- Lead Employee Relations across a large maintained schools network in a specialist HR Business Partner role focused on complex casework and statutory delivery.
- This is a unique opportunity to shape how HR services are delivered within education, with clear scope to grow into a strategic leadership position.
Client Details
This opportunity sits within a large metropolitan local authority committed to delivering essential public services and creating a meaningful impact across its communities. The organisation plays a central role in supporting a diverse schools network and is currently undergoing a period of transformation to modernise and strengthen its People function.
As part of this evolution, statutory HR services for maintained schools are being brought back in-house, creating a unique opportunity for a specialist HR professional to shape how Employee Relations is delivered across education.
Description
- Act as the lead HR Business Partner for Employee Relations across the maintained schools portfolio
- Provide expert ER advice to headteachers, school leadership teams, and internal stakeholders
- Lead on complex ER casework including disciplinaries (up to dismissal), TUPE, and escalated employee matters
- Fulfil statutory responsibilities, including attending dismissal hearings on behalf of the council
- Build strong relationships across schools, the education department, HR colleagues and trade unions
- Act as the primary point of contact for all education-related ER matters
- Support and contribute to Schools Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) meetings
- Work closely with trade unions on consultations and policy matters
- Contribute to the development and implementation of HR policies across schools (e.g. disciplinaries, absence, pay)
- Support the transition of statutory HR services back in-house and identify opportunities to enhance service delivery
- Contribute to organisational design, workforce change and the future HR operating model within education
- Operate as a standalone specialist, with scope to shape and grow the service over time
Profile
A successful HR Business Partner should have:
- Strong Employee Relations expertise, with a passion for complex casework
- Proven experience handling disciplinaries, dismissals and TUPE processes
- Experience working within the education sector, with understanding of teachers' terms and school governance
- Ability to operate in a standalone, specialist role with a high degree of autonomy
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build credibility across diverse groups
- Knowledge of employment legislation and statutory HR requirements
- Experience working in unionised environments
- A relevant HR qualification (e.g. CIPD) or equivalent experience
Job Offer
- Competitive salary of £55,000 - £60,000
- 31 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising to 35 days with service
- Option to purchase additional annual leave
- Flexible and agile working, with a "Flexibility First" approach
- Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme (with AVC options)
- Access to learning and development opportunities to support career progression
- Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support
- Cycle to Work and Travel Pass schemes
- Salary sacrifice car lease scheme
- Family-friendly policies with enhanced leave
- Discounted gym memberships
- Employee volunteering scheme
- Medicash health plan
- A unique opportunity to take ownership of a specialist ER function within education
- The chance to shape and develop HR services across a large schools network
- Clear scope to grow into a more strategic HR leadership role over time
If you are ready to take on this exciting HR Business Partner role, apply today to make a real difference in the public sector!
