Dulwich College

Director of HR

Job Reference FBHVC
Closing Date Monday 13 Mar 2023

Dulwich College seeks to inculcate a culture of equity, respect and support for others, and offers inspired teaching, scholarship and learning in and beyond the classroom. A world-leading boys school with 1,600 pupils aged 7-18 years and a co-educational kindergarten and infants school of 230 (DUCKS), the College employs over 600 staff and enjoys a beautiful and historic site covering 70 acres in south London.

The College has a distinctive ethos which blends traditional elements of independent education with an appetite for innovation. It is very much a place of forward thinking, strongly encouraging intellectual curiosity and the quest for adventurous thinking. Teaching beyond the classroom is fundamental to the College’s ethos, with pupils being encouraged and supported to explore interests well beyond the curriculum and exams (referred to as ‘Free Learning’). The College aims to develop pupils who will be contributors across a broad spectrum of 21st century society. The College is academically selective but socially inclusive. The wide socio-economic range and the diversity of cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds of the pupils make the College a very special place.

The College now seeks to appoint an exceptional Director of HR. This remit, the first of its kind in Dulwich’s history, will focus on increasing the level of strategic HR advice to senior management, supporting and challenging people-related decisions. The successful candidate will take the lead on College-wide initiatives in areas such as staff reward and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion; enhancing and updating existing HR processes and policies and making the most of technology. Used to working with high-quality, best practice systems and processes, the Director of HR will be able to drive any changes needed in an empathetic way, consistent with the culture and ethos of the College.

Successful candidates will bring demonstrable experience of developing organisational HR capacity, an ability to balance the big picture providing useful and strategic advice and input across the organisation together with high attention to detail. They will be adaptable, innovative and confident team players, able to lead on change and actively invite the feedback and views of those around them. Finally, and most crucially, the successful candidate will evidence a clear commitment to our inclusive objectives as well as the continuous development of our staff body.

Dulwich College is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. It is fully committed to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusivity in its recruitment of teaching and operational staff. Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Saxton Bampfylde Ltd is acting as an employment agency advisor to Dulwich College on this appointment. For further information about the role, including details about how to apply, please visit www.saxbam.com/appointments using reference FBHVC. Alternatively, telephone +44 (0)20 7227 0880 (during office hours). Applications should be received by noon on Monday 13th March.

We are a school committed to providing a wealth of opportunities to pupils and colleagues within a nurturing, equitable and caring ethos.