HR Manager (AWDO-P15301)

AWD online; Portishead; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent pension scheme

CPD and career development

Healthcare scheme and wellbeing

Job summary

AWD online is seeking an HR Manager to lead a high-impact HR service across our education organisation. Reporting to the Director of People, you will oversee employee relations, change, workforce planning and HR systems while ensuring compliant, high-quality service across sites.

You will line-manage HR Assistants and work with senior leaders to implement the People strategy, with travel across Bristol area. CIPD Level 7 or equivalent is essential, with senior HRBP or advisory experience.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 7 qualification or equivalent required.
• Senior operational HR experience at Senior HR Advisor or HR Business Partner level.
• Experience handling complex employee relations cases (disciplinary, grievance, capability, attendance, safeguarding).
• Experience leading organisational change, consultation and restructuring processes.
• Ability to advise senior leaders, improve HR processes and interpret employment law and HR best practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex employee relations, disciplinary, grievance, capability, attendance and safeguarding matters.
• Maintain employment-law expertise, oversee safer recruitment and safeguarding-related HR compliance.
• Lead change, consultation, restructuring and TUPE activity, including due diligence and liaison with staff and unions.
• Oversee recruitment, establishment and vacancy management, probation processes and workforce planning.
• Lead HR system development, data integrity, reporting, workflows, access and user support.
• Monitor service standards, SLAs, performance indicators and people risks, driving QA and continuous improvement.
• Line manage HR Assistants and provide People Team leadership, guidance to senior leaders when needed.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Influencing stakeholders

Microsoft Office

Education

CIPD Level 7 or equivalent qualification

Tools

iTrent HRIS

Job description

Lead a high-impact Human Resources service across an education organisation. Ideal for a CIPD Level 7 qualified professional (or equivalent professional qualification) ready to shape employee relations, change, workforce planning and HR systems.

If you’ve also worked in the following roles, we’d also like to hear from you: Human Resources Manager, HR Operations Manager, People Manager, HR Business Partner, Senior HR Advisor, HR Services Manager, Senior HR Generalist, Employee Relations Manager

Benefits include an excellent pension scheme, CPD and career development, a Healthcare Cash Plan and wellbeing support.

SALARY: £49,817 to £54,143 per annum + Benefits

LOCATION: Portishead, North Somerset, with regular travel across Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset and North Somerset.

JOB TYPE: Full-Time, Permanent

WORKING HOURS: 37 hours per week

JOB OVERVIEW

This is an excellent opportunity for an HR Manager to take a leading role in a broad People function supporting schools and central teams.

Reporting to the Director of People, the HR Manager will play a key role in the operational delivery of the Trust’s People strategy. The HR Manager will lead day‑to‑day operational HR delivery, line manage HR Assistants and work closely with senior People colleagues to maintain consistent, compliant service standards.

Across employee relations, change, recruitment, workforce planning and HR systems, the HR Manager will provide expert advice, quality assurance and practical leadership.

There is also scope to deputise for the Director of People, provide leadership cover for the Organisational Development Manager, and contribute to service improvement across the Trust, with regular travel between sites.

DUTIES

Your duties as the HR Manager include:

• Employee Relations and Casework: Lead complex disciplinary, grievance, capability, attendance and safeguarding-related employment matters, advising leaders and liaising with trade unions as required
• Compliance and Safeguarding: Maintain employment‑law expertise, oversee safer recruitment and safeguarding‑related HR compliance, and ensure consistent application of policies and procedures
• Organisational Change and TUPE: Lead change, consultation, restructuring and TUPE activity, including due diligence and liaison with staff, unions and external parties
• Recruitment and Workforce Planning: Oversee recruitment, establishment and vacancy management, probation processes and workforce planning
• HR Systems and Data: Lead HR system development, data integrity, reporting, workflows, access and user support
• Service Performance and Improvement: Monitor service standards, SLAs, performance indicators and people risks, leading quality assurance and continuous improvement
• Leadership and Stakeholder Support: Line manage HR Assistants, provide People Team oversight, advise senior leaders and deputise for senior People leadership as required

CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS

ESSENTIAL

• CIPD Chartered Member with a CIPD Level 7 qualification (or equivalent professional qualification)
• Senior operational HR experience at Senior HR Advisor or HR Business Partner level
• Experience managing complex employee relations casework, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, attendance and safeguarding‑related employment matters
• Experience leading organisational change, consultation and restructuring processes
• Experience advising senior leaders, improving HR processes and interpreting employment legislation and HR best practice
• Understanding of education HR, safeguarding and safer recruitment requirements
• Experience managing and developing HR staff or teams
• Strong investigation, report‑writing, analytical, organisational and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and manage competing priorities
• Knowledge of HR service management, audit, compliance, absence management, occupational health, equality, diversity and inclusion, data protection and GDPR
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel and Teams
• Ability to travel between sites as required and access to personal transport

DESIRABLE

• Experience within education, an academy trust or the public sector
• Experience of TUPE transfers and academy conversion projects
• Experience with iTrent or similar HR information systems
• Knowledge of education‑sector terms and conditions, academy trust governance and Keeping Children Safe in Education requirements
• Experience presenting to senior leadership teams, project management, service improvement and training or facilitating workshops
• Active participation in professional HR networks and interest in educational leadership and workforce development

BENEFITS

• Outstanding CPD and career development opportunities
• Apprenticeships and training pathways
• Employee Assistance Programme and wellbeing support
• Electric car scheme
• Blue Light Card eligibility

This role requires an Enhanced DBS Check

JOB REF: AWDO-P15301