HR Business Partner

Shorefields; Brentwood; Hybrid; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Life Assurance

Referral bonus

Two-week October half term

Employee discounts

Employee Assistance Programme

Mental Health First Aiders

Ongoing training and professional dev.

Gifted Service Leave

Health Cash plan

Job summary

Discovery Educational Trust in Brentwood is seeking a Senior HR Adviser to join our central HR team. You will support HR processes across our five schools, build strong relationships with schools and internal stakeholders, and contribute to operations and governance.

This is a year-round, full-time role based at St Martin's School. The post offers opportunities for professional development, safeguarding compliance, and ongoing rollout of HR initiatives within a collaborative Trust.

Qualifications

• Experience in HR administration or advisory roles.
• Strong organisational and communication skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with schools and central teams.

Responsibilities

• Support HR processes across Discovery Educational Trust's schools and central team.
• Maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders and school leaders.
• Contribute to wider HR, Operations and Governance initiatives.

Job description

Job Ref No. ECC0-96 Position Type: Administration Pay Range: Essex Schools Pay Scale 10 (Point 34-37)

Position Start Date: Immediate Contract Type: Full-time Contract Term: Permanent

Application Close: 02/11/2026 Midnight Date of Interviews: Tuesday 10 November 2026 Shortlisting Starts: 03/11/2026

Based at St Martin's School, Brentwood, Essex (DET Central Team office)

Full time, all year round

We are excited to be growing our central HR team and we are seeking a motivated and organised individual who can approach challenges with confidence. You will use your expertise to seek out effective solutions, and will be driven by the opportunity to contribute positively to the HR, Operations and Governance team. You will play a key role in supporting our schools with their HR processes, maintaining strong working relationships with all internal stakeholders, and contributing to wider HR, Operations and Governance team.This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to make their next move in their HR career.

Please note that this is a year round post (not a term-time position).

Information about the School

Discovery Educational Trust, formed in 2014, is a successful and established multi-academy trust based in South Essex, comprising just under 4000 pupils and 500 staff, across 5 schools.

Our schools are:

• Chase High School (Westcliff-on-Sea)
• St. Martin's School (Brentwood)
• Hogarth Primary School (Brentwood)
• Kelvedon Hatch Community Primary School (Brentwood)
• Larchwood Primary School (Brentwood)

We aim for each of our schools to become the school of choice within the community, offering a broad and exciting range of extracurricular activities to enhance the opportunities within their formal curriculum.

Our vision is that strong and effective leadership places our children and young people at the heart of everything we do.We value relationships, which are open and honest, underpinned by kindness, trustworthiness and compassion.

We offer ongoing training and professional development for all staff in a supportive and collaborative environment.

We offer the following benefits for employees:

• Pension scheme - also automatically includes Life Assurance
• Generous Referral Bonus for employees who refer quality candidates to join Discovery Educational Trust
• Two-week October half term (term time staff)
• Employee savings and discounts
• Employee Assistance Programme – free confidential wellbeing support for employees and dependants
• Mental Health First Aiders – we have qualified MHFA England trainers within the Trust and continue to add to our pool of trained MHFAs
• Ongoing training and professional development in a supportive and collaborative environment
• Gifted Service Leave for long service
• Health Cash plan to support with every day healthcare costs – e.g. dental, optical, physiotherapy. Includes Virtual GP service

As an equal opportunities employer, Discovery Educational Trust is committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age; disability; gender re‑assignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race (which includes ethnic origin, nationality and ethnic or national origins); religion or belief; sex; and sexual orientation. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply and join Discovery Educational Trust.

Discovery Educational Trust is committed to safeguarding our pupils against radicalisation and extremism and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

In compliance with safer recruitment procedures and guidelines, all applications must be made on an application form, CVs will not be accepted. It is an offence to apply for a role if barred from regulated activity. This appointment will be subject to pre‑employment checks including an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service and satisfactory references. Please note that online checks will also be carried out.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.

Documents

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Recruitment Team - HR
St Martin's House, St Martin's School
Hanging Hill Lane
Hutton, Brentwood
Essex, CM13 2HG Telephone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]

Senior HR Adviser

Discovery Educational Trust, Brentwood Closing: 02/11/2026 Midnight