Head of Talent and Development (FTC Maternity Cover)

We're looking for an experienced and passionate of Head of Talent and Development to join our People Team located at Head Office in Islington on a Fixed Term contract for estimated 13 months to cover maternity leave.

£55,000.00 - £60,000.00 (depending on experience) per annum, working 35 hours per week.

Start date is 1st December 2026

Our benefits include:

· Annual leave increasing up to 30 days with length of service

· A generous pension - we will contribute up to 8% and life assurance cover up to 3x Pensionable Salary (T&Cs apply)

Strategic Leadership - Recruitment, Learning & Inclusion

· Develop innovative approaches to attracting, developing and retaining talent in a challenging labour market.

Recruitment & Talent Acquisition

· Lead Look Ahead's recruitment approach to ensure effective attraction, selection, and onboarding of high-quality candidates.

Learning, Development & Workforce Capability

· Oversee management and leadership development programmes that strengthen management and leadership capability across Look Ahead.

Inclusion and Diversity

· Provide leadership for inclusion and diversity across Look Ahead.

Systems, Data & Continuous Improvement

· Oversee the continuous improvement of recruitment, HR and learning systems, ensuring effective use of data, AI, technology and digital tools

Culture, Engagement & Employee Experience

· Promote a culture where diverse perspectives are recognised and valued

Leadership & Team Management

· Set clear objectives and professional development plans for team members.

Governance, Risk & Compliance

· Ensure recruitment and training practices comply with legal, safeguarding responsibilities and regulatory

requirements.

· Maintain strong governance processes across recruitment and learning activities.

About you

· Strong stakeholder management and excellent relationship-building skills.

Essential

• Experience leading recruitment and/or learning and development functions