Director of People and Operations
Director of People and Operations
Posted on :
05-06-2025
Employer Active
1 Vacancy
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Job Description
About the Role
Our People Vision
We believe the most powerful lever for change in the world is leadership and that starts with our own people.
Our ambition is to be a magnetic organisation: one that attracts extraordinary people nurtures their growth and transforms how they lead. When they leave theyve shaped our mission and been shaped by it.
This means:
The Role
Youll lead and steward our operating system not as a back-office function but as the architecture of how we work: how decisions are made how teams collaborate and how tools and systems shape our culture:
While the core focus is internal for the right candidate theres scope to contribute to client-facing work particularly with partner organisations rethinking their own leadership and culture.
A note on technology: Were proud of the human values-led culture weve built. Now were becoming a Human Tech organisation - where technology and AI amplify human potential allowing our team to do their best most meaningful work.
Key Responsibilites
1. Lead our People Experience and Team Development
We believe the most powerful lever for change in the world is leadership and that starts with our own people.
Our ambition is to be a magnetic organisation: one that attracts extraordinary people nurtures their growth and transforms how they lead. When they leave theyve shaped our mission and been shaped by it.
This means:
- We dont just want good people we want the bold the brave and the deeply curious.
- We help them build their craft in leadership transformation innovation design and facilitation.
- We practice responsible leadership every day in how we work and partner with others.
- We use technology wisely and intentionally whilst always nurturing the best of what makes us human.
The Role
Youll lead and steward our operating system not as a back-office function but as the architecture of how we work: how decisions are made how teams collaborate and how tools and systems shape our culture:
- Attract nurture and retain a high-performing values-led team.
- Design our operating system as we double in size over the next 35 years.
- Build a leadership institution that is bothAI-nativeanddeeply human where the best of people and technology combine to drive impact.
While the core focus is internal for the right candidate theres scope to contribute to client-facing work particularly with partner organisations rethinking their own leadership and culture.
A note on technology: Were proud of the human values-led culture weve built. Now were becoming a Human Tech organisation - where technology and AI amplify human potential allowing our team to do their best most meaningful work.
Key Responsibilites
1. Lead our People Experience and Team Development
- Design and deliver an end-to-end people experience from attraction and onboarding through to alumni including integrating our Associate Directors and facilitators into the core team.
- Build the systems structures and opportunities that enable people to do meaningful work grow as leaders and progress with clarity and purpose.
- Attract brilliant values-driven talent with deep craft and high standards not just conventional high performers.
- Champion a learning culture and shape a tailored development ecosystem: mentoring formal learning feedback systems and cross-functional growth.
- Codify internal behaviours and working norms that foster trust clarity accountability and high performance.
- Translate our strategy into a coherent organisational roadmap.
- Design and evolve our operating system including a scalable and commercially-robust delivery model for both high-touch programmes and advisory work.
- Lead annual and quarterly planning (e.g. OKRs) to drive clarity alignment and accountability.
- Steward a culture of curiosity courage inclusion and mastery where people to grow through their work.
- Drive AI adoption and digital enablement embedding tools and workflows that enhance capability and effectiveness.
- Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure coordination and cohesion.
- Develop clear inclusive policies that reflect our values and promote good practice without bureaucracy.
- Lead governance risk insurance and cybersecurity practices ensuring integrity and trust.
- Oversee our workplace and hybrid working experience as an extension of our brand and enabler of culture and performance.
- Simplify and improve internal processes and contracting systems without compromising our human-centred culture.
- Uphold our responsible business commitments.
About You
We believe different perspectives make us stronger. Were committed to building a team that reflects the world we serve so we welcome people from all walks of life who bring the mindset experience and ambition to help us grow our impact.
Youll be joining at a pivotal moment. Youll work closely with the CEO and MD sit on the senior leadership team shape how the organisation works as we build a next generation leadership firm.
APPLY IF YOU ARE
You dont need to tick every box. If you bring the vision energy and alignment well back you to grow into the rest.
Youll be joining at a pivotal moment. Youll work closely with the CEO and MD sit on the senior leadership team shape how the organisation works as we build a next generation leadership firm.
APPLY IF YOU ARE
- A seasoned CPO COO Chief of Staff or senior people/ops leaderwith experience in fast-moving values-led growing environments
- Fluent in dynamic commercial settings- consultancy agency start-up. You know how to build systems for fast-paced project-led work and you have a commercial mindset.
- A people-first strategistwho sees organisational design as a lever for performance and purpose. You treat people strategy as business strategy.
- A systems thinker and hands-on builder- you spot inefficiencies design smarter ways of working and move fast from idea to execution.
- Curious about technology- you experiment with AI and use tech to drive smarter more human work.
- A believer in operations as choreography- where structure and rhythm shape culture and impact.
- Strategic grounded and emotionally intelligent- you care about the people behind the systems and the ethics behind the decisions.
- Motivated by purpose- you challenge with kindness design with clarity and believe how we work matters as much as what we do.
- Deeply aligned with our mission- you believe better leadership builds a better world and want to help model that from the inside out.
You dont need to tick every box. If you bring the vision energy and alignment well back you to grow into the rest.
About us
Its an exceptional time to be a leader. AI is transforming the nature of work and decision-making. Geopolitical shifts are upending old certainties. A cultural reckoning around ESG purpose and EDI is unfolding even as the crises of climate inequality and polarisation grow more urgent.
At the Forward Institute we believe that this moment demands a new kind of leadership: courageous morally serious deeply human and above all responsible.
Over the past decade weve worked with senior leaders from some of the most important institutions across business government and civil society. Now were going further - partnering with CEOs founders and senior leaders to help build the most impactful organisations of our time.
