Role overview

The Head of HR is a new role at New Horizon Youth Centre (NHYC). Over the last few years, the organisation and our staff team have grown significantly. To enable us to achieve our mission to give all young people a home, it is crucial that we make a significant shift in our HR and people plans so that staff and managers have all the support they need to succeed in these challenging times. To do so, we need to make a strategic shift with our HR capacity, improve our people systems, and make NHYC a great place to work for our 70+ strong staff team.

You will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer to develop and implement NHYC’s People strategy for 2025-2030, taking on a varied role around key areas of organisational development and HR operations. You will act as the internal HR expert for the organisation, training and developing our team of line managers, advising on complex employee relations cases, and managing any risk or compliance issues around HR policy and employment legislation. You will need to build strong and trusting relationships with staff from across the organisation and act as a key advisor to the Executive Team.

Key details

• Contract type and hours: permanent contract, 25 hours per week Monday - Friday

• Starting salary: £46,800 (salary scale £46,800-£52,000)

• Location: New Horizon Youth Centre, 68 Chalton Street, London, NW1 1JR

• Application deadline: 9am Wednesday 11 February

• How to apply: complete our application form below, submit your CV and write a 2 page cover letter/supporting statement. Please don't include your name or address in your CV or cover letter.

Key objectives:

• To develop and roll out NHYC’s HR and People strategy for 2025-30 in collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer.

• To improve line management capacity and capability, including designing and facilitating a rolling line management training programme and providing ongoing advice and guidance.

• To ensure NHYC remains compliant with relevant HR and People legislation and sector best practice, taking a lead on managing any relevant emerging risks

• To lead on a range of HR functions including recruitment, employee relations, policy implementation and organisational change projects.

Main tasks and responsibilities

Key area

1. Developing and delivering the HR and People strategy for the organisation in collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer. 

2. Providing expert advice and guidance to staff, managers and leadership from across the organisation on a range of HR topics.

3. Providing case management for complex HR matters, including participation in relevant meetings and advising the Leadership and Executive around decision-making.

4. Designing and facilitating an ongoing training programme for line managers, ensuring they have the relevant HR knowledge and skills to effectively support their teams.

5. Working closely with the Chief Operating Officer on the Learning and Development offer for the wider organisation.

6. Providing reports to and participating in the Board’s Diversity and Organisational Development Committee, ensuring trustees are kept abreast of relevant People matters and trends.

7. Managing biannual staff surveys and staff exit interviews, including collating feedback and converting into reports for staff, managers, and trustees.

8. Leading monitoring and evaluation of key HR data, including for recruitment, retention, and sickness absence management. Being responsive to emerging themes and trends and proactively sharing with the Leadership and Executive Teams to enable continuous improvement.

9. Utilising a range of technology and software for HR administration and scoping out new systems to improve accessibility and management.

10. Working with the Chief Operating Officer to redesign our performance management procedures, including improving our annual appraisals process.

11. Working in partnership with the Admin Team to oversee safer recruitment of new staff, volunteers and students.

12. Taking ownership of the Staff Handbook and relevant HR policies to ensure accuracy, best practice and compliance with external legislation.

Reviewing personal and professional development needs

1. Reviewing and evaluating own performance to identify strengths and areas for development. Identifying own learning and development needs and opportunities.

2. Undertaking development and training opportunities and being responsible for obtaining maximum benefit through review, reflection, and practice.

Other

1. Following NHYC’s policies, procedures and performance expectations in all functions of the post.

2. Undertaking as required any other duties compatible with the level and nature of the post and/or reasonably required by the Director of Services, Chief Operating Officer or CEO.

Person specification

We are looking for an individual who can demonstrate the following competencies and want to use these to the full in their work.
E: Essential

D: Desirable

Qualifications, knowledge and experience

1. CIPD Level 5 HR qualification or equivalent, or expert by experience. (E)

2. Thorough and up-to-date knowledge of UK employment law and best practice, and the ability to apply knowledge to practical situations. (E)

3. Significant professional experience in a HR management role. (E)

4. Track record of delivering HR training or coaching to upskill managers on topics across the employee lifecycle. (E)

5. Knowledge and experience leading effective organisational change projects. (D) 

6. Experience of leading and/or advising on complex employee relations cases, including disciplinaries, grievances, long-term sickness and performance management. (E)

7. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including experience of delivering training and/or presentations to a range of audiences. (E)

8. Ability to form effective working relationships with colleagues at all levels of an organisation. Confidence to coach and challenge senior managers as appropriate. (E)

9. Proactive approach and strong attention to detail – ability to spot emerging challenges within an organisation and swiftly consider solutions. (E)

10. Experience of advising on risk management within HR processes. (E)

11. Expertise in using data and learning to inform organisational priorities, including assimilating complex data into accessible reports for staff, managers and Board-level colleagues. (D)

12. Experience implementing new People-management systems and leading relevant culture change. (E)

13. Demonstrable commitment to improving Equity, Diversity and Inclusion standards within the workplace. (E)

Additional job requirements

1. Willingness and ability to work outside of normal hours on occasion (within New Horizon’s flexible working arrangements), including work over the Christmas period when required.

2. Willingness to work flexibly in response to changing organisational requirements.

Timescales and how to apply

Dates

• Closing date for applications: 9am, Wednesday 11 February

• Shortlisted candidates will be informed: 16 February

• Interviews: Tuesday 24 February

Application process

1. Complete the application form below

2. Upload your CV setting out your career history, education or qualifications, and other key responsibilities or achievements. DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR NAME OR INITIALS IN THE DOCUMENT FILE NAME

3. Write a cover letter / supporting statement (no more than 1500 words) highlighting your suitability for the role and how you meet the ESSENTIAL criteria listed on the Person Specification, and any additional relevant desirable points you wish to share. Do not include your name, address or any personal details. This is an important part of your application so must be completed. We recommend you work on this in another text file (such as Word) and copy and paste it into the box below when you are ready to submit.

We do not consider incomplete applications.

You will be notified if you have not been shortlisted. However, we are unfortunately unable to provide each individual application with feedback.

If you have any questions or would like to arrange a call to discuss the role, please feel free to email us at recruitment@nhyouthcentre.org.uk or call 0207 388 5560.

Click here to see the job pack in PDF format or the job pack in Word format.