Director of People

Director of People

Application Deadline: 27 July 2026

Department: People

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Chilcomb

Reporting To: Paul Sapwell

Compensation: £70,000 / year

Description

Level: 1

Salary: £70,000 FTE

Location: Chilcomb House, Winchester

Hours: 37 hours per week. We are willing to consider applications for part-time working (80%) and hybrid working across Hampshire.

Type of Contract: Permanent

Change Lives Through Culture by Leading our Most Valuable Asset - Our People

Hampshire Cultural Trust runs 20 museums, galleries and arts centres across the county, caring for 2.5 million historic objects and welcoming over 750k visitors a year. We use culture to improve people's lives through social impact programmes, community partnerships, work with children and young people, and experiences that improve health and wellbeing. We are an independent charity with regional scale, a 2030 growth strategy, and a clear purpose: to change lives through culture.

We are seeking an exceptional Director of People and Culture to lead our most important asset - our people. You will work at the heart of our executive team, helping 170 employees and 500+ volunteers thrive, grow and make their mark.

A bit about you

You will:

• Shape Strategy: Align our people strategy with HCT 2030 - supporting social impact, commercial growth and fundraising ambitions in equal measure
• Empower Leaders: Coach senior executives and managers to build resilient, customer-centric, high-performing teams
• Drive Experience: Develop our full talent lifecycle, from onboarding, continuous engagement and personal development, and continue to build our employer brand
• Nurture Well-Being: Safeguard employee mental health, manage balanced workloads, and ensure a fulfilling work environment
• Deliver Basic Building Blocks of HR: Ensure legal compliance and robust governance of policies and standard operating practices, while continuing to develop our employee and volunteer offer

We need a:

• Strategic Leader: Proven success managing HR at a senior or director level within complex, customer-facing or charitable sectors, able to participate in the executive leadership team and Trustee board
• Commercially Minded: Comfortable blending mission-led, charitable values with agile, commercial growth strategies
• Inspirational Communicator: Exceptional relationship builder skilled at collaborating with executives, trustees, and diverse frontline staff
• Culture Builder: Expert in talent development and employee engagement
• Subject Matter Expert: In HR, learning and development, and staff engagement

Ready to Make your Mark?

If you want to find out more, you can view the Hampshire Cultural Trust 2030 strategy and explore details of working for the Hampshire Cultural Trust in the recruitment materials.

Who we are

At Hampshire Cultural Trust we aim to create inspirational culture experiences that enrich and transform lives. We manage and support 20+ attractions and deliver county-wide outreach programmes that bring culture to local communities. We also deliver a range of social impact initiatives for those who are underserved and would not usually have access to arts and culture.

We promote equity, inclusion and diversity and value difference. We encourage and support the health and wellbeing of all staff and are committed to recruiting a diverse workforce and implementing reasonable adjustments for candidates with disabilities in recruitment and employment.

The benefits of working for us

• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays (pro-rated for part time working)
• 7.5% Employer pension contributions
• Generous maternity, adoption and paternity pay
• Enhanced occupational sick pay
• Generous compassionate leave
• Paid emergency leave
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Access to same day GP appointments for employees and their immediate family
• Electric Vehicle Lease Scheme (terms and conditions apply)
• Income Protection Scheme (terms and conditions apply)
• Life assurance (x3 annual salary)
• Interest-free Season ticket loans
• Discounts for staff
• Eye care vouchers for VDU use
• Free flu vaccination vouchers
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Health Cash Plan
• Opportunities to learn, develop and progress
• Free tea and coffee
• Team access to venues for staff, friends and family

Timeframes

We will be running a dynamic recruitment process so please apply as soon as possible; interviews may occur before the closing date.

Closing date for applications: 27 July 2026.

To learn more about us, visit the Hampshire Cultural Trust website.