YPO - Head of People > NY Resourcing

Welcome from Jacquie Lightfoot

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in learning more about YPO and this very exciting role. As the Executive Director of Operations, I’m delighted that you’re exploring this opportunity at such an exciting point in YPO’s journey.

Following our 50th anniversary in 2024, we are firmly focused on the future with lots of plans in the pipeline. The procurement and sales landscape is evolving rapidly, and in tandem with increasing expectations from customers, suppliers, and stakeholders we are driving forward with our own vision for transformation, strengthening our services, enhancing our capability and continuing to evolve how we engage with our customers. As a 100% publicly owned organisation, owned by 13 local authorities, we are proud that our commercial success is reinvested directly into frontline public services. Our ability to operate at scale and with agility, while remaining grounded in public value and social impact is what makes YPO a distinctive and fulfilling place to work.

This is an exciting time to be joining YPO. As we enter the first year of our next 5 year strategy we have ambitions of growth and transformation. The Head of People will play a crucial role in helping lead the organisation through this period and ensure YPO and its people are skilled and ready for the challenge.

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team you will be responsible for leading the HR and People Development teams to ensure YPO receives professional HR and learning & development support.

At the same time you will have the ability to bring your team with you on this exciting journey, working collaboratively with numerous stakeholders and leading and influencing at Board level with complete credibility. I am seeking an individual with unwavering resilience and dedication, excited by what the future holds for YPO.

I am looking for an outstanding leader who not only shares our vision and values, but who can also bring considerable commercial acumen and strategic flair to the table, ensuring we can continue to develop and grow our business, deliver long term and effective transformation.

Ideally, you will have an understanding of working with public sector terms and conditions of employment and experience of working within a commercial organisation will be of real value. Our purpose is to add real social value, enabling considerable savings to be made whilst at the same time making a genuine difference to the people and communities served by the public sector.

So, if you're ready to be part of our journey, contributing to YPO's legacy while advancing your own career, we look forward to your application. In the meantime, following an initial conversation with our recruitment partners at The Resourcing Solution I would be delighted to discuss this opportunity with those who might wish to learn a little more.

Please have a look at our YPO LinkedIn page to see what we have been up to recently.

Jacquie Lightfoot,
Executive Director of Operations

Head of People

Salary: £79,540 plus £3,000 car allowance and generous benefits package

Location: Wakefield / Hybrid

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will be responsible for leading the HR, People Development and People Experience teams to ensure YPO receives professional HR, organisational development, learning and development support and interventions in a timely manner.

A key part of the role will be to develop and implement a people strategy that supports the delivery of YPO's ambitious organisational objectives and 5-year strategy. You will introduce and embed an organisational development approach to YPO's target operating model, structure and job design, ensuring the organisation has the workforce, skills and culture required for continued success and growth.

You will play a pivotal role in shaping organisational culture, driving transformational change, embedding workforce planning, and ensuring innovative people policies, practices and learning opportunities are in place so that YPO can attract, retain and develop outstanding talent.

A key member of the Senior Leadership Team, this role will provide professional and technical advice to the Board and Elected Members on legal and employment issues, organisational development, learning and development, and best practice people standards. You will also build strong relationships with trade unions, stakeholders, strategic partners and service providers, helping to ensure YPO remains an employer of choice.

This post is subject to the Fluency Duty under Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016. The post-holder is required to demonstrate an appropriate level of fluency under the duty as detailed within the job description and person specification for the post.

YPO is committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity amongst our workforce. Our aim is that our workforce will be truly representative of all sections of society and each employee feels respected and able to give their best.

If this position is advertised as a full-time role (37 hours per week), YPO is pleased to consider requests for flexible working arrangements, including part-time hours and job-sharing opportunities. We are committed to supporting work-life balance and encourage candidates to discuss their preferred working patterns with us.

Discover more about our company and culture at YPO Careers.

Please see more details of the Job Description.

About You

What's in it for you?

Key Dates

Who We Are

Established in 1974, YPO now has more than 50 years’ experience supporting the public sector and giving back to the communities we serve. Just over five decades ago, 13 local authorities joined together to combine their buying power and achieve greater efficiency. That collaboration became the foundation of YPO as it exists today: a trusted, purpose‑driven organisation delivering exceptional value for money across the UK.

Today, we supply products and services to a broad and diverse customer base, including:

Schools
Local authorities
Emergency services
Charities and voluntary organisations
The wider public sector
Nurseries, care homes and other businesses

This scale, combined with our public‑sector heritage, gives us a unique position in the market.

