HR Advisor

Ministry of Justice; Highweek; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dedicated People Assistants

Professional development opportunities

Local Government Pension Scheme

26 days annual leave + bank holidays

Employee Assistance Programme

Job summary

Ministry of Justice is seeking an experienced HR Adviser to provide expert advice and support across schools and teams within our Trust. You will lead employee relations casework, support attendance and wellbeing, coach leaders, and deliver HR policy training while using data to inform workforce planning.

You’ll contribute to organisational change and the onboarding lifecycle with our People Assistants, ensuring a high-quality, compliant HR service.

Qualifications

• HR advisory experience and ability to support managers with people matters and employee relations casework.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice, especially in education.
• Able to build relationships quickly and provide pragmatic, solutions-focused advice.
• Collaborative, coaching and constructive challenge of leaders where appropriate.
• Excellent communication adaptable to audiences and situations.
• Organised with ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Curious, proactive and motivated to improve support for colleagues and leaders.
• Committed to a positive colleague experience across the Trust.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert HR advice and guidance to leaders across our schools and teams.
• Lead employee relations casework and support positive outcomes for colleagues and leaders.
• Support leaders to manage attendance, wellbeing, performance and workforce challenges.
• Coach leaders to build confidence in managing people matters effectively.
• Deliver training, briefings and guidance on HR policies and processes.
• Use workforce data to support workforce planning and informed decision-making.
• Lead or contribute to People projects and initiatives supporting strategic priorities.
• Support organisational change and the integration of schools joining our Trust.
• Contribute to development and review of HR policies, guidance and resources.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding and lifecycle processes with our People Assistants.
• Support and develop our People Assistants, sharing knowledge on complex matters.

Skills

HR advisory experience

CIPD Level 5 or equivalent

Employment law knowledge

Excellent communication

Coaching leaders

Organisational change

Data-driven decision making

Education

CIPD Level 5 Diploma

Education sector experience

Tools

HR software proficiency

Job description

What You'll Do

Working as part of our People Team, you'll provide professional HR advice and support across a wide range of activities, including:

• Providing expert HR advice and guidance to leaders across our schools and teams.
• Leading employee relations casework and supporting positive outcomes for colleagues and leaders.
• Supporting leaders to manage attendance, wellbeing, performance and workforce challenges.
• Coaching leaders to build confidence and capability in managing people matters effectively.
• Delivering training, briefings and guidance on HR policies, processes and good practice.
• Using workforce data and insights to support workforce planning and informed decision-making.
• Leading or contributing to People projects and initiatives that support our strategic priorities.
• Supporting organisational change, consultation activity and the integration of schools joining our Trust.
• Contributing to the development and review of HR policies, guidance and resources.
• Providing oversight of recruitment, onboarding and colleague lifecycle processes, working closely with our People Assistants to ensure a high-quality service.
• Supporting and developing our People Assistants, sharing knowledge and providing guidance on more complex matters.

We're Looking for Someone Who

• Shares our commitment to Flourishing Futures and understands the important role great people practice plays in supporting schools and outcomes for children.
• Has HR advisory experience and is confident supporting managers with a range of people matters and employee relations casework.
• Ideally holds CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent), or can demonstrate an equivalent level of knowledge, skills and experience.
• Has a strong understanding of employment law and HR best practice, gained through HR advisory experience in education or another sector.
• Builds positive relationships quickly and provides pragmatic, balanced and solutions-focused advice.
• Enjoys working collaboratively and is confident supporting, coaching and constructively challenging leaders where appropriate.
• Has excellent communication skills and can adapt their approach to a range of audiences and situations.
• Is organised, able to manage competing priorities and comfortable working in a varied and fast paced environment.
• Is curious, proactive and motivated to continually improve the way we support colleagues and leaders.
• Shares our values and is committed to creating a positive colleague experience across the Trust.

What the school offers its staff

• A rewarding role supporting colleagues, schools and communities across our Trust.
• The opportunity to broaden your HR experience across employee relations, workforce planning, organisational change and Trust growth.
• The chance to contribute to Trust-wide projects and help shape the future of our People Service.
• A welcoming, supportive and collaborative People Team.
• Dedicated People Assistants who lead on recruitment and key administration processes, allowing you to focus on professional HR advisory work.
• High-quality professional development and career development opportunities.
• A strong commitment to colleague wellbeing and work-life balance.
• Family-friendly policies and employee benefits.
• Access to a 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• 26 days annual leave, plus bank holidays.

Commitment to safeguarding

• We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• DBS disclosures are required for this post along with the other necessary checks.
• All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants.
• This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020).
• Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974

The closing date for this post is Thursday 5th November 2026 (9am) however please feel free to apply as soon as possible, as applications will be considered upon receipt. We reserve the right to interview / appoint before the closing date. Interviews are anticipated to take place on 11th/12th November 2026.