Head of People at One Small Thing, London, Greater London

Head of People
Salary: £55,000 to £60,000 FTE per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week
Contract: Permanent
Location: Remote, or based at our head office in London, UK-wide travel required

About Us

One Small Thing is a UK-based charity dedicated to redesigning the justice system through a traumainformed approach. We work to ensure that women and their children affected by the justice system are supported with dignity, compassion, and understanding. By influencing policy, delivering innovative programmes, and creating safe, nurturing environments, we aim to break cycles of disadvantage and enable lasting, positive change. We are a values-driven organisation, committed to collaboration, learning, and placing lived experience at the heart of everything we do.

About You and The role

This is a senior, hands-on Head of People role with responsibility for leading the day-to-day People function across OST. The post-holder will provide authoritative advice on complex and high-risk employee relations matters, support and challenge managers, ensure governance is followed in policy and practice, and develop the tools, systems and capability OST needs to operate well as it grows.

Working closely with the Chief Financial Officer, the Head of People will translate strategy into clear operational priorities, provide evidence-based advice on workforce risks and emerging issues, and ensure agreed plans are implemented consistently across OST. The role is expected to contribute professional insight and constructive challenge without carrying sole accountability for organisation wide people strategy.

The post-holder is expected to look 6 to 12 months ahead — anticipating what tools, processes and capability OST will need — while remaining a credible, available source of practical HR support for the team today.

Working with us

At One Small Thing, we offer a supportive and values-led working environment, alongside a competitive benefits package that includes flexible working, generous annual leave, and access to wellbeing support. We are committed to your development, providing opportunities for learning, reflection and growth, so you can thrive in your role while making a meaningful difference.

Closing Date: 5.00pm on Wednesday 25th November 2026.

Interested?

If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.

Equity, Inclusion and Safeguarding One Small Thing is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion, and we actively value the insight and expertise that comes from lived experience of the issues we work with. We welcome applications from individuals with a wide range of backgrounds, including those who have experience of the justice system.

Safer recruitment is central to the safeguarding of adults, children, and young people at risk. One Small Thing is committed to the safeguarding of every woman and child who is part of the Hope Street community and expects all team members to share this commitment.

As part of the recruitment process, the successful candidate will be required to complete the relevant vetting and barring checks. A criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from being appointed.

The DBS check for this role will be at basic level. Failure to declare any relevant information that is later provided by the Disclosure and Barring Service, may result in any offer of employment being withdrawn.

No agencies please.