Citizens UK
Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.
Purpose
The Head of People & Culture ensures that Citizens UK has the people, organisational capacity and enabling culture required to deliver its mission of building people power and strengthening civil society. The role plays a central part in securing a workforce that is capable, motivated and aligned with Citizens UK’s values, enabling the organisation to build strong alliances, support local leadership and achieve lasting social change.
Working as part of the senior leadership team, and under the direction of the Executive Director, Finance & Operations, the role strengthens organisational effectiveness by embedding fair, inclusive and well-governed people practices. Through sound employment frameworks, statutory compliance and a culture that supports engagement, performance and wellbeing, the Head of People & Culture safeguards Citizens UK’s resilience, reputation and ability to deliver impact at scale.
Main Responsibilities
Working as the Head of People & Culture for Citizens UK, reporting to the Executive Director, Finance & Operations, your main responsibilities will include:
People & Culture Strategy
Ensure Citizens UK has the people, capability and organisational shape required to deliver its mission and sustain impact over time.
· Analyse organisational strategy, change priorities and external context to identify their implications for people, capability, structure and ways of working.
· Carry out workforce planning to assess current and future capacity and capability, identifying gaps, risks and realistic options to address them.
· Develop, maintain and refresh the People & Culture strategy so it responds directly to organisational needs and provides clear priorities for action.
· Provide expert people and culture advice to the Executive Leadership Team and Board, informing strategic discussions, trade-offs and decisions.
Talent Management
Develop and implement talent management processes that ensure Citizens UK attracts, retains and sustains the people needed to deliver its work.
· Lead recruitment, selection and onboarding to bring in people who can perform effectively in their roles and are aligned with Citizens UK’s values.
· Develop and maintain retention approaches focused on the key drivers of retention, including meaningful work, effective management, development opportunities, wellbeing, inclusion and fair treatment.
· Identify critical roles and critical talent and put in place practical succession and risk-mitigation plans, including knowledge transfer, handover planning and interim cover where needed.
· Monitor employee experience across the employment lifecycle, using insight from feedback and people data to improve people practices and ways of working.
Performance, Leadership & Capability
Strengthen organisational effectiveness by enabling teams to perform well, grow in capability and contribute consistently to shared goals.
· Maintain and operate performance management processes, including objective setting, regular feedback and reviews, ensuring that staff are clear on expectations and accountable for results.
· Support managers to address performance issues constructively by clarifying expectations, strengthening feedback, building capability and resolving barriers to effective performance.
· Coordinate and deliver learning and development activity that supports managers and staff to build skills, leadership capability and confidence in their roles.
Organisational Culture, Engagement & Wellbeing
Foster a working environment where people feel engaged, supported and able to do their best work together.
· Promote Citizens UK’s values in everyday people practices, supporting managers to translate values into consistent behaviours, decision-making and ways of working.
· Design and operate staff engagement and feedback mechanisms, ensuring staff voice is heard, themes are analysed, and practical actions are taken in response.
· Develop and maintain wellbeing approaches that support psychological safety, healthy workload management, early resolution of concerns and sustainable working practices.
· Support constructive relationships with the Trade Union and enable effective consultation and dialogue on people-related matters.
EDI & Safeguarding
Ensure Citizens UK is equitable, inclusive and safe for all by embedding fairness, care and accountability into how the organisation operates.
· Develop and implement Equity, Diversity and Inclusion priorities, using clear measures to monitor progress, identify gaps and support accountability across the organisation.
· Embed EDI considerations into recruitment, progression, policy development and everyday people decisions, working closely with relevant colleagues to ensure consistency in practice.
· Act as the People & Culture lead for safeguarding, ensuring responsibilities are clear, processes are understood, and concerns are handled appropriately, sensitively and in line with agreed procedures.
· Support managers and leaders to recognise and address inclusion or safeguarding issues early, escalating concerns where required and ensuring appropriate follow-up.
Governance, Risk & Compliance
Ensure Citizens UK has a clear, effective and trusted people governance framework that supports lawful decision-making, fair treatment and organisational confidence.
· Develop, review and maintain People & Culture policies and procedures, ensuring they are legally compliant, values-aligned and understood by managers and staff.
· Provide day-to-day advice and guidance on people-related risk and compliance, identifying emerging issues early and supporting proportionate, lawful responses.
· Manage disciplinary, grievance and other formal employment processes, ensuring fairness, consistency, appropriate documentation and timely resolution.