As we enter our next chapter were committed to being a living model of the future-fit leadership we champion whilst significantly growing the organisation and scaling our impact.
Your role To help lead that evolution.
As Director of People and Operations youll architect the systems culture and rhythms to power us for the decade ahead.
At the Forward Institute we believe that this moment demands a new kind of leadership: courageous morally serious deeply human and above all responsible.
Over the past decade weve worked with senior leaders from some of the most important institutions across business government and civil society. Now were going further - partnering with CEOs founders and senior leaders to help build the most impactful organisations of our time.
As we enter our next chapter were committed to being a living model of the future-fit leadership we champion whilst significantly growing the organisation and scaling our impact.
Your role To help lead that evolution.
As Director of People and Operations youll architect the systems culture and rhythms to power us for the decade ahead.
Benefits
A front-row seat to shape the future of leadership at a defining moment for business and society working with some of the UKs most influential leaders and institutions.
A high-energy values-led team we move fast challenge each other and care deeply about the work we do and how we do it.
Real scope to shape an organisation in motion with autonomy influence and the chance to be at the heart of building a new kind of leadership organisation.
Serious investment in your growth world-class development coaching exposure to cutting-edge ideas and the chance to work at the intersection of culture systems and strategy.
A meaningful executive role with autonomy visibility and the chance to influence both our internal design and (if of interest) our client-facing work.
Hybrid working and true flexibility including 30 days holiday bank holidays and a home office setup allowance.
Health & financial benefits private health insurance (Vitality) 5% employer pension contribution and holistic wellbeing support.
A competitive salarydepending on experience. Were hiring at a senior strategic level. For the right person were open to shaping a broader offer.
A high-energy values-led team we move fast challenge each other and care deeply about the work we do and how we do it.
Real scope to shape an organisation in motion with autonomy influence and the chance to be at the heart of building a new kind of leadership organisation.
Serious investment in your growth world-class development coaching exposure to cutting-edge ideas and the chance to work at the intersection of culture systems and strategy.
A meaningful executive role with autonomy visibility and the chance to influence both our internal design and (if of interest) our client-facing work.
Hybrid working and true flexibility including 30 days holiday bank holidays and a home office setup allowance.
Health & financial benefits private health insurance (Vitality) 5% employer pension contribution and holistic wellbeing support.
A competitive salarydepending on experience. Were hiring at a senior strategic level. For the right person were open to shaping a broader offer.
How to Apply
Pease send us your CV and a video covering letter (max five minutes) answering the following question:
Based on your understanding of the Forward Institutes mission and our vision for the next decade what do you believe we most need from our next Director of People and Operations Please share what enables you to meetand surpassthat need. Wed love to hear about the experiences passions mindsets and areas of expertise that shape how you lead and drive impact.
We recommend uploading your video to a platform of your choice (e.g. YouTube Vimeo Google Drive) and sharing the link within a short document. Then upload that document as your cover letter via the application portal. If video isnt a comfortable format for you please let us know. We want the process to work for you.
You must have the right to work in the UK.
Applications close on 23rd June. The process may slightly evolve depending on the number of applications but will likely include:
Based on your understanding of the Forward Institutes mission and our vision for the next decade what do you believe we most need from our next Director of People and Operations Please share what enables you to meetand surpassthat need. Wed love to hear about the experiences passions mindsets and areas of expertise that shape how you lead and drive impact.
We recommend uploading your video to a platform of your choice (e.g. YouTube Vimeo Google Drive) and sharing the link within a short document. Then upload that document as your cover letter via the application portal. If video isnt a comfortable format for you please let us know. We want the process to work for you.
You must have the right to work in the UK.
Applications close on 23rd June. The process may slightly evolve depending on the number of applications but will likely include:
- First round interviews and role related task: 1 or 2 July
- Final round (will include a 2nd task): 7 July
About us
At the Forward Institute we believe leaders are the worlds most powerful force for change. The next decade demands a new kind of leadership: courageous deeply human and fit for a world in transition.
Leadership is having a once-in-a-generation reckoning. AI is reshaping decision-making influence and power. Geopolitics is disrupting the established world order. How our leaders respond will shape our society for decades to come.
Thats why were building the UKs most ambitious leadership organisation - helping senior leaders act with purpose and responsibility in a world shaped by disruptive technology climate crisis and profound social change. Organisations come to us because they recognise that the old rules of leadership are obsolete and they need new answers
Weve spent the last 10 years working with 1000s of senior leaders in some of the most important institutions across business government and civil society. Now were going further - partnering withCEOs founders and senior leaders to help them build the most impactful organisations of our time.
Were entering a pivotal chapter; evolving our brand launching bold new initiatives (including into leadership and AI) and doubling down on our mission.
Now were looking for a brilliant entrepreneurial mission-driven Head of Growth & Partnerships to sit at the heart of that mission - and help scale it.
Change Leadership Change Everything
Leadership is having a once-in-a-generation reckoning. AI is reshaping decision-making influence and power. Geopolitics is disrupting the established world order. How our leaders respond will shape our society for decades to come.
Thats why were building the UKs most ambitious leadership organisation - helping senior leaders act with purpose and responsibility in a world shaped by disruptive technology climate crisis and profound social change. Organisations come to us because they recognise that the old rules of leadership are obsolete and they need new answers
Weve spent the last 10 years working with 1000s of senior leaders in some of the most important institutions across business government and civil society. Now were going further - partnering withCEOs founders and senior leaders to help them build the most impactful organisations of our time.
Were entering a pivotal chapter; evolving our brand launching bold new initiatives (including into leadership and AI) and doubling down on our mission.
Now were looking for a brilliant entrepreneurial mission-driven Head of Growth & Partnerships to sit at the heart of that mission - and help scale it.
Change Leadership Change Everything
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
Key Skills
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