Director - People & Culture

Salary: £115,000 - £120,000 + Excellent Benefits

Location: Wooburn Green, High Wycombe or Letchworth Garden City

Contract: Full time, permanent

Hours: 37 hours per week

Hybrid working: 2 days per week working from the office, 3 days per week working from home.

Are you looking to join a growing, values-led organisation with a clear social purpose?

At SettleParadigm, we’re proud to be the largest housing group in the region, managing over 30,000 homes across Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, and Hertfordshire.

Everything we do is about delivering excellent services, high quality homes, neighbourhoods we can be proud of and maximising number of new affordable homes we build. Through our merger we’ve brought together shared values, skills and ambition, so we can build more affordable homes and make an even bigger difference in the communities we serve

If you're ready to grow your career in a supportive, inclusive environment while helping to shape stronger communities, we’d love to welcome you on our journey. Together, we’re building a better future.

This is an exceptional opportunity to join SettleParadigm Housing Group at a pivotal point in its journey. A truly superb chance to shape the people agenda and cultural future of the business following significant growth due to both merger and acquisition!

Following the successful merger of two high performing housing organisations, we're seeking an experienced People & Culture Director to lead the next chapter of the People strategy. The chosen candidate will join the senior leadership team at a time when the foundations have been laid and the opportunity now is to embed change, strengthen capability and continue to develop the well-regarded People function that will support the wider business for years to come.

This isn't about starting from scratch. It's about building on significant work already undertaken and ensuring the people function continues to evolve as a key part of the organisation.

About The Role

Leading an established People & Culture function, you'll be responsible for driving both strategic direction and operational excellence. Working closely with the Executive Leadership Team, you'll provide trusted advice and appropriately challenge senior stakeholders, ensuring the people agenda enables the organisation to deliver outstanding services to its customers and colleagues alike.

As the organisation moves beyond integration, your focus will include:

Embedding the new organisation’s culture and ways of working.
Strengthening the Business Partnering model.
Developing leadership capability across the business.
Driving engagement and organisational effectiveness.
Identifying and implementing opportunities to improve systems, processes and service delivery.
Supporting future organisational design and People strategy.

About you:

We're looking for an accomplished HR leader who combines strategic thinking with a hands on, collaborative approach.

You'll Bring

Significant senior HR leadership experience.
A strong background leading Business Partnering functions.
Excellent Employee Relations and employment law expertise.
Champion a learning organisation where continuous development is embedded across the organisation, enabling all colleagues to build capability, grow and achieve their potential.
Experience influencing Executive teams and Boards.
Gravitas, resilience and outstanding stakeholder management skills.
The confidence to balance support with challenge.
A commercial mindset coupled with genuine empathy and emotional intelligence.

Whilst experience within the housing sector would be advantageous, we're equally interested in hearing from leaders who have built successful careers within other regulated environments. What matters most is a genuine passion for purpose led organisations and the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Why join SettleParadigm?

This is far more than a leadership appointment, it’s an opportunity to help shape the culture, capability and future direction of an organisation making a meaningful difference to the lives of thousands of people every day.

Alongside a competitive salary package of between £115,000 and £120,000 (DOE), you'll benefit from 30 days’ annual leave plus Bank Holidays and Christmas closure, a generous pension scheme and healthcare cash plan. Above all, you'll be joining an organisation where you'll have the opportunity to influence strategy, develop people and help shape the future of a purpose led business.

If you're looking for a role where you can combine commercial leadership with genuine social impact, we'd love to hear from you.

Must Haves

Experience

Extensive experience in designing and delivering people and organisational development strategies in complex, change-driven environments.
Experience of demonstrating strong business awareness and financial management skills.
Demonstrable ability to use data and insight to build compelling business cases and influence at senior levels.
Strong track record of leading organisational culture change and embedding EDI.
Experience of working at Board and Executive level, influencing and advising at the highest level.
Experience leading wellbeing or workforce resilience strategies.
Experience of leading and implementing organisational development initiatives with a familiarity of HR systems, data analytics, and digital transformation in people management.

Knowledge

Deep understanding of organisational culture and demonstrated success in improving employee engagement, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
Excellent knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
Understanding of housing associations, social housing policy, and regulatory frameworks, or a clear commitment to develop sector knowledge.

Skills

Strategic thinker with the ability to deliver practical, measurable outcomes.
Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills to support service delivery and drive performance / organisational growth.
Strong communication skills and ability to build effective working relationships.
Demonstrable ability to write clear and succinct reports for Board and Executive audiences.
Skilled at building motivated teams committed to the vision and values of the company.
A confident, independent, and effective decision-maker.
Commitment to the aims and ambitions of the organisation and broader issues of social housing and best value in all aspects of the organisation’s operation
Resilient, adaptable and proactive in driving positive change

Qualifications

Degree and Level 7 CIPD qualified or equivalent

Benefits

At SettleParadigm, we believe in creating an environment where our people feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow. Our comprehensive benefits and rewards package reflects this commitment.

annual salary: £115,000 - £120,000 per annum (DOE)
30 days holiday, plus bank holidays, Christmas closure and buy options
Generous pension scheme – up to 9.5% employer contribution via salary sacrifice
Family-friendly leave: Enhanced maternity, paternity, and adoption leave
Health cash plan – claim up to £1,800 for everyday health costs (plus free kids’ cover)
Life cover and income protection
Flexible working – hybrid options, modern offices, free parking & EV charging

And that’s just the beginning! We’re also thrilled to provide:

Mental Health First Aiders available to support
Car leasing via salary sacrifice (for permanent colleagues subject to conditions)
Funded training, qualifications & apprenticeships
3 paid volunteering days in the local communities
Peer-recognition rewards platform
Paid professional subscription (one per year)

Working Hours

37 hours per week.
Monday - Friday
Minimum of two days per week on site

Our Commitment

We are committed to creating an inclusive workforce, by reflecting and representing the diversity of the communities we serve. We would like to encourage applications from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds; people who identify as disabled, neurodiverse, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people from underrepresented groups.

Accessibility and Adjustments

We are committed to providing reasonable adjustments throughout our recruitment process and we’ll always endeavour to be as accommodating as possible. Please let us know in advance of any suitable arrangements required.

Due to the nature of some of our roles involving work with vulnerable members of society, this post may be subject to a basic or enhanced Criminal Disclosure, which will be carried out when a conditional offer is made.

Please ensure you fully answer the questions on the application form.

Closing Date: Friday, 7th August.

We reserve the right to close this vacancy earlier than the closing date should we find a suitable candidate.

Paradigm Housing Group

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Director of People & Culture