Director of HR

Sevenoaks is a leading co-educational day and boarding school for students aged 11 to 18 and in the top five large-cohort IB schools globally. The school is gearing up for its 600th anniversary, yet prides itself on remaining ambitious for the future and forward-looking. The school is set in a beautiful 100-acre campus in Sevenoaks and is just 30 minutes from London by train. With 1,200 students from 70 different nationalities and 500 staff, Sevenoaks is one of the largest employers in the local area, employing staff in a wide variety of roles and aiming to be an employer of choice for outstanding talent from around the world.

The Director of HR will lead the development of Sevenoaks’ HR agenda and drive transformational change to ensure a first-rate and responsive service. Reporting to the Bursar and working closely with the Headmaster and a progressive new senior leadership team, the postholder will provide strategic leadership across the school in all staff-related matters. The Director of HR will drive the development and implementation of the school’s People Plan, covering important areas of equity, diversity & inclusion, wellbeing, recruitment & retention, and performance & development, in support of the school’s overarching strategic goals.

Sevenoaks is looking for a first-rate professional who is motivated by the school’s mission to support young people to flourish, is energised by working with diverse colleagues and appreciates the value of a welcoming, supportive community. The Director of HR will be a strategic leader who has the skills and experience necessary to lead and inspire a six-strong HR team, transform policies and processes, and release capacity to provide proactive, effective support for a people-oriented, high calibre culture. Experience of leading an HR function within an organisation of relevant complexity and scale and a successful track record of service delivery and process improvement are important. Prior experience of working in a school is not essential but the successful candidate should have an empathy for independent education.

This is a full-time/all-year role based primarily on campus with some flexibility to work from home in line with the school’s flexible working policy. The school offers a competitive salary and benefits package, including fee remission for eligible children.  

For full details on this outstanding opportunity, please visit https://www.minervasearch.com/sevenoaks. 

To apply, please send a CV and Cover Letter to [email removed - click apply for more details] by no later than noon on Monday 24th October 2022. Please note, any candidates selected for interview will be required to complete an application form.

Safeguarding Statement

The post-holder will be responsible for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and must ensure compliance with the school’s Safeguarding Policy at all times. This appointment will be subject to checks on background, career history and fitness to undertake the role. Sevenoaks School strives to promote the positive mental and physical health of all staff and is committed to ensuring that every member of the school community feels welcomed, included and valued.