Head of People

British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS)

Organisation: British Universities & Colleges Sport (BUCS)
Salary: £43,000-£53,000
Location: Hybrid role based anywhere in the UK, with regular travel to our London office
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 27 July 2025
Job Description: Main Purpose

The head of people will play a pivotal role in shaping our people and culture agenda to support the delivery of our overall strategy, while also having the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on a day to day basis. They will be the advocate of the ‘staff voice’ in the organisation, and drive an organisational culture that is founded on the BUCS values of respectfulness, inclusiveness, dynamism and innovation.

The Head of People is responsible for providing leadership and strategic direction for BUCS’ human resources and safeguarding in line with our strategic objectives. As a result, the Head of People will ensure that BUCS is compliant with Health and Safety regulations to protect our staff and ensure this is echoed in our approach to safeguarding participants as defined in our safeguarding policy.

To achieve this, the Head of People must ensure the effective management and optimisation of BUCS’ human resources services, developing and maintaining a motivated and valued workforce whilst acting as a role model for organisational culture and values. Development of a comprehensive, structured and holistic professional development programme is central to this. This requires the Head of People to work closely with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and members of the Remuneration and Staffing Committee, and to directly support the Management Team and wider team leaders.

Working closely with members of the governance and compliance team responsible for ensuring statutory and industry standard compliance, the Head of People will chair the BUCS Safeguarding Strategy Group. The purpose of this group is to embed safeguarding practice into the operations of BUCS, apply tests of compliance and effectiveness of procedures in place, championing improvements where necessary, and monitoring progress with regard to disclosures, case management and associated issues, escalating to the SLT and Board as required.

Main duties and responsibilities

Provide leadership to all HR functions, including, payroll, pensions, recruitment, contracts, performance management, policies, disciplinary, grievances, including management of any outsourced support services. The effectiveness of these activities to be continually improved by maintaining knowledge of current HR practices, legislation, trends and systems to enable delivery of effective and innovative services drawing on external expertise as required and using this knowledge to ensure BUCS policies are robust, enforceable and industry standard.

Work closely with the Governance and Compliance team to ensure contemporary knowledge of Safeguarding, enabling leadership of the BUCS Safeguarding Strategy Group and ensuring that the BUCS Safeguarding policies and practice are up to date and best practice Provide safeguarding insight to the SLT and Board covering policy and strategy updates, highlighting relevant risks and opportunities.

Design and lead a comprehensive and holistic professional development programme that enables staff and the organisation to thrive. Within this, managing the staffing budget, so that BUCS is able to act dynamically to provide a contemporary working environment and policies for its staff.

Enable business transformation and growth by aligning the people strategy with improvement initiatives, and applying strong change management practices to engage and guide staff through change in a positive, inclusive and effective way.

Manage the HR team, and ensure the team’s performance, policies and processes are optimised for maximum efficiency and effectiveness. This will include the performance management of contracts and relationships with HR & Safeguarding suppliers to drive the best value for BUCS.

Other

Actively role model the BUCS values and integrate these into our policies and practices.

Act on any other reasonable request of the Director of Business Operations, CEO or Board.

Person Specification

BUCS is a Disability Confident Committed and Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment. We make all employment decisions without regard to age, national origin, race, ethnicity, religion, belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Research shows that some people don’t apply for a role if they feel they do not meet 100% of the person specification. We encourage you to apply for this role if you feel you meet the key skills and knowledge listed below, even if you feel you do not have all of them. We are passionate about identifying the right people to help us develop and thrive.

Essential knowledge or experience

Designing and delivering strategies to support a motivated and valued workforce and embed a culture of development and learning.

Managing human resource functions, including, payroll, recruitment, disciplinary, grievances and contracts.

Using and adapting HR policies and practices to create an equitable, diverse and inclusive working environment.

Management experience with a proven ability to lead, develop and motivate others to reach their full potential.

Experience of supporting holistic change programmes that drive transformation through professional development, resources and support tools.

Application of quality assurance within key processes including performance reviews, professional development, and safeguarding delivery.

Managing internal staff meetings, working groups and communications.

Effective presentation of management information to drive decision-making.

Essential skills and abilities

Ability to work on own initiative.

Strong team player with good interpersonal abilities including an ability and willingness to communicate and develop trusted relationships with a range of stakeholders.

Effective mentor, motivator, manager and influencer of people.

Excellent organisational and planning skills.

Ability to manage a complex workload including competing priorities, achieve targets and respond quickly and flexibly to changing needs and demands.

Conscientious with high standards and a commitment to excellence.

Tenacious when it comes to problem-solving / acquiring key information.

Desirable knowledge or experience

Experience of developing strategy/policy that contributes to the development of the organisation to effectively deliver its outcomes.

Experience in effective communication, presenting and influencing a wide range of audiences including board, members, stakeholders and staff.

Application of quality assurance within key processes including performance reviews, professional development, and safeguarding delivery.

Sport-specific safeguarding requirements and expectations.

Desirable skills and abilities

Ability to innovate, be creative and work dynamically.
How to apply: Please apply directly on our recruitment platform: https://app.beapplied.com/apply/x4dkj5isbt?utm_source=uk-sport-name The successful candidates will be invited to a virtual interview the week commencing the 4th August 2025. If you have any questions about the role please contact recruitment@bucs.org.uk