Head of People Advisory Services

Edwin supply; England; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the education sector is seeking a Head of People Advisory Services to lead their HR division. This role involves providing strategic HR support to Schools and Multi Academy Trusts, focusing on high-quality service delivery, employee relations, and business development within a supportive culture. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in education HR, a strong understanding of UK employment law, and be an advocate for best practices.

Benefits

30 days annual leave + birthday off

Free parking onsite

Enhanced parental leave

Income protection plan

Private medical care

Life assurance

EAP and online/digital GP

Wellbeing support services

Professional development

Fantastic supportive culture

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of HR experience at a senior level in education.
• Experience with safer recruitment practices and working with Trade Unions.
• Strong understanding of UK employment law in the education sector.

Responsibilities

• Leading a national team of HR professionals and ensuring high quality service delivery.
• Providing strategic HR advice, managing complex employee relations cases.
• Developing and maintaining relationships with Schools and MATs.

Skills

HR Management

Employee Relations

Leadership

Communication

Education

HR or Business Management Degree

CIPD Level 7

Tools

HR Systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Role: Head of People Advisory Services

Location: Newcastle, Sheffield or London (hybrid with regular travel to schools and MAT s)

Salary: £60k-£65k

Benefits:

• 30 days annual leave + birthday off
• Free parking onsite
• Enhanced parental leave
• Income protection plan
• Private medical care
• Life assurance
• EAP and online/digital GP
• Wellbeing support services
• Professional development
• Fantastic supportive culture

We are The Edwin Group - a growing collective of like-minded education professionals, working together to positively impact the lives of young people. At the Edwin Group we are incredibly proud of the products and services we provide to our valued clients in the Education sector.

We are looking for an inspirational Head of People Advisory Services for our Edwin People division; to lead and manage our growing team in the delivery of high-quality strategic HR advice and support exclusively to Schools and Multi Academy Trusts (MATs). We have ambitious plans to grow the business and would like the successful person to grow with us.

Edwin People support Schools and MATs to deliver organisational improvement, reduce workload, and enhance staff retention by providing expert HR, financial, recruitment, and strategic leadership support, whilst driving efficiency and securing financial stability. We predominantly work with Senior Leaders and Headteachers, supporting their school or MAT development and providing additional capacity and expertise to address key challenges.

We are fully committed to establishing Edwin People as a strong and respected brand in the education sector, through the development of a compelling suite of services and products but also increasing our role as thought leaders in the sector.

Since launching in January 2024, feedback from clients on the quality of our services has been excellent and we are now ready to scale up, accelerating our growth plans and building a service that operates nationally, supported by our branch network across The Edwin Group.

The role:

The Head of People Advisory Services will be integral to helping to shape and develop our services together with leading on School MAT contracts ensuring the provision of high quality proactive strategic advice to our clients through project work and retained service contracts. With shared responsibility for a small team, the role will provide expert guidance on MAT mergers, MAT growth, staffing reviews, and complex employee relations cases, acting as a trusted advisor and sounding board for headteachers, CEOs, and internal HR teams.

Responsibilities:

• Working collaboratively with the Edwin People Senior Team, lead the commercial success of the business, the shaping of service offerings, generating new business opportunities, ensuring high quality service delivery and maximising client retention.

• Lead and develop a national team of people professionals to ensure a high-quality service to our client base. Ensuring their professional development and providing the necessary guidance and support to ensure they flourish in their roles.

• Be an advocate and promoter of Edwin People and wider Edwin products and services.

• Develop and maintain high quality relationships with Schools and MAT s. Provide high-quality strategic HR support, offering proactive strategic advice in alignment with employment legislation and education sector standards.

• Serve as a senior point of contact for clients, offering expert guidance on the full range of HR needs including policies, procedures, terms and conditions, employee relations, change management, talent and reward, and employment legislation.

• Act as a vital sounding board to school and MAT internal teams in areas such as people strategy, organisational design, workforce planning, succession planning and culture development,

• Lead on undertaking external reviews including executive pay, pay and rewards, employer brand, wellbeing and flexible working.

• Lead on school and MAT growth projects including academisation, MAT growth and MAT mergers including all aspects of TUPE, HR due diligence and risk management.

• Provide strategic advice on change management processes, including redundancies, restructures, and TUPE transfers.

Business Development

• Develop strategies to identify potential clients and actively pursue new business opportunities to expand the company's reach.

• Establish and nurture relationships with key stakeholders, including schools, multi-academy trusts (MATs), and other educational partners to secure long-term partnerships.

• Work with the sales & marketing teams to create compelling proposals and presentations to showcase the company's services and solutions to prospective clients.

• Present workshops, webinars and events to demonstrate our knowledge and expertise in the sector.

• Work closely with marketing teams to develop and implement effective marketing campaigns and strategies that promote the company's services.

• Monitor market trends: Stay informed about industry trends, competitor activities, and market conditions to identify opportunities for growth and innovation.

• Drive business development initiatives and projects, ensuring they align with the company's overall strategic goals and objectives.

• Monitor and report on the progress of business development activities, providing regular updates to senior management.

Employee Relations & Case Management:

• Manage complex employee relations cases, ensuring they are handled effectively and in compliance with internal policies and employment law.

• Supporting and advising at formal hearings and appeals

• Work collaboratively with Trade Unions and employee representatives where applicable.

Policy Development & Implementation:

• Advise on the development, review, and implementation of HR policies and procedures across client organisations, ensuring they are aligned with statutory requirements and best practices.

• Provide training and guidance to managers on the interpretation and application of these policies.

Group Wide Responsibilities

• Act as an Ambassador for the Group s ESG strategy demonstrated through a commitment to adopt, promote and comply with ESG policies, developments, and initiatives.

• Ensure company policies and legal guidelines are understood and adhered to.

• Working in collaboration with Group departments e.g. Partnerships, Marketing, and Finance.

• Any other duties commensurate with the level of the role.

Requirements and skills

• HR or Business Management Degree or equivalent

• CIPD Level 7 (or working towards) or equivalent experience in a generalist HR role.

• Minimum of 5 years experience in education HR at a senior level

• Experience with safer recruitment practices and maintaining compliance with regulatory frameworks such as OFSTED.

• Experience of working with Trade Unions.

• Previous experience of working in and supporting within the education sector, ideally to schools or multi-academy trusts.

• Experience of advising at board or executive level.

• Previous experience of leading and mentoring a team of HR professionals.

• Previous experience of design and implementation of organisational development initiatives.

• Proven experience managing complex employee relations cases and change management including restructures, redundancies, absence management, disciplinaries, and grievances.

• Previous experience of project managing end to end TUPE processes

• Strong understanding of UK employment law, specifically in the education sector.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to influence and coach senior stakeholders.

• Ability to write reports with a focus on high quality and attention to detail.

• Ability to manage multiple clients and projects simultaneously while maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines.

• Proficiency in HR systems and data management, with strong IT skills (Microsoft Office suite).

• Customer-focused with a proactive and solution-oriented approach.

• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively within a team.

• Resilient, with the ability to handle sensitive and confidential issues tactfully.

• Commitment to ongoing professional development and learning.

• Willingness to travel to client sites as required with a full driving license and access to a vehicle.

• Willingness to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Check and other relevant clearance checks.

• Commitment to safeguarding children and young people and ensuring that all policies, procedures and service provision practices comply with all statutory safeguarding requirements and obligations.

Requirements and skills Desirable

• Leadership qualification

• Business development skills

• Health & Safety experience
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