No candidate will meet every single desired qualification / criteria. If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to learn more about you!

Are you ready to transform the way people thrive in education? Abingdon & Witney College is searching for a visionary People Services Director to take the helm of our HR function and drive bold, strategic initiatives that power our mission and values.

This is more than a leadership role—it’s your chance to shape culture, inspire innovation, and create impact across a dynamic organisation of 750 talented staff and a £40m turnover. If you’re passionate about people and performance, this is where you belong.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead with purpose: Own the HR strategy across recruitment, talent, performance, payroll, and compliance.
• Drive transformation: Champion operational excellence and spearhead digital innovation.
• Elevate wellbeing: Build a workplace where people feel safe, supported, and empowered.
• Influence at the top: Collaborate with senior leaders to deliver a game-changing People Strategy.
• Show results: Manage budgets and report key people KPIs to the Corporation Board.
• Champion inclusion: Make diversity, equity, and belonging a lived reality across the College.

What You’ll Bring:

• CIPD Level 7 and proven senior HR leadership experience.
• Expertise in employment law, safeguarding, and HR best practice.
• A track record of delivering organisational change and engagement strategies.
• Strong influencing skills and confidence to lead at every level.
• Experience in digital HR transformation and multi-site operations.
• Knowledge of governance and reporting in education or public sector settings.

This is your opportunity to lead, innovate, and make a lasting impact.

If you’re ready to take the reins and shape the future of People Services, apply now and let’s make it happen!

Why Work with us:

Excellent benefits for our employees including generous pension and holiday schemes (with potential Christmas closure days), continued professional development, flexible working options, corporate gym membership, cycle/tech scheme and much more.

*Abingdon and Witney College reserve the right to close all applications before posted closing date.

AWC values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community. We are committed to safeguarding and expect all our employees and volunteers to share this commitment. We are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and all appointments are subject to satisfactory clearances including enhanced DBS checks.

Abingdon and Witney College are committed to safer recruitment practices. In addition to our pre-employment checks, we will conduct an online search. This includes checking Google main results feed as well as the ‘News’ and ‘Images’ tab. We will be checking for any publicly available information that suggests the applicant may not be suitable to work with children or young/vulnerable people or content that could potentially damage Abingdon and Witney College’s reputation. This may include inappropriate posts, comments or images displaying evidence of offensive or inappropriate behaviour, jokes or language, discriminatory comments, inappropriate photos, drug or alcohol misuse.