HR and Payroll Officer

Suffolk County Council; Ipswich; On-site; GBP 33,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent independent educational institution located in Ipswich is seeking an experienced HR professional to support a variety of HR and payroll activities. The role involves close collaboration with the Director of HR and focuses on recruitment administration, advice on HR issues, and managing HR information and systems. Ideal candidates should have experience in HR, particularly within the education sector, and strong organizational and communication skills. Competitive salary of £33,000 per annum with additional benefits offered.

Benefits

25-30 days paid holiday

10% pension contributions

Free lunch during term time

Access to fitness gym and swimming pool

Wellbeing app with 24/7 GP access

Cycle to Work Scheme

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a similar role, ideally in education.
• Solid understanding of employment law and HR best practices.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Support a wide range of HR and payroll activities.
• Act as a key point of contact for line managers and staff.
• Assist with recruitment administration and HR information development.

Skills

Experience in HR

Knowledge of employment law

Excellent IT skills

Strong communication skills

Organizational skills

Detail-oriented

Job description

Job Description

• Ipswich School
• Address: Ipswich, Suffolk IP1 3SG
• Salary: £33,000 per annum
• Hours: 37.5 hours per week
• Contract: Permanent. Required as soon as possible
• Reference: 0482

Ipswich School has been listed as one of the top 130 schools in the country and is certainly one of the foremost independent schools in East Anglia. We were established prior to 1399 and moved to our present site in 1852. We have been regularly voted Suffolk's top independent school in The Sunday Times Parent Power League and have circa 1000 pupils aged between 3 months and 19 years.

We have a day nursery (The Lodge Day Nursery), Prep School and Senior School, located near to Christchurch Park, with sports facilities located in Rushmere and at Notcutts, off Henley Road. With around 430 staff, and all operations, including catering and cleaning, managed 'in house', we are a large local employer of both teaching and support staff.

This new role will work closely with the Director of HR (to whom this role reports), HR Administrator and Payroll Manager to support a wide range of HR and payroll activities as demands and priorities change throughout the academic year. You will be a key point of contact for line managers and staff for advice and practical assistance on HR issues and will support the work of the HR team in areas such as recruitment administration, the monthly Payroll, the development of our HR information and systems, projects and other key pieces of work.

We are looking for someone with proven experience in a similar role, ideally within the education sector, who possesses a solid practical understanding of employment law and HR best practice. The ideal candidate will be highly organised, detail‑oriented, and possess excellent IT and communication skills. A collaborative, flexible and proactive approach is essential.

This is a full-time role in the school, and you will work throughout the year.

Hours of work, salary and benefits

• You will work throughout the year on Mondays - Fridays for a minimum of 37.5 hours per week. Please note the normal core working hours in the HR team are Mondays - Fridays between 8.00 am - 5.00 pm.
• The starting salary will be £33,000 per annum. Salaries are paid monthly in arrears by BACS on the last working day of each month throughout the year.
• You will be entitled to 25 working days' paid holiday per year, plus public holidays. On completion of 5 years' continuous service with the school, your entitlement will increase to 30 days per year plus public holidays.
• After 3 months' service and/or in line with workplace pension legislation, you will be entitled to join a defined contribution pension scheme, with 10% employer contributions, and you will receive 3x death in service life cover.
• If there are pupil vacancies and you have a child or children who are eligible to attend the school who have satisfied the entry criteria as set out in the School's Admissions Policy, and have been awarded a place, you could be entitled to generous fee remission after 3 years' service.
• Free lunch is provided in the School Dining Hall during term time when the kitchen is in operation.
• Staff are able to use the school's swimming pool and fitness gym (in compliance with appropriate rules and regulations).
• You will have access to Smarthealth, the School's wellbeing app for staff which offers 24/7 GP access and mental health support. We also offer a Cycle to Work Scheme.

How to apply

We would encourage you to download the full job description for this role from our website.

Please apply using our application form. We cannot accept a CV in place of a fully completed application form for a role that involves working in a school environment.

Completed application forms should be returned by noon on Monday 1 December 2025 to the Director of HR, Ipswich School, 25 Henley Road, Ipswich, IP1 3SG or email to [e-mail].

Interviews are expected to be held on Thursday 4 and/or Friday 5 December 2025, when we may ask candidates to undergo a competency assessment. Please advise us of any special requirements you may have if you are called for interview. If your special requirements mean that you need to submit this application in a different format, please contact us.

Closing date

12 pm, 1 December 2025.

Interview dates

4 and/or 5 December 2025.

Ipswich School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the job, including checks with past employers and an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.

About the Team

IMPORTANT PLEASE READ BEFORE APPLYING

To apply, please follow the application process detailed above.

This job does not have a Suffolk Jobs Direct online application form.