Systems & HR Operations
Ensure the efficient, reliable and compliant administration of people processes and systems.
· Operate and maintain HR systems, payroll processes and core people administration, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality and compliance with organisational and legal requirements.
· Review and improve people processes to reduce duplication, minimise manual work and improve efficiency, making best use of available technology and automation.
· Maintain accurate and up-to-date people records and data, ensuring information is accessible, secure and fit for reporting, audit and operational needs.
Functional Leadership & Resource Management
Build and manage CUK’s People & Culture function, ensuring that staff and resources contribute effectively to achievement of CUK’s mission.
· Plan, prioritise and sequence People & Culture work to ensure available capacity is focused on the organisation’s most important people risks and priorities.
· Manage the People & Culture budget, including payroll, monitoring spend and applying value-for-money principles in line with organisational policies.
· Manage People & Culture staff and outsourced service providers utilising an engaging leadership style to support effective delivery of expectations.
Personal Specification
(D) Desirable, (E) Essential
Qualifications
· (E) CIPD qualification (Level 7) or equivalent senior-level professional experience in People / HR leadership
· (D) Degree or equivalent qualification in human resources, organisational development, management or a related field
Experience
· (E) Significant experience in a senior People / HR role, ideally within a charity, not-for-profit or values-driven organisation
· (E) Experience of leading and delivering people and culture priorities in complex, mission-led organisations
· (E) Experience of advising Executive and Board-level stakeholders on people, culture, governance and risk matters
· (E) Experience of operating as a senior, hands-on HR generalist, covering strategy, policy, employee relations and operational delivery
· (E) Experience of workforce planning, recruitment, performance management and organisational change
· (D) Experience of working with trade unions or staff representative bodies
Key skills and knowledge
· (E) Strong generalist HR expertise across employment law, compliance, safeguarding, performance management and people governance
· (E) Proven ability to design and implement practical people processes that support performance, inclusion and wellbeing
· (E) Strong coaching capability, with the ability to support managers to address performance, capability and behavioural issues constructively
· (E) Ability to manage complex employee relations matters with judgement, fairness and confidence
· (E) Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present clear advice and recommendations to senior leaders and boards
· (D) Knowledge of HR systems, people data and process improvement to support efficient delivery
Personal qualities & values
· (E) Strong commitment to social justice, inclusion and the values and mission of Citizens UK
· (E) Values-led and relational leadership style, combining empathy, integrity and pragmatism
· (E) Resilient and adaptable, able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced and evolving environment
· (E) Comfortable working within an accountable team culture, open to feedback, reflective practice and continuous improvement
· (D) Willingness to work occasional evenings or weekends, and to travel when required to support organisational priorities
First round interviews to be held on W/C 16 March 2026
Second round interviews to be held on W/C 23 March 2026
Registered Charity 
101 - 500
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Thank you!
Citizens UK
Citizens UK is the UK’s biggest, most diverse and most effective people-powered alliance. We bring communities and local organisations together to work on issues that matter; from campaigning for zebra crossings on dangerous roads, to reforming the immigration system, to the Living Wage campaign. We have a track record of winning change through hundreds of local and national campaigns. We know everyday people have the ability to shape the world around them. We believe that through developing local leaders, we can drive nationwide change and create community-led solutions to big and small problems.
Purpose
This role will report to the Executive Director, Finance and Operations, and will be responsible for providing executive assistance to three Executive Team members; the Executive Director, Finance and Operations (EDF&O), the Director of Communications and External Affairs (DCEA) and the Director, London (DL). The main duties include scheduling meetings, handling correspondence and assisting with the management of projects that all Directors are involved in. To be successful in this role, you will be able to initiate, meet deadlines and communicate effectively. Ultimately, you will be identifying and addressing the needs of the Executive Director/Directors, performing management and administrative tasks and building good working relationships to increase the effectiveness of the organisation.
Main Responsibilities
Working as the Executive Assistant & Project Manager to three Executive Team members for Citizens UK, reporting to Executive Director, Finance and Operations, your main responsibilities will include:
Contribute towards CUK’s mission and strategic objectives through Executive Support function
· Manage Executive Director/Directors diaries including booking meetings, scheduling attendees and organising venues, in person and online.
· Manage Executive Director/Directors correspondence including prioritising and responding to emails.
