HR Manager

The King's School Canterbury; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension contributions up to 10%

Employee Assistance Programme

Life Assurance

Cycle to Work Scheme

Free meals during term time

In house training and CPD

Job summary

The King’s School Canterbury is recruiting an experienced HR Manager to lead the HR Operations team and deliver a high-quality HR service to over 1,000 employees across the School.

Reporting to the Director of HR, you will act as a trusted HR business partner to senior leaders, handling operational HR delivery, complex employee relations, policy development and organisational change with a focus on continuous service improvement.

Qualifications

• Strong generalist HR background with broad employee relations experience.
• Proven leadership experience overseeing HR teams.
• Solid knowledge of UK employment law and compliance.
• CIPD Level 7 qualification (or equivalent) is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead the HR Operations team to deliver proactive HR services for 1,000+ employees.
• Act as a trusted HR business partner to senior leaders.
• Drive operational HR delivery, policy development and change initiatives.
• Manage complex employee relations issues with professionalism and sensitivity.
• Champion continuous service improvement within HR operations.
• Support strategic objectives through effective people initiatives.

Skills

HR leadership

Employee relations

UK employment law

CIPD Level 7

Stakeholder management

Education

CIPD Level 7 qualification

Job description

The King's School, Canterbury is seeking an experienced and proactive HR Manager to lead our HR Operations team and play a key role in delivering an outstanding HR service to more than 1,000 employees across the School.

Reporting to the Director of HR, you will lead a team of HR professionals while acting as a trusted HR business partner to senior leaders across the School. This is a varied and hands‑on role with responsibility for operational HR delivery, complex employee relations, policy development, organisational change and continuous service improvement.

The successful candidate will be an experienced HR professional with a strong generalist background, extensive employee relations expertise, proven leadership experience and a sound knowledge of UK employment law. A CIPD Level 7 qualification (or equivalent experience) is essential.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a collaborative and forward‑thinking HR team within one of the UK's leading independent schools, where you will have the opportunity to shape and continuously improve HR services while supporting the School's strategic objectives.

The King’s School offers an extensive rewards package, including:

• Gold membership at The King’s School Sports Centre
• Enhanced employer pension contributions up to 10%
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Life Assurance
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Free meals during term time
• In house training and CPD opportunities

The King's School is committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair, robust and consistent recruitment process which is in line with the statutory Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates.

All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.