Assistant Director of People & Organisational Development

Assistant Director of People & Organisational Development

Location: Edinburgh
Salary: £57,696.82 per annum + £4,564.80 per annum car allowance
Hours: 32 hours per week (full-time)
Contract: Permanent

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. As a values‑driven housing and social care organisation, we create inclusive communities where people can live with dignity, independence and belonging.

About The Role

This senior People & OD leadership role is part of Ark’s Senior Leadership Team. It focuses on shaping Ark’s culture, workforce strategy, and people systems to support the organisation’s long‑term ambitions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of Ark’s People & OD and Workforce Strategy priorities.
• Provide strategic and professional advice to the Executive Team, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Management.
• Lead People Services, Talent & Engagement, Learning & OD and workforce functions.
• Oversee workforce planning, succession planning and leadership capability development.
• Lead workforce analytics, people dashboards and evidence‑based reporting.
• Support organisational change, continuous improvement and digital transformation.
• Provide strategic oversight of employee relations, employment law and regulatory compliance.
• Support recruitment, retention and workforce sustainability.
• Ensure People & OD systems, processes and governance are robust, effective and future‑focused.
• Support key corporate priorities, including implementation of Employment Hero.
• Prepare and present papers, reports and workforce insights for senior governance forums.

About You

• Strong track record in a senior People, HR or OD leadership role.
• Experience developing and delivering organisation‑wide People, OD and workforce strategies.
• Experience operating as part of a senior leadership team.
• Strong knowledge of employment law, employee relations, regulatory compliance and people governance.
• Experience leading multi‑function People teams, including HR operations, L&D, OD, recruitment, payroll or people systems.
• Confidence using workforce data, analytics and insight to support strategic decision‑making.
• Experience preparing Board papers and presenting at senior governance forums.
• Strong change leadership, project management and organisational development skills.
• Experience supporting succession planning, leadership development and workforce sustainability.
• Chartered CIPD membership, or equivalent professional status.
• Relevant postgraduate qualification (Master’s or Postgraduate Diploma) or equivalent professional experience.

Why Work With Us?

Ark is a values‑driven housing and social care organisation dedicated to improving lives. This role offers the chance to shape how Ark supports, develops and engages its people for the future.

Benefits

• A 4‑day working week with no loss of pay.
• Hybrid working.
• A generous annual leave allowance, with additional leave awarded as your service grows.
• 4% contributory pension.
• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support.
• Employee discounts, access to Blue Light Card and Cycle to Work scheme.
• Annual leave buy and sell options.