HR Business Partner

Ashton-on-Mersey School; West Timperley; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

The Dean Trust is seeking two proactive Human Resources Business Partners to support Headteachers and senior leaders across all academies. You will advise on employee relations, drive organisational change, and contribute to the Trust’s People Strategy.

One role is permanent and the other is a maternity cover. Travel across Trust sites is a key part of the role and you will report to the Senior HR Business Partner.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent HR qualification.
• Proven experience advising on complex casework and contributing to HR projects.
• Up-to-date knowledge of employment law and HR best practice; safeguarding knowledge is desirable.
• Strong stakeholder management, IT literacy, analytical ability, and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• A full driving licence with access to a car for travel across Trust sites; regular travel across sites is a key part of the role.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Partnering: Partner with Headteachers and senior leaders to identify HR challenges and co-create solutions aligned with the People Strategy.
• Employee Relations & Casework: Provide expert advice on complex casework, ensuring consistency, fairness and compliance with employment law.
• Organisational Change: Support restructures, redeployments, TUPE processes, and onboarding of new schools into the Trust.
• Policy & Best Practice: Contribute to review and development of HR policies aligned with KCSIE and DfE guidelines.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with school leaders, trade unions, external partners and central support teams.

Skills

Stakeholder management

IT literacy

Analytical ability

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Education

CIPD Level 5 or equivalent HR qualification

Job description

About The Dean Trust:

The Dean Trust is a high-performing Multi-Academy Trust committed to providing transforming educational opportunities for all pupils and students across our schools. We operate with a strong value system built on traditional standards of discipline, respect, continuous improvement, and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding and child welfare.

We are an educational charity established in April 2012, that currently comprises of 11 academies, 6 secondary, 4 primaries and 1 through school, operating in 3 hubs covering Trafford, Manchester, Knowsley and Wigan local authorities.

The Role:

We are seeking two proactive and dynamic Human Resources Business Partners—one on a permanent contract and one to cover a period of maternity leave.

Reporting to the Senior HR Business Partner, you will provide professional, hands-on HR business partnering support to Headteachers and senior leaders across all Trust academies. In this pivotal role, you will act as a trusted advisor, supporting complex employee relations, driving organisational change, and contributing directly to the successful delivery of the Trust’s People Strategy.

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced, values-driven environment and is passionate about promoting a positive and consistent experience for all employees across the Trust.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Strategic Partnering: Partner with Headteachers and senior leaders to identify HR challenges and co-create forward-looking solutions aligned with the Trust's People Strategy.
2. Employee Relations & Casework: Provide expert advice and guidance on a range of complex casework, ensuring consistency, fairness, and compliance with employment law across all Trust schools.
3. Organisational Change: Support restructures, redeployments, TUPE processes, and the onboarding of new schools into the Trust.
4. Policy & Best Practice: Contribute to the review and development of HR policies, ensuring alignment with Keep Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) and DfE guidelines.
5. Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong, collaborative working relationships with school leaders, trade unions, external partners, and central support teams.

About You:

1. CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent HR qualification)
2. Proven experience advising on complex casework and contributing to HR projects. (Experience within an educational setting or working with trade unions is desirable).
3. Up-to-date knowledge of employment law and HR best practice. (Knowledge of safeguarding standards (KCSIE) is desirable).
4. Strong stakeholder management, high-level IT literacy, analytical ability, and excellent verbal and written communication skills.
5. A full driving licence with access to a car for travel across Trust sites. Regular travel between all current and future Trust sites is a key fragment of the role.

We are an Equal Opportunities employer committed to ensuring inclusion, diversity and equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates including those from underrepresented groups, and/or with protected characteristics.