Head of People and Culture

We are looking for an experienced senior HR professional to join us as Head of People and Culture on a part-time basis. This is a key role leading the delivery of the People and Culture section, focusing on capabilities, values, behaviour, training and organisational culture while supporting the delivery of the Horniman’s Forward Plan. You will act as a strategic business partner, providing expert HR advice and support to managers and teams, strengthening organisational capability and shaping a positive, inclusive culture.

Job title: Head of People and Culture
Salary: £54,528 per annum, pro-rata (Actual salary: £32,716.80 per annum)
Hours: Part-time, 0.6 FTE, 21 hours per week (flexible working pattern agreed in line with organisational needs)
Location: Based at our Forest Hill site, London

About Us
The Horniman Museum and Gardens is a unique place in south east London where global cultures and the natural world are brought together for everyone to enjoy. The Museum holds internationally important collections of anthropology and musical instruments, as well as a popular natural history gallery and Aquarium. The 16 acres of beautiful Gardens offer stunning views across London and feature a tropical Butterfly House, a nature play area, and London’s oldest Nature Trail.

Our Culture and Values
At the Horniman, our values are central to how we work and the culture we expect all colleagues to contribute to. We are a highly collaborative, values-driven organisation, and success in this role will depend on building strong and effective working relationships across the organisation. We are looking for a leader who demonstrates our values of being caring, friendly, respectful, and inclusive, and who works in a collegiate and collaborative way with colleagues at all levels, including the Senior Management Team and Board. We particularly welcome candidates who are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and who thrive in values-led environments.

Key Responsibilities
• Lead People and Culture strategy, organisational development and employee engagement
• Provide expert advice on employee relations, employment law, organisational change and HR policies
• Promote equitable recruitment, pay, reward, learning and development, and effective people practices
• Embed the organisation’s values and commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and anti-racism
• Lead and develop the People and Culture team, budget and key professional service relationships
• Support safeguarding across the organisation, acting as a Designated Safeguarding Officer and participating in the Safeguarding Working Party

About You
We are looking for a senior HR professional with significant experience in a similar role, strong technical expertise and a deep understanding of HR best practice. You will be either CIPD qualified or have extensive professional HR experience.

You will bring:
• Strong knowledge of employment law, HR policy and complex employee relations
• Proven senior-level experience across a broad range of HR functions, including organisational change and working with trade unions and staff representatives in a mutually beneficial way
• Experience of applying equity, diversity and inclusion or anti-racism principles in a workplace setting
• Strong communication, influencing and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work strategically, manage competing priorities and lead a small team
• Good working knowledge of HR systems and strong ICT literacy

Closing Date for Applications: 10am on Monday 19 October 2026
First Interviews: w/c 1 November (TBC)

Please note: A Basic DBS check is required for this post

The Horniman is an equal opportunities employer and we value and celebrate diversity. We want to better represent the communities in which we work but recognise that there is still much work to do in this area. We welcome and encourage all applicants and particularly encourage you to apply if you are from a community that is often disadvantaged by society or of minority background.