Chief People Officer

Chief People Officer
University of Bradford
Competitive salary 

The University of Bradford is seeking an outstanding Chief People Officer to join its Executive Team and lead the University’s people, culture and organisational development agenda at a pivotal point in its evolution.

Reporting directly to the Vice-Chancellor, the Chief People Officer is a key member of the University Executive Team, contributing not only as a subject expert but as a corporate leader with shared responsibility for the overall direction, performance and success of the institution.

The role will lead the University’s People agenda in support of Strategy 2035, with a particular focus on delivering Strategic Priority 4: A University that Works Better. This will involve building the leadership capability, workforce strength and organisational culture required to enable the University to achieve its ambitions.

You will play a central role in shaping a high-performing, inclusive and accountable institutional culture, ensuring that the University attracts, develops and retains talented people, and that staff are supported to thrive, contribute and deliver impact.

A core priority will be to establish and embed a clear and consistent approach to leadership, performance and organisational effectiveness. You will develop a University-wide People Management Framework, setting expectations for how people are led, developed and held to account, and creating the conditions for stronger institutional performance.

The Chief People Officer will also be instrumental in supporting institutional transformation. You will lead organisational design, workforce strategy and change at scale, ensuring that the University’s structures, operating model and ways of working are aligned to its strategic priorities and enable effective delivery.

Working closely with Executive colleagues, you will help ensure that people and culture are fully integrated into institutional strategy, and that leadership capability and organisational effectiveness underpin success across academic and professional services.

You will lead a professional and high-performing People function, ensuring the provision of credible, responsive and impactful services, and will use data and insight to inform workforce planning, organisational development and decision-making.

The role also carries responsibility for employee and industrial relations, requiring the ability to build constructive, trusted relationships with trade unions and staff representatives, particularly in the context of organisational change.

We are seeking a senior leader with significant experience of leading people, culture or organisational development within a large and complex organisation. You will bring a strong track record of delivering organisational change and transformation, alongside experience of building high-performing cultures and strengthening leadership capability.

You will be a credible and influential leader, able to operate at executive level in a complex, matrixed environment, with the ability to challenge constructively, build alignment and drive delivery. You will demonstrate strong judgement, political awareness and a commitment to inclusion, engagement and organisational integrity.

This is an opportunity to play a central role in shaping the future of a university with a strong sense of purpose, clear strategic direction and deep commitment to inclusion, innovation and impact.

For further information, including how to apply, please visit: University of Bradford – Chief People Officer | AQ

Closing date: noon on Thursday 4th June 2026

We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds and are fully committed to supporting all our employees so that they feel able to be their whole selves at work. We particularly welcome applications from black and minority ethnic, disabled and LGBTQ+ candidates.