HR Consultant

London Borough of Hackney; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Hackney Council is seeking a seasoned HR Consultant to deliver high-quality advisory HR support to schools and traded partners across Hackney. You will lead on complex casework, champion best-practice employee relations, and shape workforce strategies to support excellent public service delivery.

You will advise headteachers and governors on ER issues, assist with organisational change, oversee pre-employment checks, and monitor KPIs and SLAs to drive service improvement.

Qualifications

• HR Knowledge & Experience: Extensive generalist HR experience advising management on complex casework and organisational change—CIPD qualification (or equivalent experience) is preferred.
• Education Sector Insights: Strong understanding of employment law and the specific operational frameworks within the education or public sector.
• Stakeholder Management: Exceptional communication skills with the confidence to influence senior stakeholders and governing boards in high-pressure scenarios.
• Analytical & Commercial Mindset: Ability to interpret HR data, resolve complex problems, and foster a customer-first, commercially viable service model.

Responsibilities

• Advisory & Casework: Provide expert advice to Headteachers, Chairs of Governors, and school leaders on complex ER issues, sickness absence, capability, discipline, and grievances.
• Organisational Change: Support managers through organisational design and restructuring, producing Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) to maintain an inclusive workforce culture.
• Recruitment & Talent: Collaborate on senior recruitment initiatives (including Headteacher appointments), oversee pre-employment checks, and manage migrant worker sponsorship compliance.
• Performance Metrics: Monitor HR key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) to continuously elevate service delivery.

Skills

ER investigations

Education HR

Stakeholder management

HR analytics

Education

CIPD qualification

Job description

Fixed-Term / Secondment Opportunity – 12 Months

Hackney is one of the most dynamic and progressive local authorities in the UK. We are a resilient, vibrant, and creative borough in the heart of London, with strong, diverse communities and a powerful set of shared values.

Over the past twenty years, the Council has built up first-class services, outstanding public infrastructure, and a reputation for excellence, innovation, and ambition. We are leading the way on essential work such as our fight for equity in Hackney with a particular focus on becoming an actively anti-racist borough. But the work doesn’t stop there, we are proactive in our approach to bringing fairness to all aspects of life including gender, neurodiversity and across the poverty divide.

This is a fantastic opportunity to step up, gain exposure to complex casework, and contribute directly to the strategic people goals of our local school community. As an HR Consultant, you will deliver a high-quality, commercial, and advisory HR service to schools and traded partners across Hackney.

You will lead on complex casework, champion best-practice employee relations, and help design workforce strategies that support exceptional public service delivery.

Why Join Us?

• – Strategic Exposure: Lead on high-profile, complex Employee Relations (ER) investigations, capability processes, and transformational change projects (restructures and redundancies) from end to end.
• – Specialised Expertise: Become a subject matter expert in education HR, navigating the unique dynamics of school governance, safeguarding, and compliance (including Single Central Record oversight).
• – Leadership Development: Line-manage an Employee Relations Officer, gaining valuable experience to build your people management skillset.
• – Commercial Impact: Drive our traded services offer, managing key relationships to ensure Hackney remains the preferred HR provider.

Key Responsibilities

• – Advisory & Casework: Provide expert advice to Headteachers, Chairs of Governors, and school leaders on complex ER issues, sickness absence, capability, discipline, and grievances.
• – Organisational Change: Support managers through organisational design and restructuring, producing Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) to maintain an inclusive workforce culture.
• – Recruitment & Talent: Collaborate on senior recruitment initiatives (including Headteacher appointments), oversee pre-employment checks, and manage migrant worker sponsorship compliance.
• – Performance Metrics: Monitor HR key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) to continuously elevate service delivery.

What We Are Looking For

• – HR Knowledge & Experience: Extensive generalist HR experience advising management on complex casework and organisational change—CIPD qualification (or equivalent experience) is preferred.
• – Education Sector Insights: Strong understanding of employment law and the specific operational frameworks within the education or public sector.
• – Stakeholder Management: Exceptional communication skills with the confidence to influence senior stakeholders and governing boards in high-pressure scenarios.
• – Analytical & Commercial Mindset: Ability to interpret HR data, resolve complex problems, and foster a customer-first, commercially viable service model.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

We operate a fair and open anonymous selection process. Therefore, we do not accept supporting statements or CV’s.

We understand the benefits of using AI in the workplace. However, if you are thinking of using this tool to submit your application, we ask you to think about what value it will add. AI tools tend to lack the personal touch and authenticity we value in candidates. We encourage you to showcase your unique knowledge and skills using your own voice.

Closing date for applications: 30 September 2026 (22.59)

Interview date: TBC

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud; a place that celebrates diversity and where everyone can feel valued, included and involved. In order to achieve this, we look for people who are: Proud; Ambitious; Pioneering; Open; Proactive; Inclusive.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: [e-mail]