Head of People

Job title and organisation: Head of People - East SILC
Salary: Director 51-53 £59,513 - £62,253
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: East SILC
Closing Date and Time: Sunday 1 November 2026

Lead People Strategy at One of the Region’s Most Ambitious Specialist Settings

East Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre (SILC) is a large, complex 2–19 generic special school with 470 learners on roll.

We operate across multiple sites and deliver a wide range of specialist services across the city, including partnerships with mainstream schools, the city-wide Physical Difficulties and Medical Service, and the Medical Needs Teaching Service for Leeds.

Exceptional Education for Exceptional Lives sits at the heart of everything we do.

This is a rare opportunity to join a highly ambitious, values-led organisation and play a pivotal strategic role in shaping workforce culture, capacity and long-term sustainability across a complex SEND environment. As Head of People, you will directly influence outcomes for children, families and staff across our organisation and the wider system.

What Makes This Role Different?

• You will lead and deliver workforce strategy across a complex, multi-site, city-wide SEND organisation—not a single-setting model
• You will operate at the intersection of education, health and care, influencing system-wide practice
• You will shape not only staffing structures, but the lived experience of learners with complex needs
• You will work directly with, and provide expert, credible advice to an experienced Executive Principal and Governing Board, with genuine strategic influence

This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious senior HR leader seeking to make a meaningful and measurable impact.

Our Values

At East SILC, our work is underpinned by our core values of:

Kindness | Integrity | Ambition | Collective Responsibility

As Head of People, you will play a central role in embedding these values across all aspects of workforce practice, culture and leadership.

The Opportunity

This is a high-impact strategic leadership role where you will:

• Drive sustainable recruitment and retention in a challenging labour market
• Use workforce data and insight to shape strategic decision-making and organisational improvement
• Shape and embed a values-led, inclusive and high-performing organisational culture

You will lead the People function with significant autonomy, influencing workforce sustainability, staff experience and organisational performance at scale.

About You

We are seeking a strategic and values-led people leader who thrives in complex environments and is motivated by making a tangible difference.

You will:

• Bring substantial experience of senior HR/People leadership within a complex organisation
• Hold CIPD Level 7 (or equivalent) with strong employment law expertise
• Demonstrate a proven track record of delivering workforce strategy and organisational change
• Be highly analytical, using data to drive insight-led decision-making
• Build credibility and trust with leaders, staff, unions and external partners
• Lead with integrity, professionalism and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding
• Leadership or executive‑level professional development would be desirable.

Why Join East SILC?

Strategic Influence and Impact

• A genuine opportunity to shape workforce strategy across a high-profile, values-led SEND organisation
• Direct influence on organisational direction and long-term sustainability
• Close working with senior leaders and governors

A Strong Wellbeing Offer

• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Access to independent wellbeing support through the Schools Advisory Service
• A wide range of Leeds City Council benefits, including:
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• VIVUP employee benefits platform

Professional Development and Leadership Growth

• Ongoing professional development and leadership opportunities
• A collaborative culture that prioritises coaching, reflection and continuous improvement
• Opportunities to contribute to system-wide leadership and practice

How to Apply

Apply now via our website: East Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre (East SILC) |

For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact: Louise Quinn, Executive Principal.

We strongly encourage prospective candidates to arrange a conversation to fully understand the scope and impact of this opportunity. We're open to discussing flexible working arrangements, including how and where the role is delivered. If you would like to explore this before submitting an application, then please contact Louise Quinn, as above, for an informal conversation.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s barred list will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

The above post is not a Leeds City Council vacancy and has been advertised on behalf of the relevant organisation. To apply please follow their application instructions.
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