Turn2us is a national charity tackling financial insecurity and its structural causes. We work with co-producers and partners to provide people in financial crisis with the means and agency to get back on their feet, build resilience, move forward with their lives and thrive.

As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to equity, inclusion and diversity and the value people from different backgrounds bring to a team. If, like us, you believe everyone has the right to have enough to live on, and you are ambitious about eradicating financial insecurity, join us and build your career with a charity dedicated to ensuring dignity and equity for all.

About the role

The Head of People & Culture plays a pivotal role in shaping and delivering Turn2us’s people strategy. Working closely with the Director of People, Culture and Governance, the postholder leads a compassionate, forward-thinking team that champions inclusion, wellbeing and belonging across the organisation. They will drive initiatives that attract, develop and retain talented people, fostering an environment where everyone feels valued, supported and connected to Turn2us’s mission of achieving financial security for all. Through strategic leadership, innovative people practices and a strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, the Head of People & Culture ensures that organisational culture, learning, and policies enable every individual to thrive and contribute meaningfully to the charity’s goals.

About you

The Head of People & Culture must demonstrate strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire collaboration, compassion and accountability across multiple projects and teams. Excellent communication and influencing skills are vital, along with the capacity to balance strategic priorities with hands-on delivery in a fast-paced, evolving environment. The successful candidate will bring proven experience in managing employee relations, driving cultural and organisational change, and embedding equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging across all people practices. They should be skilled in using HR systems and data to inform decisions and deliver measurable outcomes. Experience of leading complex, cross-organisational initiatives and a commitment to Turn2us’s mission of financial security for all are essential

We offer flexible working patterns, both in terms of hours and remote working. Please note that all employees are required to work from the office a minimum of 1 day a week.

Some roles may be required to be in the office more often than others and this will be agreed with the hiring manager upon starting at Turn2us.

Please note that all job offers are subject to 2 – 3 satisfactory references and a disclosure satisfactory to Turn2us from the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS).

Please read the Head of People & Culture job pack for further information.

Job Description

Job Title: Head of People & Culture

Department: People & Culture Team, People, Culture & Governance Directorate

Reports to: Director of People, Culture & Governance

Direct Reports: Senior People & Culture Officer

Location: Hybrid: Turn2us London Hub (Farringdon) & homeworking

Type of role:  Full-time, permanent  

Purpose of the Role: Working closely with the Director of People, Culture and Governance, you’ll play a key role in shaping and bringing our people approaches to life. You’ll lead a compassionate, proactive and forward-thinking People & Culture team that champions inclusion, wellbeing and belonging across Turn2us. Together, you’ll help us attract, support and develop talented people, equipping and working alongside our staff and co-production partners in service of our mission of financial security for all. Through your leadership, you’ll nurture a culture where everyone feels valued, empowered and connected to our purpose.

 Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:

 1.   Lead and support the People and Culture team with compassionate and strategic leadership, creating an environment where everyone can thrive and contribute their best work.

2.   Champion equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB), anti-racism and safeguarding, embedding equitable, values-led recruitment, co-production and socio-economic inclusion across all people practices.

 3.   Strengthen and embed the Turn2us culture, working collaboratively across teams to nurture belonging, engagement, trust and alignment with our mission and values.

4.   Develop and deliver progressive people policies, learning opportunities and wellbeing initiatives that are inclusive, legally compliant and enable everyone to grow and feel supported.

5.   Ensure transparency and fairness in remuneration, job evaluation and employee relations, promoting open, respectful communication and equitable outcomes for all.

6.   Use data-driven insights and innovative approaches to enhance HR systems, people analytics, payroll and HR operations, including leading the implementation of a new HRIS system, supporting effective decision-making, continuous improvement, organisational change and compliance.

7.   Oversee the complete employee cycle including advising on employee relations.

Duties: 

1.    Lead and support the People and Culture team:

• Provide compassionate, strategic leadership that empowers the team to deliver an excellent, people-centred service.

• Foster collaboration, learning and accountability, aligning priorities with the charity’s strategic goals.

 2.    Champion equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB), anti-racism and safeguarding:

• Embed equitable, values-led recruitment and co-production in all people practices.

• Drive measurable progress on EDIB, socio-economic inclusion and safer recruitment through proactive leadership and accountability.

3.    Strengthen and embed the Turn2us culture:

• Work collaboratively across teams to nurture belonging, engagement and trust.

• Create opportunities for staff voice and shared learning, ensuring our culture reflects and advances our mission and values.

