HR Generalist

Ascend Learning Trust; Rottingdean; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellbeing

Free annual Flu Vaccines

Discounted Gym Memberships

24-hour counselling helpline for you &

Wellbeing Day

Generous holiday allowance

Flexible working solutions

Pension schemes

Cycle to Work

Job summary

Ascend Learning Trust invites applications for a Senior HR Officer within the Central Trust Team. The role anchors HR administration across all schools, guiding policies, pay, and terms to ensure consistency.

You will handle onboarding, compliance, and safer recruitment tasks, working with schools to maintain high HR standards and staff wellbeing. You will join a supportive Trust, operating 37 hours per week on a permanent basis, with a typical 8:00-16:00 pattern.

Qualifications

• Deliver accurate and timely HR administration and support across the Trust.
• Support onboarding processes and ensure compliance across schools.
• Assist with safer recruitment procedures and candidate advertising.

Responsibilities

• Provide HR administration across all schools in the Trust.
• Be a trusted point of contact for HR policies and terms and conditions.
• Manage onboarding, compliance checks and new starter processes to maintain standards.

Skills

HR administration

Onboarding

Compliance

Safer recruitment

Relationship building

Tools

DBS/ SAFER RECRUITMENT GUIDELINES

Job description

Senior HR Officer (Central Trust Team)

Ascend Learning Trust

Contract: Permanent, 52 Weeks ( all year round)

Hours: 37 hours per week

Working Pattern: 08:00-16:00 Monday-Friday.

Salary: NJC Grade I £34,434-£36,363

Closing date: Midnight 20th September

Interview Date: TBC

Appointment Date: As soon as possible

Driving licence is required

Why choose us?

We are looking for a motivated and detail-oriented HR professional who can deliver accurate and timely HR administration and support across the Trust. As a successful applicant, you will build strong relationships with our schools and act as a trusted point of contact, offering clear guidance on HR policies, employment legislation, pay, and terms and conditions, ensuring consistency and accuracy across all HR processes. Alongside excellent communication and organisational skills, you will confidently manage key administrative duties including onboarding, compliance, and supporting safer recruitment procedures such as preparing advertisements and overseeing new starter processes. You'll be comfortable working independently to meet tight deadlines and committed to promoting staff wellbeing and strong HR practice across the Trust.

Full details can be found in the recruitment pack.

Ascend Learning Trust creates a sense of belonging for everyone. All our young people receive a holistic, world class education regardless of where they come from or their life challenges. They will leave their Ascend community with outcomes that opens doors to a fulfilling and successful future.

If you want to be a part of this, and work alongside ambitious, compassionate, and dedicated people we welcome your application. Our mission is to develop and retain high quality professional who relentlessly pursue the Ascend vision.

Together we will foster a culture of compassion and inclusivity with high expectations and standards for all. Where horizons are limitless, and education is unmissable.

Together we Belong, Believe, Become.

We also offer an excellent staff benefit package which include discounts on high street stores, restaurants, cinemas, and gyms as well as having a wellbeing hub and a cycle to work scheme. We have a wide range of benefits for employees which include:

• Health & Wellbeing
• Free annual Flu Vaccines
• Discounted Gym Memberships
• 24-hour access to free counselling helpline for family, debt advice
• *Annual 'Wellbeing Day'
• Generous holiday allowance
• Flexible working solutions

Financial

• Hundreds of offers and discounts and cashback on local and national stores
• Excellent Pension Schemes
• Cycle to Work and Tech Schemes
• Health and Fitness Schemes (available at additional cost)

Career Progression

• Instructional Coaching for Teachers
• Developmental performance management conversations
• Apprenticeship opportunities for 'on the job training'
• Investment in your career, internal and external talent solutions.
• Recognition and Reward -including service awards

* Please note some allowances are only applicable on completion of a successful 6 month probation.

Please note if we receive sufficient applications, we may close this job role earlier.

At Ascend Learning Trust, we believe in the power of diversity to drive innovation, foster creativity, and create a workplace that truly reflects the richness of the world around us. We are excited to welcome applicants from all backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to join our dynamic team.

Reasonable adjustments are modifications or accommodations made to ensure that individuals with disabilities or specific needs can perform their job duties effectively. We embrace the idea that everyone should have equal opportunities to succeed, and our aim is to make this a reality.

SAFEGUARDING STATEMENT

Ascend Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We particularly welcome applications from underrepresented groups including ethnicity, gender, transgender, age, disability, sexual orientation, or religion.

Please note that this role is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974, which means that you are required to disclose any criminal convictions, cautions, warnings, or reprimands, even if they would normally be considered "spent" and a DBS check will be carried out before any employment commences.

In line with KCSIE 2025 and safer recruitment practices, the school will conduct an online search for all shortlisted candidates. The online search is part of our safeguarding checks and will seek publicly available information on candidates' suitability to work with children. Shortlisted candidates will be provided with further guidance and will be asked to clarify their online presence.

References will be obtained before interview at shortlisting stage and may be used in the interview process. If previous employment has included working with children, then at least one referee must be from this employ