HR Director

Teaching Vacancies; Gildersome; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational trust in Gildersome seeks an experienced HR Director to lead strategic HR initiatives while also providing hands-on support to teams during their growth. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of HR policies and a proven track record in influencing positive cultural changes. Offers include comprehensive health care services and professional development opportunities.

Benefits

Continuous Professional Development

Access to free health care services

Mental health support

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a strategic HR generalist.
• Strong experience in strategic workforce planning.
• Excellent communication and leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver effective HR strategies.
• Act as a proactive HR Business Partner.
• Support leaders and teams as the Trust evolves.

Skills

Strategic HR generalist experience

CIPD Level 7 qualification

Employee relations

Organisational development

Influencing senior leaders

Communication skills

Leadership skills

Coaching skills

Education

CIPD Level 7 in Human Resource Management

Job description

HR Director

Lighthouse Education Trust

Strategic HR Role – Shape the Future of Our Growing Trust

Are you looking for a strategic HR role where you can truly make a difference? This is an exciting new opportunity to shape and influence the future direction of our Trust as we continue to grow and open a brand-new school.

Whether you’re already an experienced HR Director or a Senior HR Business Partner ready to take the next step, we’d love to hear from you.

In this pivotal role, you’ll use your expertise to lead and deliver effective HR strategies that support our people, culture, and long‑term goals.

While this is a strategic role, you’ll also need to be hands‑on, particularly in the early stages — acting as a proactive HR Business Partner to support leaders and teams directly as the Trust evolves and grows.

What we need from you

• Proven experience as a strategic HR generalist, operating at a senior level
• CIPD Level 7 qualification (or working towards) in Human Resource Management
• Strong experience in strategic workforce planning, employee relations, and organisational development
• The ability to influence and partner with senior leaders, driving positive cultural and operational change
• A deep understanding of HR policy, employment law, and best practice
• Excellent communication, leadership, and coaching skills
• Ideally, experience gained within the public or education sector
• A willingness to be hands‑on in delivery as the Trust expands and new systems and processes are embedded
• Above all, genuine alignment with our values and mission

What the school offers its staff

• Salary paid across 12 equal monthly instalments, and an increase each September (subject to Trustee approval and the finances of the school).
• Mental health and wellbeing at the heart of everything we do – our staff say they feel supported by the Senior Leadership Team and our Mental Health First Aider Team.
• Access to a range of free health care services including, Employee Assistance Programme offering free counselling (general/menopause), physiotherapy, 24/7 GP service, stress coaching, nurse support services, financial wellbeing coaching, surgical assistance programme, free flu vaccinations, and eye tests for VDU users. See here for more information.
• Up to date autism specific training, including person centred approaches, positive behaviour support strategies and understanding communication from our Speech and Language Therapists and our training and Wellbeing Teams.
• Continuous Professional Development including access to coaching, mentoring and supervision, as well as e‑learning and online training courses.

Commitment to safeguarding

Lighthouse School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its students and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. An enhanced DBS certificate is required for successful applicants, and all newly appointed staff who have lived or travelled overseas for 12 months or more in the past 10 years will be required to undertake an overseas check as part of our pre‑employment checks. Information can be found on the government website at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants/guidance-on-the-application-process-for-criminal-records-checks-overseas