About us
Teach First is a charity that understands that for a child growing up in poverty, all too often their future is already written. We know that education can flip the script. We find and train teachers to work in the schools that need them most, we equip school leaders with evidence-led training, we support local teacher training providers, and we plug education leaders into supportive professional networks. We’re at the centre of a movement, rewriting the future within the classroom and beyond, ensuring every child, no matter their background, gets the opportunities they need to thrive
About the team
This role sits within the People Partnering team, which brings together People Business Partners and Talent Acquisition specialists to shape an exceptional experience across Teach First. We champion a culture where people can thrive and where strong partnering enables Teach First to deliver its mission. We work closely with leaders to build highperforming, valuesdriven teams and ensure our people strategy is embedded.
The team sits within People & Governance directorate. This directorate is responsible for supporting our people and ensuring strong governance across Teach First. By bringing together People and Governance functions, we help create a positive working environment and ensure the charity operates responsibly, effectively, and in line with its values.
About the role
As a People Business Partner, you will be a strategic advisor to senior leaders across the Directorates assigned to you. You will shape and deliver the people strategy, and drive leadership capability, culture, and performance. You’ll act as a trusted partner, balancing challenge with support and use data, insight, and strong relationships to enable your Directorates to achieve their objectives.
You will also lead and develop the People Advisors, building capability within the team and ensuring high‑quality, consistent support across the employee lifecycle.
In this role you will:
• Partner with senior leaders to shape Directorate people plans aligned to charity priorities.
Build deep understanding of your Directorates’ work, culture, and challenges to anticipate risks, needs and influence decision‑making.
• Use people data and insight to drive performance, engagement, and effectiveness.
Lead complex employee relations matters with confidence, ensuring fair, values‑aligned outcomes.
• Coach and develop leaders to build capability in performance management, wellbeing, inclusion, and employee engagement.
Line manage and develop the People Advisors, fostering growth, autonomy, and professional confidence.
Collaborate with People Operations, Talent Acquisition, and Finance to deliver integrated people solutions.
• Lead and contribute to cross‑-functional projects that improve processes, culture, and the overall employee experience.
• Champion continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to streamline, innovate, and enhance how we work.
You will report into:
• Head of People Partnering
You will line manage:
• People Advisors
You will work closely with:
Executive team
• Talent Acquisition
• People & Governance team
• Finance Business Partners
About you
To be successful in this role you will be able to demonstrate the following skills, knowledge and experience.
In this role you will demonstrate:
• A blend of strategic thinking, strong HR expertise, and the ability to build trusted, influential relationships at all levels.
Capability to influence senior leaders and provide constructive challenge and coaching that strengthens leadership effectiveness and organisational capability.
• A practical, solutions‑oriented approach that delivers outcomes and brings clarity when situations are uncertain or evolving.
Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data and translate insight into action.
• Experience managing and developing colleagues in junior People roles.
Employment law knowledge that is second to none. You proactively stay up to date on changes to policy and legislation and can demonstrate your experience applying these to complex employee relations cases.
A commitment to inclusion, wellbeing, and a positive employee experience that empowers our people to deliver our mission: ensuring every child has the opportunities they need to thrive.
At Teach First, we’re committed to building a diverse, high‑performing team. We particularly welcome applications from candidates from underrepresented groups; and whose socioeconomic background reflects that of the pupils we work with.
If you’re excited about this role but don’t tick every box, we still encourage you to apply. You may be exactly what we’re looking for — for this role or another.
Working for us
At Teach First, we want you to thrive because when you’re at your best, our mission moves forward. We offer pay, benefits and flexibility that support your wellbeing, and in return we ask you to bring your energy, commitment and passion to helping every child reach their potential. Find out more
Our culture: We live by our values. They underpin our culture and identity. And inform everything we do.
• Purpose: Ending educational disadvantage guides us - We stay focused on our mission and strive to get better every day.
Community: We are a movement for change - Together we are stronger, we support and learn from one another, working with and through the diverse communities we serve.
• Bravery: Change requires courage - We take bold risks and aren’t afraid to try, fail and learn in pursuit of our vision.
• Innovation: We will succeed through new ideas - We are restless for impact and creative with our solutions.
Diversity and inclusion: We want to be a place where everyone can perform, learn and contribute with the confidence to be themselves. We are passionate about building a work force that reflects the community we serve, and our employees are expected to contribute to advancing diversity and inclusion within the charity. Find out more
Safeguarding: Safeguarding children is at the heart of our work and a non‑negotiable part of every role at Teach First. All colleagues must complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check before starting. We follow safer recruitment practices and expect our employees to share our commitment to keeping children safe.
Agile working: Our agile way of working gives you flexibility. Need to start late or finish early? Our Agile Working policy focuses on outcomes, not presenteeism. Find out more
Flexible Working: We are happy to consider flexible work patterns for our roles where they align with the needs of the charity. So, if you want to discuss a set and regular working pattern, let us know in your application. Find out more