• Work closely with the Director of People, Culture and Governance to deliver the Strengthening Culture work, and overall people strategy.

4.    Develop and deliver progressive people policies, learning and wellbeing initiatives:

• Ensure policies are inclusive, legally compliant and forward-thinking.

• Deliver learning and wellbeing frameworks that support growth, inclusion and a thriving, healthy workplace.

• Oversee health and safety compliance, ensuring the organisation maintains high standards of workplace safety, risk management and wellbeing.

5.    Ensure transparency and fairness in remuneration and employee relations:

• Oversee fair pay, job evaluation and people processes that promote trust and equity.

• Support open, respectful communication and restorative approaches to resolving issues.

• Undertake regular salary benchmarking, analyse pay data to identify trends, and produce the annual Gender & Ethnicity Pay Gap report, providing insights and recommendations to senior leadership and trustees.

6.    Use data-driven insights and innovation to enhance people practices:

• Leverage HR systems, payroll processes and people analytics to inform strategic decisions, support organisational change and drive continuous improvement.

• Lead the implementation of a new HRIS system, ensuring it strengthens people processes, improves reporting and supports effective, compliant HR operations.

• Apply innovative, evidence-based approaches that strengthen engagement, compliance and organisational effectiveness.

• Design and deliver periodic workforce data reports on turnover, diversity and other key metrics, interpreting findings to identify opportunities for improvement.

• Support the organisations strategic direction through periods of organisational change, ensuring People & Culture systems, processes and practises are designed to enable effective change.

7.    Oversee the complete employee cycle including advising on employee relations:

• Lead the work of the team around the employee cycle, creating robust reporting and tracking systems.

• Produce reports to the Director of People, Culture and Governance in their role as board and executive advisor.

These are the normal duties, which the Charity requires from the position. However, it is necessary for all staff to be flexible and all employees will be required from time to time to perform other duties as may be required by the Charity for the efficient running of the charity. This Job Description is non-contractual. It will be reviewed from time to time and may be subject to change.

At Turn2us, we are committed to protecting personnel, children, adults, and service users from any harm arising from each other, themselves, our activities, or organisational failings whilst in contact with us. The post holder will be required to follow the safeguarding policy and will be responsible for integrating safeguarding into all aspects of their work.

The post holder will be expected to ensure that their work complies with contractual terms and conditions, the Charity’s policies and procedures and key legislation, such as data protection and charity law. 

Person Specification

 Skills:                             

• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to inspire confidence, collaboration and compassion.

• Excellent communication and influencing skills, able to build trust and credibility across all levels of the organisation.

• Skilled in developing and implementing practical, data-informed people solutions that drive engagement, inclusion and performance.

• Confident in managing change and supporting others through cultural and organisational development.

• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands-on delivery, adapting quickly to new challenges and opportunities.                                             

Knowledge:

• Up-to-date understanding of UK employment law, HR best practice and safeguarding requirements.

• Deep understanding of equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging (EDIB) and anti-racist practice, including how to translate these principles into tangible actions.

• Awareness of the social justice and charity context, particularly issues related to poverty, financial insecurity and lived experience.

• Knowledge of people analytics and the use of data to inform and evaluate people strategies and culture initiatives.       

• CIPD Level 5 and above or relevant experience.

Experience:

We recruit for potential, not perfection — you may have gained your experience in different roles or sectors.

• Strong experience of employee relations and partnering with managers across the organisation.

• Experience of leading or contributing to culture-strengthening, people-centred change or inclusion initiatives.

• Proven track record of developing or implementing inclusive people policies, processes and learning frameworks.

• Experience of using HR systems and data to generate insight and support evidence-based decision-making.

• Experience of fostering positive employee relations and promoting wellbeing and engagement.

Desirable:

• Lived experience of financial hardship, or a strong personal understanding of the barriers faced by people experiencing financial insecurity. 

• Experience of working in or alongside the charity or social justice sector. 

Personal Attributes:                                   

• Passionate about the Turn2us mission of financial security for all and committed to co-production and partnership working.

• Values-led, compassionate and approachable, with a deep respect for equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging and lived experience.

• Curious, reflective and open to learning, able to challenge constructively and listen deeply.

• Innovative and forward-thinking, bringing creativity and evidence-based insight to people practices.

•  Trusted colleague and leader who models integrity, kindness and accountability in all interactions.

 Turn2us is fully committed to equity, diversity and inclusion in our sector. We want this to be reflected in the diversity of the people who work for us and we are interested in applications from people from varied backgrounds.

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