Our Ownership Model

Our Legacy: 50 Years of Public Value

Financial Impact and Value Returned to the Public Sector

What We Deliver

Our Future: Modern, Sustainable and Ambitious

What Makes YPO Unique

Local government pension
We offer generous defined benefit pension options under the West Yorkshire Pension Scheme.
Family-friendly policies
Our family-friendly policies include flexible home-working options, and flexi-time opportunities.
Additional training options
We offer a range of additional training and development options for staff to progress in their career at YPO.
Cycle to work scheme
Make savings while keeping fit, reducing your carbon footprint and spending less time in your car!
Professional Mental Health Services
We’re proud to offer mental health support through Spill, a modern workplace counselling service. Spill provides an accessible, inclusive and human approach to professional support.
Generous holiday allowances

We offer a generous annual leave package per year starting at 24 days, plus 8 statutory holidays and 3 discretionary closedown days.
Gym membership

Enjoy discounted sports and leisure memberships with full access to gyms, swimming facilities and classes.
Sports and social club

From discounted family and social outings, to monthly prize draws, our Sports & Social club is well worth joining!
Wellbeing support

We are committed to staff wellbeing through year-round activities, peer support groups, professional mental health services, and our proud membership in the Mindful Employer and Healthy Wakefield charters.
Continuous service

For local government and other public sector bodies.
Subsidised canteen

Enjoy access to our on-site subsidised canteen, offering freshly prepared meals, healthy options, and hot snacks at reduced prices—making it easier and more affordable to eat well during the working day.
Free parking at our headquarters

Benefit from free on‑site parking, making your commute simpler and more convenient, with secure spaces available for staff throughout the working day.

We aim to be an employer of choice that attracts and retains the right people for our roles. Our people matter and have access to wellbeing initiatives. They are engaged and cared for. They have the right benefits and are supported to be the best that they can be.

We have over 25 trained mental health first aiders and were crowned Employer of the Year at the prestigious InsideOut Awards, which celebrate excellence in workplace wellbeing and mental health.

This reflects efforts made throughout the organisation to create and maintain a culture and environment that is attractive to candidates and where current employees can thrive and develop their skills.

Holistic staff wellbeing, encompassing physical, mental, financial, and social aspects, is prioritised as we cultivate a culture of inclusion and belonging. In 2024, 36 wellbeing workshops and events were delivered to YPO employees.

YPO’s pioneering success with apprenticeships highlights our organisation’s people-first approach. 2024 saw even more success for our apprenticeship framework, which has helped 2,560 people throughout the UK on their career path since its launch in 2018.

Closer to home, YPO has taken on 114 apprentices since 2012, with eight in ten of them going on to secure permanent work at YPO.

Outstanding Connectivity

Surrounding Villages with Real Community

Accessible for Everyone

A Vibrant and Affordable Place to Live

Grow With Us in Wakefield

For an informal confidential discussion about these opportunities, please contact Charlotte Wilkinson on 07483 103301 or charlotte.wilkinson@northyorks.gov.uk; or Penny Keatings on 07811 411462 or Penny.Keatings@northyorks.gov.uk.

Apply

Applications should be emailed to Executive.ResourcingSolutions@northyorks.gov.uk

Please submit one single Word document that includes a comprehensive CV and a supporting statement. Your CV should be a maximum of three pages A4 pages and your supporting statement should be no longer than two A4 pages. Please use size 12 font and refer to the Personal Specification when looking to demonstrate how you meet the criteria for the role.

Your supporting statement should include the following information:

Brief Introduction - with the Job Description and Personal Specification in mind

Explain how you meet the essential criteria of the Person Specification

Current salary

Notice period

Contact details for at least two referees, one of whom must be your current / most recent employer/engager. If you specifically do not wish referees to be approached without your permission, please indicate this

Please do not send PDFs and clearly detail the role you wish to apply for.

YPO is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. We are committed to equality of opportunity for all staff. We welcome applications from individuals regardless of age, any disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief.

We will not accept applications from agencies.

Your privacy

YPO is committed to protecting your privacy when you use our services. Please refer to our privacy statement which explains how we use information about you and how we protect your privacy.

HEAD OF PEOPLE
Salary: £79,540 plus £3,000 car allowance
Location: Wakefield/Hybrid

About the role

About YPO

Our Values

Perks and Benefits

About Wakefield and Surrounding

Key Documents

Recruitment Timeline

Contact us

Mindful Employer

Healthy Wakefield Charter

Menopause Committed

HEAD OF PEOPLE Salary: £79,540 plus £3,000 car allowance Location: Wakefield/Hybrid