Head of HR Business Partnering

Suffolk County Council; Haverhill; Hybrid; GBP 59,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff benefits and wellbeing

Travel expense reimbursement

Professional development

Flexible working

Opportunity to influence strategy

Job summary

Unity Schools Partnership is seeking a Head of HR Business Partnering to lead the HRBP team and shape our People Strategy. You will influence leaders, manage complex employee relations, and contribute to whole-school improvement across East Anglia.

The role requires CIPD Level 7 or equivalent, with experience in education or unionised contexts preferable. Expect a strategic, collaborative leadership style and a role that impacts pupils and staff alike.

Qualifications

• Strong HR experience in a large or complex organisation.
• CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent.
• Experience in education or unionised environments is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the HR Business Partnering team.
• Provide oversight of complex employee relations matters.
• Lead organisational change, restructures, consultation and TUPE.
• Drive our approach to staff attendance and workforce planning.
• Use workforce data to identify priorities and improve outcomes.
• Develop HR policy and manager capability.
• Lead Trust-wide people projects and service improvements.

Skills

HR leadership

Employee relations

People strategy

Data-driven HR

Education

CIPD Level 7

Job description

Job Description

• Unity Schools Partnership
• Address: Homefield Road, Haverhill, Suffolk CB8 9QP
• Salary: £59,474 - £66,076 per annum
• Hours: 37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Hybrid - 2 days onsite, homeworking / travel to all Unity School Partnership locations required*
• Contract: Permanent, required as soon as possible
• Reference: 5668

Are you an experienced HR professional ready to take the next step in your career and make an impact that reaches beyond HR?

At Unity Schools Partnership, great schools depend on great people. By helping our leaders build strong teams, supporting colleagues to thrive and providing an HR service that makes their working lives easier, you will ultimately be helping us improve the experience and outcomes of the pupils in our schools.

We are looking for a Head of HR Business Partnering to lead our HR Business Partnering team and play a key role in delivering our People Strategy. You might be an experienced HR Business Partner or HR Manager ready to step into a broader leadership role. What matters is your professional credibility, sound judgement, commercial awareness, ability to lead and develop others, and ambition to contribute to the wider success of the Trust.

The role has a broad strategic remit, including:

• leading and developing the HR Business Partnering team
• providing oversight of complex employee relations matters
• leading organisational change, restructures, consultation and TUPE
• driving our strategic approach to staff attendance and workforce planning
• using workforce data to identify priorities and improve outcomes
• developing HR policy and manager capability
• leading Trust-wide people projects and service improvements.

We offer:

• a comprehensive staff benefits and wellbeing offer, supporting your physical, financial and emotional wellbeing.
• reimbursement of business travel expenses between Trust sites, in line with our Travel and Expenses Policy.
• access to professional development and career progression opportunities across the Trust.
• a supportive and collaborative People team, with the opportunity to influence Trust-wide strategy and improvement.
• flexible working approaches where these are compatible with the needs of the role.
• the opportunity to work across a diverse group of schools and make a visible difference to our staff, leaders and, ultimately, the pupils and communities we serve.

Pension: Local Government Pension Scheme

Annual Leave: 24 days holiday rising to 29 days holiday after 5 years' service plus bank holidays

*Onsite working includes Mondays at our central team office in Haverhill, together with a People Team Tuesday every other week, alternating between Haverhill and Ipswich. The role will also involve travel to our schools across East Anglia and north-east London as required.

About you

You will bring strong HR experience gained within a large or complex organisation, together with sound employment law and employee relations knowledge and the confidence to influence leaders at all levels.

You will be CIPD Level 7 qualified or have an equivalent relevant professional qualification or experience. Experience within education or another unionised environment would be an advantage but is not essential.

At Unity, our ambition is for every child to be known, included and receive a brilliant education. Our people are central to achieving that ambition.

This is an opportunity to take the next step in your HR career, lead and develop a talented team and help shape an HR service that enables our schools, staff and pupils to thrive.

If you combine strong professional HR expertise with practical judgement, a collaborative approach and the ambition to make a difference, we would love to hear from you.

For more information

If you would like an informal discussion prior to submitting your application, please contact Angela Bull, Chief People Officer on 07741 907254 or email [e-mail]

Closing date: 9am, 6 November 2026.

Interview date: 13 November 2026.

Unity Schools Partnership is committed to safer recruitment, equal opportunities, safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check will be required.

Unity Schools Partnership, welcoming diversity.