· Schedule Appraisal and Supervision meetings and visits: ensuring Executive Director/Directors time is well used through proper preparation and follow-up with direct reports, other local staff and external stakeholders.
· Process expenses for Executive Director/Directors as well as processing of invoice payments.
· Maintain an electronic filing system, ensuring processes and software are up to date and in working order.
· Provide management and administrative support to assist Executive Director/Directors in their workload.
- Lead coordination of monthly financial budget calls, including scheduling and managing diaries for approximately 17 chapter meetings each month, alongside quarterly budget review sessions.
- Provide live meeting support for all budget calls, including screen sharing, documenting key points, managing attendance, and ensuring smooth delivery of all administrative aspects.
- Serve as Secretariat for the monthly Operations and Organisational Development (OOD) Team Meetings, including drafting agendas, circulating papers, taking accurate and timely minutes, and producing post-meeting action logs.
- Maintain and manage the OOD SharePoint site, ensuring documents, actions and meeting materials are updated, accessible, and appropriately organised.
- Act as the primary administrative point of contact for the OOD team, responding to queries, managing workflows, and ensuring effective communication across the team.
- Work closely with the Director of Organisational Development, providing proactive support in planning, preparing and running the OOD meetings they chair.
- Oversee action tracking and follow-up for all meetings, ensuring progress is monitored, deadlines are met, and information is escalated where appropriate.
- Support wider departments of each of Executive Director/Directors, as well as wider organisational and project administration, as required, to ensure smooth operational functioning during the maternity leave period.
Build and manage projects and achieve work targets effectively
· Co-ordinate projects and ensure follow-up with team members where required.
· Create and manage systems to monitor performance of the Chapters, Projects and staff supervised by Executive Director/Directors: e.g. through reporting mechanisms and supervisions and appraisals.
· Maintain an action log Executive Director/Directors including following up with those responsible to ensure actions are taken. Manage their workflow and to-do list, assisting with prioritisation and the delegation of tasks to staff.
Learning, expertise and inclusion
· Undertake appropriate personal and professional development.
· Provide others with relevant and helpful advice and technical support.
· Proactive in maintaining own wellbeing at work.
Develop and manage internal and external relationships
· Build and maintain good working relationships with staff and stakeholders.
· Schedule meetings as required, setting agendas and circulating any papers.
· Work collaboratively across Citizens UK to ensure that interactions meet the expectations of our network and stakeholders.
· Take minutes at meetings as requested at other meetings where necessary e.g. Executive Team, CUK Leadership Team, staff meetings and external meetings.
· Manage and coordinate work within team and colleagues across CUK.
· Effectively liaise with external stakeholders, suppliers etc.
Communications
· Assist with drafting and producing communications e.g. newsletters, emails and other media, liaising with the Comms Team.
· Attend/dial in and take minutes of meetings.
· Provide team and stakeholders with regular, timely communications.
· Attend meetings and represent CUK effectively to audiences in meetings and at events.
Knowledge Management
· Ensure data is handled and managed in a GDPR compliant manner.
· Maintain an electronic filing system, ensuring processes and software are up to date and in working order.
Managing income and resources
· Ensure careful use and stewardship of CUK’s resources when booking venues, travel and incurring other expenses.
· Create and manage admin systems to track income resources effectively.
Contribute towards the CUK mission & strategic objectives Demonstrates enthusiasm and commitment to the function and the core mission of CUK. Reliably implements and participates in the development of policies, procedures, and values in the delivery of work across the team.
Build and manage
projects and achieve
work targets
effectively Identifies opportunities, initiates and manages projects; incl. planning and organising work effectively. Delivers on functional KPIs and targets. Delivers to time and budget.
Learning, expertise
and Inclusion Keeps up-to-date with functional good practice, incl. within third sector. Tains and coaches others giving relevant advice and technical support., incl. ensuring team have access to training and development opportunities. Displays self-awareness of DEI issues and good practice. Considers the impact on direct reports. Acts as a role model for DEI awareness and implementation. Is alert to and manages the impact of DEI issues for direct reports and stakeholders.
Develop and manage
external
relationships Proactively develops and nurtures new and existing relationships that further CUK goals; manages a diverse range of relationships. Seeks feedback and acts to ensure that stakeholders are having a good experience of working effectively with CUK.
Develop and manage
internal
relationships Manages and coordinates their work within team and with colleagues across CUK. Effectively line managers and develops staff. Encourages a culture of transparency and sharing across CUK.
