HR Manager - East Sussex Region

Aquinas Church of England Education Trust; London; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading educational trust is seeking an HR Manager to oversee the HR function across its academies in East Sussex. This exciting new role requires a professional with a solid background in HR and experience in education. The successful candidate will manage recruitment processes, ensure compliance with employment law, and support the trust’s growth strategy.

Benefits

Flexible work/home balance

Local Government Pension Scheme

Generous annual leave

Qualifications

• Experience in handling employee relations casework.
• Knowledge of education-sector specific legislation.
• Demonstrable experience in recruitment within education.

Responsibilities

• Manage the HR function across three academies.
• Contribute to the overall people strategy and workforce training.
• Advise on HR matters and support employee relations.

Skills

Employee Relations

Recruitment Processes

Understanding of UK Employment Law

Education Sector Knowledge

Education

HR professional qualifications

Job description

The Aquinas Trust is seeking to appoint a HR Manager to fill a new vacancy created in East Sussex. Working closely with the HR Director, the post-holder will be responsible for administrating, refining and advising on the HR function in our three East Sussex academies.

This position is a new role, created during an exciting time in the development of the business function of the Trust following our expansion in East Sussex. The successful candidate should be ready to contribute in a meaningful way to the overall people strategy, helping with standards, risk-management, workforce training and making Aquinas a first-choice employer in the area.

The position is being offered on a permanent basis, ‘term time only + 2 weeks’ (41 weeks per year), 37 hours per week over five days. The successful candidate will be based primarily at Robertsbridge Community College and will be expected to travel regularly to Rye College & Rye Primary.

Personal attributes

Our ideal candidate will have:

• A background as a HR professional, either as a generalist or as somebody with Education specific experience.
• Experience in casework handling for all areas of employee relations, including disciplinary, appeal, grievance and capability hearings.
• An up to date understanding of UK employment law, alongside a knowledge of education-sector specific legislation and guidance, such as the School Teacher’s Pay and Conditions Document.
• Demonstrable experience of having managed recruitment processes, preferably within education.
• A people-first mindset with an understanding of the challenges faced by multi-academy trusts for staffing and retention.
• A willingness to learn and an appreciation for the need to remain informed on changing legislation and guidelines.
• A desire to make their mark on the Trust through new ideas, collaboration with colleagues and successful implementation of initiatives.
• A sense of humour.

In return, we offer:

• A happy community committed to the professional development of all colleagues;
• A commitment to a flexible approach to work / home life balance;
• Enrolment in the Local Government Pension Scheme with average employers pension contributions of 21.6%;
• Generous annual leave package starting at 25 days (plus bank holidays) and rising to 31 days (plus bank holidays) after a qualifying period of service;
• Guaranteed pay progression linked to both the National Joint Council pay awards and movement within your internal band.
• An opportunity to create a bespoke role with significant responsibility during a period of growth throughout the Trust.

Salary & Benefits

Hours: 37 Hours per Week, 41 Weeks per year (term time only + 2 weeks)

Location

Aquinas Church of England Education Trust
Magpie Hall Lane
Bromley
London
BR2 8HZ

Please send your application, outlining your suitability for the role against the enclosed person specification and job description, by email to [e-mail]

Alternatively, submit your application to Recruitment, Aquinas Church of England Education Trust, Magpie Hall Lane, Bromley. BR2 8HZ.

All sections of the form should be completed as clearly and fully as possible. Please note CV's will not be accepted in place of a completed application form. Please note a signed copy of your application form will be required prior to interview.

We reserve the right to interview and appoint at any stage during the recruitment process.