Chief People Officer

Romero Catholic Academy Trust is seeking a values-led, strategically minded Chief People Officer to shape and lead our people strategy during a period of purposeful growth and change.

Applications close: 9 a.m. Wednesday 3^rd September 2025
Location: Padiham, Near Burnley

About Romero Catholic Academy Trust

Romero Catholic Academy Trust is one of three multi-academy trusts established by the Catholic Diocese of Salford. We serve the northern area of the Diocese; specifically, the local authorities of Lancashire, Blackburn with Darwen and Calderdale with a clear and ambitious purpose: to work together so our schools can improve outcomes, enrich experiences and enhance the future life chances of every child and young person in our care.

We are a growing trust of 12 primary schools and 4 secondary schools, and we expect our family to expand further in the coming years. Our schools include both directive academy orders and voluntary converters; schools that have joined us because they believe in the value of Catholic community, collective strength and mutual support.

Our vision is rooted in the life and legacy of Saint Oscar Romero, who reminds us that while we cannot do everything, we can do something, and we can do it very well. His words inspire us to lead with humility and hope, to build for the long term and to focus on what truly matters: the flourishing of every child and adult in our communities.

We are a Catholic family of schools that are united in mission, diverse in context and committed to realising our shared values of:

• Faith: We nurture belief in God and uphold the dignity of every person.
• Service: We live out our faith through compassion, justice and action.
• Aspiration: We work to fulfil the God-given potential of every individual.
• Collaboration: We act in solidarity and share responsibility for all.

About the role

Our Trust is entering a new and exciting phase. With a new CEO and Chair of the Trust Board and a commitment to grow sustainably and strategically, we are investing in leadership capacity across all levels. We know that to deliver outstanding education, we must first create the conditions in which our people thrive, and that’s why this new Chief People Officer role is critical to us.

The Chief People Officer will play a key strategic role at Romero Catholic Academy Trust, shaping the Trust’s overall people strategy and building the structures, culture and capacity to ensure our workforce thrives—now and into the future.

This is a new role on our Executive Leadership Team, reporting directly to the CEO. You will provide professional leadership across all aspects of people development and HR, from workforce planning and organisational design to well-being, talent, policy, systems and staff engagement.

As our Trust grows, so too will the complexity and opportunity within the role.

Who we are looking for

We seek someone who can bring clarity, purpose and compassion to the work of building a flourishing, mission-driven workforce.

You will also bring a combination of strategic insight, emotional intelligence, and values-led leadership.

You will be an experienced people and culture professional, ideally with a background in education, public service or values-driven organisations. You’ll have a deep understanding of how to shape and deliver a people strategy that enables a thriving, mission-aligned workforce across a complex and growing organisation.

You will understand that people are at the heart of school improvement and that building a culture where staff feel seen, heard, supported and stretched is essential to delivering great outcomes for pupils. You’ll be someone who listens deeply, responds wisely and can bring people with you.

We are particularly interested in candidates who can demonstrate:

• Strategic leadership experience in workforce, culture, HR or organisational development
• A proven ability to lead change with empathy, clarity and credibility
• A values-driven approach that aligns with our Catholic ethos and commitment to the Common Good
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively and influence across diverse stakeholder groups
• A track record of building inclusive, high-performing teams and leading staff wellbeing and engagement initiatives
• Experience of working in or with schools, education trusts or similarly complex settings (desirable but not essential)

You do not need to be a practising Catholic, but you must be willing to support the mission, vision and values of a Catholic trust and work in a way that reflects our commitment to service, dignity and faith.

Most of all, we’re looking for someone who cares deeply about people and who sees this role as an opportunity to build a workforce culture that reflects the hope, love and ambition we hold for our children.

Peridot Partners and Romero Catholic Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and our client expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references before any final offer can be made.

For further information about the role and to register your interest, please contact our advising consultants at Peridot Partners: https://www.peridotpartners.co.uk/jobs/chief-people-officer-romero-catholic-academy-trust/