Chief People Officer

At Royal Holloway we are resolute in our ambition to be a University of Social Purpose. Our students are the heart of what we do, and we are committed to academic excellence and inclusion: a commitment which is threaded through our education, student experience, research and the ways in which our students and colleagues engage with our local, national and global communities. We are proud to be one of the country’s leading research-intensive institutions, assessed to be in the top 25% in the UK in REF2021. Through the dedication of our academics to teaching and learning, discoveries that change the world, and the distinctive feel of the Royal Holloway experience, we have built a diverse and supportive community that inspires students and colleagues to succeed.

At a pivotal moment in Royal Holloway’s evolution, we are now seeking to appoint a new Chief People Officer (CPO). As a senior leader reporting to the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, this Executive Board role is central to delivering the RH2030s strategy and will play a transformative role in shaping the institution’s future.

The successful candidate will lead the newly formed People, Culture and Transformation (PCT) division, driving a step-change in how the University attracts, develops, and supports its people. Working in partnership with academic and professional service leaders, the CPO will ensure that Royal Holloway is a place where people thrive — where leadership is inclusive, performance is recognised and rewarded, and wellbeing is prioritised. They will champion equality, diversity, and belonging, ensuring these principles are embedded in every aspect of the colleague experience. This is not simply a leadership role in HR — it is a strategic position that will influence every part of the University’s operations, culture, and long-term success.

The successful candidate will possess an outstanding track record of leadership in organisations of comparable scale and complexity. They will have first-rate advisory and influencing skills and the intellectual agility to support of the University’s ambitions in a rapidly evolving policy environment. Comfortable with ambiguity and complexity, they will have well-developed diplomacy, communication and relationship building skills and a proven ability to deal with multiple internal and external stakeholders.

This is a significant moment in the history of the University. It is one in which, as a community and as a senior leadership team, we are seeking to shape a future that is as daring and future-facing as the principles which were at the heart of our two founding colleges, Bedford and Royal Holloway, which opened to enable women’s education in 1849 and 1886 respectively. If you have the right experience, skills and track record of success and share our passion and ambition, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Applications are invited by close of business on Friday 9^th January 2026.

Advert information