Strategic People Partner - People Support

Strategic People Partner – People Support

Location: Flexible (with travel to Anchor sites as needed; head office is Bradford, West Yorkshire)
Department: People & Culture Directorate
Reports to: Director of People & Culture

Are you a strategic HR leader ready to transform how we support our people? At Anchor, England’s largest not-for-profit provider of housing and care for the over-55s, our 10,000 colleagues across 1,700 sites are the backbone of our mission to help people enjoy later life. We’re looking for a Strategic People Partner to join our People Leadership Team, driving our People Transformation agenda and ensuring our People Support services—People Relations, Operations, Payroll, Learning Solutions, and Programme Team—are future-ready and exceptional. If you’re passionate about systems, change, and making a real impact, this is your moment!

About the Role:

Reporting to the Director of People & Culture, you’ll lead a dynamic team to deliver seamless, efficient people services that align with Anchor’s goals. You’ll use data and systems to spark transformation, streamline processes, and build a sustainable change community that keeps our 65,000 residents and colleagues at the heart of what we do. Working closely with senior leaders, you’ll shape strategies that boost operational excellence and colleague experience across our not-for-profit organisation.

What You’ll Do:

• Lead People Support Teams: Oversee People Relations, Operations, Payroll, Learning Solutions, and the Programme Team, ensuring top-notch service and collaboration.
• Drive Transformation: Partner with leadership to roll out a People Transformation agenda that enhances efficiency and aligns with business objectives.
• Optimise Processes: Map and improve workflows, cutting inefficiencies and boosting service delivery with smart systems.
• Harness Data: Use analytics to spot trends, solve gaps, and guide decisions that elevate performance and engagement.
• Engage Stakeholders: Build trusted partnerships with senior leaders, translating their goals into people-focused solutions.

Who We’re Looking For:

You’re a proactive HR expert with a flair for systems and transformation. We’d love to see:

• Strong experience in People Operations, Relations, Payroll, Learning Solutions, or Programme Delivery.
• A proven track record leading HR transformation and process optimisation, especially with systems implementation.
• Skills in data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and managing complex projects in a fast-paced setting.
• Leadership experience with a knack for influencing senior teams and fostering collaboration.
• A passion for people, adaptability, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Why Join Anchor?

For over 60 years, we’ve reinvested every penny into better homes, care, and support for later life. You’ll:

• Shape the future for 10,000 colleagues and 65,000+ residents.
• Thrive in a dynamic, people-first culture that values your ideas.
• Enjoy perks like a pension scheme, gym discounts, digital GP, training, and more.

Why It Matters:

Your work will power a high-performing, agile People Support function, ensuring our colleagues are equipped to deliver for our residents. This is about driving change that lasts—making Anchor a standout place to work and live.

Ready to Lead the Change?

If you’re excited to shape our people services and drive transformation at Anchor, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and let’s create a future where our colleagues and communities thrive together.

“Join us to make a lasting difference.” - Julie Brayson, Director of People & Culture

Anchor – a great place to work

Anchor is England’s largest not-for-profit providers of care and housing for older people. Our heartfelt ambition is to transform housing and care so everyone can have a home where they love living in later life.

We’re not-for-profit which means every penny we make or save is invested in the people who live with us, the places they live and the people who work here. That means a better standard of care and customer service, better wages, more investment in training and development and improved facilities.

A rewarding environment

From health and happiness to finance and your career, we’ll give you all the support you need.

Health & happiness

• Gym, fitness and wellbeing discounts
• Mental health support
• Flexible working options
• Access to online GP appointments

Finance

• Pension plan – contribute between 4% and 8% and we’ll match it or better
• Quick and easy pension transfer service
• Savings and financial advice, loans, free life assurance
• Discounts on shopping, holidays, phones, technology and more

Career

• Ongoing personal and professional development programme
• Leadership Pathways online learning resources
• Career progression and promotion opportunities

To see our full range of benefits, check out our dedicated being well website Please follow the link or copy and paste https://anchorbeingwell.co.uk/ into your browser 

Celebrating diversity, celebrating you

Anchor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We aim to celebrate diversity and inclusion in all that we do, as we know that the more diverse our colleagues are, the better care and support we can give to our residents and each other.  

We are proud to have an LGBT+ group for our residents, and also Disability, LGBT+ and race and ethnicity colleague networks. These work to celebrate diversity, address concerns, review policy and practice and empower their members.  We also have an Inclusive Ambassador network to allow all colleagues to be part of promoting diversity and to be an ally to others.

We are a Gold Standard Inclusive Employer, a Stonewall Diversity Champion, Menopause Friendly and a signatory to the Care Leaver Covenant, HouseProud Pledge and Age Friendly Employer Pledge schemes.