Overview

Assistant Director of People and Inclusion – Bury Council (in partnership with Hays Executive HR Practice). This is a permanent, full-time role reporting to the Executive Director of Strategy & Transformation. Location: Bury. Salary: £88,712 – £96,251. Closing Date: 29 September 2025 23:59.

The Role

This is a pivotal leadership role leading a multidisciplinary HR function including HR Operations, Business Partnering, Payroll & Pensions, Health & Safety, Organisational Development, and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion. You’ll be responsible for delivering a strategic and operational HR agenda to support the council’s vision and key services.

Responsibilities

• Driving workforce transformation and cultural change across the Council.
• Leading the development and delivery of the Inclusion Strategy and internal OD programmes.
• Overseeing complex employee relations and workforce planning in a dynamic, multi-site, unionised environment.
• Supporting the Council’s improvement journey in key services such as Children’s and Housing Services.
• Ensuring statutory compliance and delivering high-quality HR services that enable the Council’s strategic ambitions.

This is a hands-on role requiring both strategic vision and operational delivery. You’ll be instrumental in shaping the future of the workforce and embedding inclusive, strengths-based approaches across the organisation.

About You

You’re a calm, pragmatic and resilient leader with significant senior HR experience in large, complex organisations—ideally within the public sector. You’ll bring:

• Strong track record in workforce transformation, employee relations, and organisational development, with the ability to lead through complexity and change.
• Deep understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion, and proven success embedding inclusive practices across diverse teams.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills at all levels to work with trade unions, Elected Members and senior leaders on sensitive, high-impact workforce issues.
• The ability to manage competing priorities, lead teams through complex organisational change, and apply sound planning and delivery skills to achieve both immediate impact and sustainable transformation.
• Commitment to continuous professional development – Chartered CIPD membership is preferred.

Why Bury?

We’re progressing on our “Let’s Do It!” strategy and the role offers the chance to make a real impact on our workforce, culture and communities. Based at the Bury campus with agile working arrangements.

How To Apply

Apply via Bury Council in partnership with Hays Executive HR Practice. Visit the portal to submit a CV and cover letter, or contact Laura Bennallack for an informal discussion at 0333 010 5299.

Closing date for applications: 29 September 2025 23:59

Technical Interviews: w/c 6 October; Shortlisting: Thu 16 October; Manager/Stakeholder Interviews: w/c 20 October; Final Interviews: Thu 23 and Fri 24 October.

Location: Bury, UK.