Communications Provides stakeholders with regular comms; ensuring their needs are met with timely, appealing, communication materials. Represents CUK effectively to audiences in meetings and at events.
Knowledge
Management Responsibility for ensuring team members record and store data accurately and GDPR compliantly.
Generate income
and resources Contributes to plans and proposals to grow sources of income/ manage resources. Negotiates with suppliers/ third parties to reduce cost base. Participates in the development of funding proposals.
Safeguarding, Health Proactively undertakes risk assessment and responsibility for team wellbeing.
& Safety & Wellbeing Proactive in maintaining own wellbeing and supporting direct reports in managing their own wellbeing at work.
Personal Specification
(D) Desirable, (E) Essential
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS
· Degree or Diploma in Business Administration or associated subject (D)
EXPERIENCE
· Provision of administrative and diary assistance to Executive level (E)
· Experience of handling a wide range of correspondence (E)
· Project management skills to track and monitor progress across teams (E) (D)
· Taking and writing minutes, developing reports and presentations (E) (D)
KEY SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE
· Able to build relationships with a range of people and communicate clearly (E)
· Advanced level Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Outlook (E)
· Diplomatic approach and discretion in handling sensitive and confidential information. (E)
· Previously developed time management and prioritisation skills. (E)
PERSONAL QUALITIES & VALUES
· Ability to take initiative and work independently (E)
· Self-motivated and adaptable (E)
· A positive enthusiasm for working within third sector and aligned with Citizens UK’s values (E)
About the application process
We work within diverse communities bringing people together. In line with our Inclusion value, we would love to see applications from LGBTQIA+ people, people from racialised communities, people living with disabilities and people of faith, all to better represent the communities we work in. We want our employees to have the working conditions that allows them to fully participate, be able to be their best authentic selves and thrive doing so, and we have employee networks to support staff. Even if you don’t quite meet all the required criteria still consider applying, as we invest in our employees and support them to develop the skills and knowledge required to deliver their role.
For questions and reasonable adjustments regarding your application including information in a different format, or our recruitment process, please email us.
Thank you!
Community Development & Health Programme Manager - to cover Maternity Leave
Full Time - 37 hrs per week (largely office/community based with some limited work at home permitted)
Salary range - £41,363 - £47,513 per annum, dependant on qualification, skills & previous experience
Fixed term for 12-months covering a period of maternity leave
Based Newhaven with some travel to outreach and delivery locations across E. Sussex
You will be an experienced people, project, and services manager with a track record and flair for developing and delivering community-based services to contract, and which meet identified community needs, in a consistently high quality way. With strong financial acumen and the ability to develop and monitor budgets, you will analyse and explain variances, manage complex and time-limited funding streams, and collaborate regularly with the finance team. The role also involves developing and supporting project staff in effective budget management.
With responsibility for the strategic development of the community development & health work area; which incorporates community infrastructure support & development, youth & families, environmental and active travel initiatives; you will lead, direct & support a multi-disciplinary team who manage the contracts, services and day-to-day delivery of this broad work area.
Skilled at managing relationships with existing funders and commissioners, you will broker new partnerships, write bids and collaborate on funding tenders, ensuring sustained funding for services which support people with complex challenges in our communities. With excellent organisation, communication, finance and project management skills, you will demonstrate sensitivity to the ambitions of this work area and to SCDA’s vision.
We are looking for people to join our team who have the qualities and skills we feel would most benefit our service users; professionalism, empathy, kindness and understanding. In return, we recognise people want to work in a supportive environment with friendly colleagues. We offer a flexible approach to delivery where possible, annual leave of 23 days per year pro rata plus bank holidays and sick pay from the start (increasing with service), additional sick pay for necessary operations and recovery, a pension scheme, bereavement leave, and managers who are available to you… plus a day off for your birthday!
Based Newhaven with travel across E. Sussex, car driver and owner preferred as many delivery locations are rural and not served well by public transport. Post subject to DBS check.
Closing date: 5pm Sunday 22nd March 2026
1st stage interviews: 1st April 2026 in Newhaven
For the job description and to apply, please visit our website.
You may think that you’re not a 100% match to what we’re looking for, but we recognise that some skills and experience may be transferable rather than an exact match. If you’re unsure about whether to apply, please do contact the HR team and we would be happy to arrange an informal discussion with the recruiting manager.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.