HR Manager

The Opportunity

About the role

We are seeking an HR Manager who will play a pivotal role in supporting the School and its employees by leading on employee relations casework, overseeing recruitment processes and ensuring the effective delivery of HR operations, aligned with the full employee life cycle. The HR Manager will take ownership of their workload, delivering timely, consistent and high-quality HR support. Strong administrative and organisational capabilities will be essential. 

The HR Manager will be a professional, pragmatic and approachable leader who communicates effectively and builds strong relationship at all levels of the organisation. A key part of their role will be applying a solutions-focused approach to resolving complex HR issues. They will demonstrate a high degree of integrity, maintain strict confidentiality and bring meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of their work.

The HR Manager will have:

• A relevant HR-related qualification at Level 7;
• Experience across all areas of HR - the successful candidate will be a true HR generalist;
• A minimum of 5 years HR Manager experience, ideally within a school environment.

Key responsibilities and tasks:

• Develop and implement overall people processes, systems and policies across the school to drive consistency and guide management and leadership in the application of these, to enable them to effectively manage and lead their teams;
• Provide expert HR advice to senior leaders on employee relations, employment law, contracts and HR best practice;
• Oversee the recruitment and selection process for all roles and on-boarding of Operations staff, ensuring compliance with Safer Recruitment in school regulations and employment law (including DBS checks, references etc.);
• Advise and support the performance and development approach to drive positive behaviour and alignment to our school values, enabling staff to give their best every day. Work with management and leadership to ensure the engagement and delivery of this approach throughout the performance year;
• Ensure key employee relations matters are dealt with effectively and in line with employment legislation and HR best practice; 
• Maintain and monitor the Single Central Record (SCR) and pre-employment checks, ensuring compliance with safeguarding requirements;
• Manage and maintain staff records and files;
• Promote employee well-being initiatives to foster a positive and supportive working environment;
• Ensure all HR processes comply with GDPR and employment legislation;
• Manage all Subject Access Requests.

HR function

• Lead on the management of all HR, employment and employee matters for the School;
• Advise line managers on policy implementation;
• Coach and support line managers to develop their people management skills, where necessary, across a range of HR activities;
• Lead on ensuring data retention of staff/candidate data is kept in line with policy and GDPR;
• To be responsible for the coordination and production of letters of appointment and contracts to all employees, including carrying out relevant employment vetting checks, to include DBS, Right to Work, relevant overseas checks, Teaching Regulation Agency checks, qualifications, references etc.;
• Lead on holding and keeping the school’s Single Central Register (SCR) up-to-date and in line with national guidance and ISI requirements, in liaison with the Bursar;
• Meet with ISI inspectors during inspections and be accountable to them and the Head in ensuring the School continues to have an accurate SCR;
• Responsible for organising probationary review meetings for all staff;
• Monitor and record annual leave and holiday working for all Operations staff;

Oversee and manage staff absence procedures, to include:

• ensuring Fit for Work certificates are sent in by the absent staff member;
• logging all absences onto the School’s information management system and for payroll purposes;
• compile statistical absence reports as required; ensure effective absence management and occupational health procedures are in place;
• support line managers in absence management and promoting staff well-being;
• monitor absence records and ensure procedures are followed, to instigate different actions where required, as stated in the procedures;
• organise and oversee Return to Work meetings and formal stage meetings, ensuring line managers are following the procedures and produce letters in line with legal requirements and the school’s policies;
• process Occupational Health referrals, monitor progress and arrange Independent Medical Assessments (IMA) if necessary;
• ensure there is a consistent and regular line of communication with all absent colleagues.

Oversee and manage exit interview procedures, to include:

• leading exit interviews;
• data capture and analysis to drive improvements.

Employee Relations

• Attend informal and formal meetings in an advisory capacity;
• Maintain comprehensive records in line with policy and legislation, to ensure the School is able to defend its position at an Employment Tribunal, if necessary;
• Keep up-to-date with relevant employment law and school policies and procedures;
• Actively contribute to organisational change efforts, such as restructuring, redundancy, as required.

Recruitment and Induction

• Lead the recruitment process for internal and external recruitment, liaising with the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to develop job descriptions and person specifications to meet both school and legislative requirements;
• Lead on safer recruitment obligations in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education and Working Together, for all those either employed by or working with the school, compiling and recording documentation as appropriate;
• Oversee the vetting and induction of all staff;
• Lead and ensure that the administration relating to recruitment is conducted in a timely manner and in line with relevant legislation and School policies.

Safeguarding

• Be keenly aware of the responsibility for safeguarding children and to help in the application of the Safeguarding Policy within the School;
• Comply with the School’s Safeguarding Policy in order to ensure the welfare of children and young persons.

Other Responsibilities:

• Undertake projects, as assigned by the Bursar, ensuring agreed outcomes are delivered in a timely manner;
• Undertake any other duties as reasonably directed by the Bursar;
• Prepare papers for the SLT as required, providing regular updates to them on key projects and developments within the HR function;
• Lead on HR projects as these arise, working in collaboration with the Head, Bursar and wider SLT on the delivery of these projects.

Remuneration: Salary in the region of £40,000 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications, plus pension package.

39 hours per week, 52 weeks per annum, reporting to the Bursar