About us

The Runnymede Trust is the UK’s leading race equality think tank. We generate research to challenge racial inequality in Britain.

For more than 50 years, we have worked tirelessly to build a Britain in which we all belong. Proudly independent, we speak truth to power on race and racism without fear or favour. We are not swayed by political agenda, profit or popular opinion. We are authentic, led by an ethnically diverse team we draw from our lived experience and that of our wide and inclusive community and partnership networks.

Job purpose

The People & Culture Manager will lead and develop Runnymede’s people function, ensuring colleagues have a positive, consistent and inclusive experience throughout their time at the organisation.

Reporting to the Director of Operations & Finance, the role will provide practical HR advice and support to managers and staff, oversee key people processes and ensure our policies, systems and ways of working support Runnymede’s values, culture and operational needs.

The postholder will be responsible for the full employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, development, performance, wellbeing and offboarding, while also supporting employee relations and organisational culture. The role will play an important part in developing management capability and ensuring people policies and practices are applied fairly and consistently.

As Runnymede’s dedicated people professional, the postholder will also maintain and develop the employee handbook and people policies, coordinate payroll administration, monitor employment law and HR best practice, and support initiatives that strengthen engagement, communication, collaboration and wellbeing across the organisation.

Responsibilities and main duties

• Lead and continuously improve people processes across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, development and offboarding.

• Maintain and develop the employee handbook and people policies, ensuring they are up to date, legally compliant and aligned with Runnymede’s values.

• Oversee HR administration, employee records and the preparation of payroll information for external providers.

• Act as the first point of contact for staff and managers on people-related queries.

• Support managers to recruit and retain talented staff through inclusive and equitable recruitment practices.

• Ensure recruitment and onboarding processes provide a positive and consistent experience for candidates and new starters.

• Coordinate and support performance management processes across the organisation.

• Work with managers to identify learning and development needs and support opportunities for staff development.

• Provide practical advice and guidance to managers and staff on a range of people matters, ensuring issues are managed fairly, consistently and in line with organisational policies.

• Support managers with employee relations matters, including absence, conduct, capability and wellbeing.

• Coordinate wellbeing initiatives and resources that support staff working within a racial justice environment.

• Promote a positive, inclusive and supportive workplace culture.

• Support the development of an organisational culture that reflects Runnymede’s values and commitment to anti-racism, equity and inclusion.

• Coordinate staff away days, all-staff meetings and other initiatives that strengthen collaboration, engagement and wellbeing.

• Support effective internal communication and mechanisms for gathering and responding to staff feedback.

• Work with colleagues across the organisation to strengthen connection, engagement and collaboration.

• Monitor developments in employment law and HR best practice, ensuring organisational compliance.

• Produce people-related reports, metrics and insights for the Director of Operations & Finance and Senior Leadership Team.

• Monitor workforce data and key indicators to support effective decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Support organisational planning and projects relating to people, culture and ways of working.

Interview schedule

Candidates will hear back about their application status on 30th of September, and interviews for shortlisted candidates will be conducted on w/c 5th of October.