Head of People and Culture - MAT Cover
| Posting date: | 17 September 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Not specified |
| Additional salary information: | TBC Depending on experience |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 28 September 2025 |
| Location: | TQ11 0JU |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | Riverford Organic Farmers Ltd |
| Job type: | Contract |
| Job reference: | 289980JCP |
Summary
Work with us at Riverford, and join a thriving employee-owned business
Be part of a supportive, down-to-earth and solutions driven People team
Beyond the Veg Box - At Riverford, our passion for organic vegetables is unmatched. We’re not just about delivering veg boxes; we're dedicated to sustainable farming and community building. As a part of our team, you become a co-owner, sharing in our successes and contributing to a mission that goes beyond profit. We aim to make Riverford a fulfilling place to work, where our co-owners feel valued.
Our HQ at Wash Farm in Devon is a beautiful place to work, surrounded by good people, good food, and plenty of fresh air. As a co-owner, you’ll benefit from 33 days holiday (pro rata, including bank holidays), an ethical & generous company pension scheme, and an annual profit share, where 10% of all profits are split equally among co-owners. We also offer heavily discounted organic breakfasts and lunches, free organic fruit and veg to take home and free parking.
Grow with Riverford - Take the next step in your personal and professional journey with training tailored to help you grow and achieve your goals.
As our Head of People and Culture, you’ll help shape Riverford’s future.
Riverford is now home to more than a thousand co-owners, working across every corner of the business – from farming and production to commercial roles and everything in between. At the heart of every decision we make is our people - we balance our commercial goals with our ethical commitments, and we’re fortunate to have a community of talented, committed co-owners who shape and strengthen our culture every day.
This maternity cover role is about continuing that journey. You’ll lead the People Team in helping Riverford grow as an even better place to work, keeping our co-owners supported and engaged along the way. As an employee-owned business, we take pride in building strong, open relationships with all our co-owners, and our representative co-owner council is a big part of that. We are entering an exciting new phase, with fresh strategy, new systems and ambitious plans for growth. Your role will be central to supporting this change, making sure our culture not only withstands the pressures of growth and transformation, but flourishes through it.
We’re looking for an experienced people professional who can think strategically, spot opportunities, and bring teams across the business with them to deliver on key goals. You’ll oversee all areas of People - from attracting talent and developing leaders, to managing operations, benefits, learning, wellbeing, and even social events. In each of these, we want to take a creative, human-centred approach that makes our processes not just robust, but also reflective of who we are and what we value.
This role is first and foremost about people and culture. Policies and processes matter, but only if they’re put into practice in a way that reflects our values and genuinely adds value to co-owners’ working lives.
Please download the JD for the full detail, including key outcomes & responsibilities.
Salary: TBC
Location - Wash Farm, Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0JU, with the flexibility of some home working. There will be requirement for some travel to other sites.
Hours - 12-month fixed term contract 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday
What You’ll Bring…
You will be a People or HR specialist with experience in a forward thinking, people-focused business
Demonstratable experience of project delivery, ideally including cultural transformation projects.
You will understand and enjoy people, be a great leader and someone who can get the best out of people, both within your team and across the wider business.
You will be an influencer and enjoy making things happen and driving change in a positive way that builds excitement.
A passion for Employee Ownership – no prior experience in this area required but a willingness to understand what it means and put yourself at the heart of this.
You will be creative and keen to stretch the boundaries of what the People team and business can do.
Some experience of Diversity and Inclusion would be beneficial.
You will be both analytical and intuitive – able to get to the root cause of a problem.
You will be able to write in a personable tone, and able to pick up the relevant tone of voice and brand and reflect this in your work.
Application Process: We’re reviewing applications on a rolling basis and may close the advert early, so we encourage you to apply soon
Be part of a supportive, down-to-earth and solutions driven People team
Beyond the Veg Box - At Riverford, our passion for organic vegetables is unmatched. We’re not just about delivering veg boxes; we're dedicated to sustainable farming and community building. As a part of our team, you become a co-owner, sharing in our successes and contributing to a mission that goes beyond profit. We aim to make Riverford a fulfilling place to work, where our co-owners feel valued.
Our HQ at Wash Farm in Devon is a beautiful place to work, surrounded by good people, good food, and plenty of fresh air. As a co-owner, you’ll benefit from 33 days holiday (pro rata, including bank holidays), an ethical & generous company pension scheme, and an annual profit share, where 10% of all profits are split equally among co-owners. We also offer heavily discounted organic breakfasts and lunches, free organic fruit and veg to take home and free parking.
Grow with Riverford - Take the next step in your personal and professional journey with training tailored to help you grow and achieve your goals.
As our Head of People and Culture, you’ll help shape Riverford’s future.
Riverford is now home to more than a thousand co-owners, working across every corner of the business – from farming and production to commercial roles and everything in between. At the heart of every decision we make is our people - we balance our commercial goals with our ethical commitments, and we’re fortunate to have a community of talented, committed co-owners who shape and strengthen our culture every day.
This maternity cover role is about continuing that journey. You’ll lead the People Team in helping Riverford grow as an even better place to work, keeping our co-owners supported and engaged along the way. As an employee-owned business, we take pride in building strong, open relationships with all our co-owners, and our representative co-owner council is a big part of that. We are entering an exciting new phase, with fresh strategy, new systems and ambitious plans for growth. Your role will be central to supporting this change, making sure our culture not only withstands the pressures of growth and transformation, but flourishes through it.
We’re looking for an experienced people professional who can think strategically, spot opportunities, and bring teams across the business with them to deliver on key goals. You’ll oversee all areas of People - from attracting talent and developing leaders, to managing operations, benefits, learning, wellbeing, and even social events. In each of these, we want to take a creative, human-centred approach that makes our processes not just robust, but also reflective of who we are and what we value.
This role is first and foremost about people and culture. Policies and processes matter, but only if they’re put into practice in a way that reflects our values and genuinely adds value to co-owners’ working lives.
Please download the JD for the full detail, including key outcomes & responsibilities.
Salary: TBC
Location - Wash Farm, Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0JU, with the flexibility of some home working. There will be requirement for some travel to other sites.
Hours - 12-month fixed term contract 40 hours per week, Monday - Friday
What You’ll Bring…
You will be a People or HR specialist with experience in a forward thinking, people-focused business
Demonstratable experience of project delivery, ideally including cultural transformation projects.
You will understand and enjoy people, be a great leader and someone who can get the best out of people, both within your team and across the wider business.
You will be an influencer and enjoy making things happen and driving change in a positive way that builds excitement.
A passion for Employee Ownership – no prior experience in this area required but a willingness to understand what it means and put yourself at the heart of this.
You will be creative and keen to stretch the boundaries of what the People team and business can do.
Some experience of Diversity and Inclusion would be beneficial.
You will be both analytical and intuitive – able to get to the root cause of a problem.
You will be able to write in a personable tone, and able to pick up the relevant tone of voice and brand and reflect this in your work.
Application Process: We’re reviewing applications on a rolling basis and may close the advert early, so we encourage you to apply soon