Head of People, Culture and Volunteering
The closing date is 13 April 2026
Job summary
Pilgrims Hospices is seeking an inspiring and strategic people leader to shape our culture, workforce and volunteering so our teams can deliver outstanding end of life care across East Kent. You'll be the executive lead for the Remuneration Committee, set and deliver a values-led People, Culture and Volunteering Strategy, and provide Board level assurance across HR, learning and volunteering governance.
This role is permanent and we will consider applications for full time 35h a week, or part time at 28h a week. Based at our Canterbury site, the postholder must also be flexible in travelling to other sites. However, there is opportunity for a hybrid working structure.
Main duties of the job
What you will lead:
- A team of HR, Learning and payroll professionals, enabling and enhancing our people and services across East Kent.
- Continued development of strong business partnerships with clinical and non-clinical leaders, embracing the variety of contexts we work in.
- Culture, OD and inclusion plans; annual staff & volunteer surveys with improvement actions.
- Values based recruitment and workforce planning; fair, legally sound employee relations.
- Alignment to the CQC Well led framework, support for Speak up initiatives, and CQC ready people systems.
- Payroll accuracy and pensions compliance with Finance; HRIS/LMS optimisation and workforce KPIs to EMT/Trustees.
- A quality learning and development offer to support career pathways, management development and professional development of our skilled workforce.
- Volunteering strategy and governance (day to day managed by the HR & Volunteering Manager).
About us
As an award-winning employer, Pilgrims provides end-of-life care services to patients and their families across east Kent.
Our commitment is to provide open, compassionate care and expertise for patients and their families both in the community and in-patient units.
Our VisionOf a community where people with a terminal illness and their family and friends are supported and empowered to live well in mind and body until the very last moment of their life.
We recognise that our workforce is integral to the delivery ofour Visionand our charitable aims. Pilgrims Hospices continues to create a highly skilled, motivated, engaged and healthy workforce by providing an environment where staff and volunteers feel highly motivated to perform their roles to a consistently high standard, and actively role model our charitable behaviours and values.
To achieveour Vision, we have a shared set of values and behaviours that enable us to be the people and the charity that patients and their loved ones need us to be. They formour CODE, which guides us in our daily working and decision making:
CompassionateWe treat everyone with compassion and care
OpenWe communicate openly, honestly and effectively
DynamicWe are dynamic, improving and developing our service
EmpoweredWe empower people to achieve their outcomes
Details
Date posted
20 March 2026
Pay scheme
Other
Salary
£55,000 to £60,000 a year Depending on experience
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time
Reference number
B0497-26-0013
Job locations
Pilgrims Hospice
56 London Road
Canterbury
Kent
CT2 8JA
Employer details
Employer name
Pilgrims Hospices in East Kent
Address
Pilgrims Hospice
56 London Road
Canterbury
Kent
CT2 8JA
Employer's website
https://www.pilgrimshospices.org/jobs (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Supporting documents
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