Head of People and Culture

About Variety

There are 1.8m children living with disabilities in the UK with 600,000 children living in poverty. Variety exists to improve their lives. We believe every child has a right to live their best life and reach their full potential, whoever they are. We fund and deliver life-changing programmes that enhance their quality of life and give children and young people across the UK a better future. Over the past 75 years we have supported over one million children by funding almost 6,000 Sunshine Coaches, almost the same number of wheelchairs, and giving thousands of grants to individual children, schools, youth clubs and other organisations for specialist equipment. In addition, each year thousands of children take part in day trips, special events and educational activities as part of our Variety Great Days Out programme, and every single day we are improving more young lives. We do it with practical, tangible help, that makes a real and immediate difference.

Role purpose

Variety, the Children s Charity is looking for a Head of People and Culture to lead and deliver all aspects of the charity s people strategy. Part of the Operations Team, this is an exciting role combining strategic leadership with hands-on operational HR management. The postholder will be experienced in driving forward new strategies, ensuring Variety has robust, compliant and people centered practices in place. This role will support a positive, inclusive, and high-performing culture which is aligned to Variety s mission and values.

This is a new role at Variety during an exciting time as we develop and launch a new three-year strategy later this year and invest in our people and culture. The staff team at Variety has grown over the last year, reflecting the charity s ambitious strategy to double charitable expenditure over the next three years. We are at an exciting point to recruit an experienced HR professional to continue our growth, developing our people while strengthening our collaborative culture, champion wellbeing, and leading Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

The Head of People and Culture will work with the CEO and Senior Management Team and contribute to strategic decisions at Variety. There is a separate support service which is outsourced for complex or specialist HR matters if required. Variety is a small, dedicated team of 30 staff, and this role reports to the CEO with a close working relationship with the Director of Finance and Operations.

Key responsibilities
Strategy and Performance
Building organisational capacity is one of the pillars of our three-year strategy which is in development. Variety is investing in recruitment, and retention of a high-performing workforce with harmonised contracts and policies.

This role will:

• Develop and implement a People and Culture Strategy aligned with Variety s new three-year organisational strategy
• Lead workforce planning and organisational development
• Implement and oversee a clear and consistent performance managementframework
• Mange safe and inclusive recruitment processes
• Lead the annual appraisal process and support probation reviews for new staff
• Provide regular reporting to the CEO for Trustee meetings on people metrics and any risks to the people strategy
• Manage the outsourced HR provider to Variety

HR operations and recruitment

• Oversee and directly manage recruitment, onboarding, probation, performance management and exit processes at Variety
• Develop and support the investment in recruitment and retention of high-performing team members
• Manage the onboarding process for new staff, sending offer letters, taking up references and inductions, ensuring a good start at Variety
• Manage employee relations cases (if they arise)
• Maintain and update the staff handbook, HR policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with UK employment law
• Introduce and manage an improved HR portal which will improve Variety s HR function
• Manage the HR budget and the annual salary review process with the Director of Finance
• Support managers and staff in all aspects of people management
• Oversee payroll and benefits management (if applicable)
• Ensure staff have updated contracts and keep HR policies up to date
• Support managers in people management
• Advise the CEO and Senior Management Team on people-related risks
• Maintain accurate HR records in accordance with GDPR
• Carry out DBS checks for staff and volunteers

Culture and wellbeing

• Work with the Senior Management Team on cultural development and values-led behaviours across Variety
• Lead the People Strategy at Variety to foster a positive working environment, where people feel engaged, supported and happy at work
• Lead on Variety s learning and development programme for all staff
• Promote a culture of feedback and continuous improvement

Person specification
Essential

• CIPD Level 7 qualified (or equivalent experience)
• Significant experience in a senior HR/People role, ideally within the charity or not-for-profit sector
• Strong working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice
• Experience managing employee relations cases independently
• Experience advising Senior Management Teams and Trustee boards
• Ability to operate strategically while delivering operational HR hands-on
• High level of discretion and confidentiality

Desirable

• Experience working as a standalone HR lead
• Experience working in a small or medium-sized organisations
• Knowledge of safeguarding requirements for the charity sector
• Experience implementing HR systems and improving processes

Key competencies

• Resilient and confident decision-maker
• Strong organisational and time management skills
• Values-driven and inclusive leadership style
• Comfortable working autonomously

Role scope and considerations
As this is a standalone, part-time position please consider:

• Clear prioritisation will be essential
• Operational HR tasks (e.g. contracts, letters, policy updates) sit within the role
• External HR advisers will be used for legal matters
• Administrative efficiency (templates, HR systems, automation) will be important to manage workload
• The role may include line management in the future

Benefits

• Enhanced Pension (7% contribution from Variety with 2% employee contribution)
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays. In addition, after one year's continuous service, an extra two days annual holiday for every complete year of service will be added, up to a maximum of five days' extra holiday (pro rata will apply for part-time).
• Three additional days between Christmas and New Year given as discretionary leave
• Membership to a health and well-being cash plan scheme
• Life Assurance scheme offering 4 x salary
• Company Sick Pay

Please note that this role may require travel within the UK, requires a DBS check and proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

Variety, the Children's Charity is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

Inclusion is one of our key values. It is our ambition to recruit great people from diverse communities. We welcome and encourage applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment/identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy/maternity and or marriage/civil partnership status, race, religion or belief. Please let us know if you have any access requirements which we might need to consider in relation to the selection process.

How to apply

Please submit your CV with a cover letter explaining why you d make a great candidate for this role and how you meet the job description. In your cover letter please include a people system or HR platform you have implemented that improved operational efficiency and employee experience. What was your approach and what impact did it have.

Applications will close at midnight on Sunday, 15 March 2026 with first round interviews w/c 23 March 2026.

Please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements or need any adjustments for the interview.