Make-A-Wish UK is looking for a Head of People who will shape the Make-A-Wish culture, develop employee engagement, drive operational excellence and build high-performing, diverse and sustainable teams. The Head of People will be responsible for the ongoing learning, development and engagement of our team and take full ownership of the employee experience. 

Right now, more than 60,000 children in the UK have been diagnosed with a critical condition*, changing their lives and the lives of their families forever. For them, the joy of childhood is brought to an abrupt end with treatment plans, appointments and worry taking over. The power of a wish revives a childhood stolen by critical illness. It brings light and joy to children and their loved ones, leaving a profound and lasting impact on all their lives.    

But Make-A-Wish UK can’t be that light for everyone. It takes a community of volunteers, supporters and donors to help these children feel like children again. We’re looking for people like you to contribute to our collective mission of granting a wish to every eligible child. 

Make-A-Wish UK strives to be a magical, inclusive and inspiring place to work. You will be joining us at an exciting time as we launch our ambitious new strategy which will, ultimately, enable us to reach more children and young people who are eligible for a wish. 

The ideal candidate will have generalist HR experience as well as experience in creating and implementing career pathway strategies.

For the full job description for this role, please click here.

Key Responsibilities: 

• Implement our People Strategy aligned with our mission and goals. Ensure that the people strategy and the people plan are aligned with the strategy and the operational plan of the organisation and particularly reflect the wider work under Goal 3 of that strategy (Developing Our Capability). 

• Aligning the work of the people and volunteering teams to deliver our strategy. Working with the Volunteering team to provide strategic and operational support in the recruitment and development of our volunteers. 

• Oversee our Organisational Development including developing our Talent Strategy to provide training and development programmes to enhance the skills and capability of our organisation, from employees to volunteers.  

• Develop and implement initiatives that enhance employee experience and well-being to build upon the culture of Make-A-Wish in areas across the employee life cycle. 

• Develop and implement EDI strategies, define our EDI roadmap, deliver key initiatives, and build an inclusive culture. Drive initiatives that promote an inclusive workplace culture. 

• Lead our pay strategy, including managing our annual pay review cycle, owning our benchmarking approach and delivering an equitable and transparent approach to reward. 

• Manage the people function budget. 

To be successful in this role, you will need: 

• Proven commensurate work experience in the field of People Management, People Development or People Business Partnering 

• Experience working within the charity sector would be advantageous but is not essential.  

• The post holder should hold a professional qualification of a CIPD Level 7 or equivalent.  

• A passion for the Make-A-Wish mission and commitment to creating a positive workplace to deliver our strategic goals around wish delivery.  

• Strategic mindset: The ability to think strategically and develop long-term plans that align with the company's overall strategy.  

• Leadership: Strong leadership skills to effectively manage and inspire teams both within the People team and across the wider organisation.  

• People Partnering management expertise: A deep understanding of people processes and strategies, including creating new and refining existing internal people processes, systems and operational procedures.  

• Communication skills: Excellent communication skills to build relationships with internal and external stakeholders, communicate effectively with all levels of the organisation, and the ability to present complex information in a clear and concise manner.  

• Analytical skills: Strong analytical skills to gather and interpret data, identify trends and insights, and develop actionable recommendations.  

At Make-A-Wish, we believe that agile working gives everyone an opportunity to have their own work pattern that suits their role and individual needs. We believe this is the most effective way to give our best to wish children and supporters, and as a result, deliver our charitable mission in the most effective way; whilst ensuring we create a happy workplace.   

The organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. A relevant level of DBS check will be required for this role. Employment is subject to positive references and proof of the right to work in the UK.  

Make-A-Wish is also committed to attracting and recruiting diverse people as it’s vital that we strive towards ensuring that our trustees, employees, ambassadors and volunteers reflect the communities we seek to serve.