Full-time | Executive Board | Reports to the Chief Operating Officer
The Royal College of Art is seeking an exceptional people leader to become our next Director of People and Culture.
This is a pivotal Executive Board appointment at an exciting point in the College's development. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, the Director will lead the delivery of an ambitious people agenda that supports the RCA's Strategic Plan 2026–2030, ensuring we continue to attract, develop and retain outstanding talent while fostering a diverse, inclusive and high-performing community.
The successful candidate will provide strategic leadership across all aspects of people and culture, including workforce planning, organisational effectiveness, employee relations, leadership development, organisational culture and HR service delivery. Working closely with Executive Board colleagues, they will help shape institutional strategy and lead the people and culture agenda through a period of significant change.
We are looking for an experienced senior people and culture leader who can demonstrate:
A strong track record of strategic people leadership in a complex organisation.
Experience of leading organisational change and workforce planning.
The ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders and recognised trade unions.
Excellent leadership, influencing and communication skills.
A commitment to creating an inclusive, collaborative and high-performing culture.
To apply, please submit:
An up-to-date CV.
A covering letter (maximum two pages) outlining how your experience, skills and achievements meet the requirements of the role.
Applications should be submitted to
[email protected] no later than 5.00pm on Friday 7 August 2026.
Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 17 August 2026.
For an informal and confidential discussion about the role, please contact Heather Akif, Chief Operating Officer.
