, this role offers a rare opportunity to leave a lasting organisational legacy while contributing to the mission of a globally recognised women's rights organisation.
How to Apply
The application process is CV and Supporting Statement. In the first instance, please send your up-to-date CV to via the link below for further details about next steps. The closing date is 12 noon on 14th September. The interviews will take place week commencing 28th September.
We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability, and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so we can help make the application process work for you.
Charity People is a forward thinking, inclusive organisation that actively and deliberately promotes equity, diversity and inclusion. We know organisations thrive when inclusion is at the forefront. We evidence our commitment by matching charity needs with the skills and experience of candidates irrespective of background e.g. age, disability (including hidden disabilities), gender, gender identity or gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation. We do this because we believe that greater diversity leads to greater results for the charities we work with.
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