HR Manager (Permanent, Full-time, £30,404 - £33,752 pa, All Year Round)

TES FE News; Tonbridge; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent educational institution in Tonbridge seeks an experienced HR Manager to lead its HR team. The successful candidate will ensure compliance with legislation, manage employee relations, and oversee recruitment processes. Applicants should have a relevant HR qualification and experience in an educational setting, with strong leadership qualities. The role offers a full-time position with an annual salary of £30,404 - £33,752.

Qualifications

• Experience in leading HR functions in an educational or similar setting.
• Strong understanding of employment legislation and policies.
• Ability to manage and support the HR team effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead the HR function and manage the HR team.
• Ensure compliance with employment legislation and internal policies.
• Oversee recruitment processes and ensure adherence to safer recruitment practices.

Skills

HR management

Compliance

Employee relations

Recruitment

Leadership

Education

Relevant HR qualification (e.g., CIPD)

Tools

MIS system (e.g., Arbor)

Job description

Job Overview

Employment Status: Permanent

Full Time/Part Time: Full-time

Grade: KSF

Salary: £30,404 - £33,752 per annum

Hours: 37 hours per week (08:00 – 16:00 Monday – Thursday and 08:00– 15:30 on Friday with 30 minutes break unpaid)

Term-Time/All Year Round: All year round

Start Date: ASAP

We are looking to appoint an enthusiastic and driven individual to lead our HR team. Working with the HR & Operations Director, you will be responsible for administrating, refining and advising on the HR function across our Tonbridge and Sevenoaks campuses.

You will lead the department, ensuring that all policies and procedures are followed in line with legislation. You would be responsible for HR processes to include; recruitment, onboarding, induction, contracts, absence management and advising managers on a range of employee relation cases to include; grievance, disciplinary and capability procedures and absence management as appropriate.

This position has particular responsibility of leading on compliance within the HR department, ensuring compliance with safer recruitment.

Our HR team consists of the HR Manager and HR Officer, with the HR Manager reporting to the HR & Operations Director. The HR team cover all aspects of people management including; recruitment and retainment of staff, training, contracts and contract changes, performance management and employee relations.

Specific Duties Include

• Lead on the HR function within the School, including direct line management of the HR Officer.
• Deliver an efficient and compliant HR service, ensuring alignment with employment legislation and internal policies.
• Provide expert advice and support to staff at all levels across a wide range of matters, liaising with our employment lawyers as and when required.
• Advise Line Managers and the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) on all aspects of HR processes, including grievance, disciplinary capability and absence management.
• Maintain and manage the Single Central Record, ensuring full compliance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) requirements and the timely completion of all pre-employment checks.
• Prepare regular reports to the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) on key HR metrics including staff absence, recruitment activity and workforce trends.
• Lead on providing a high-quality support for all elements of the employee life cycle.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date employee records including personnel files, spreadsheets and data held within our MIS system, Arbor.
• Lead on the recruitment process along with the HR Officer, ensuring compliant with safer recruitment practices. Responsibilities includes:
• Advertising vacancies with the required safeguarding statements.
• Logging and managing applications, liaising with the hiring managers.
• Leading and coordinating recruitment days to ensure a professional experience for candidates and managers.
• Lead on Safer Recruitment processes for new starters to include:
• Conducting all pre-employment checks (e.g. references, DBS, online searches, medical questionnaires etc.) prior to the employees start date.
• Issuing offer letters and employment contracts promptly (ideally on the day of offer or the following day).
• Supporting hiring managers with staff inductions and ensuring completion and documentation of all mandatory training.
• Ensure all HR administrative processes are managed effectively, including leavers, contractual changes, maternity/paternity leave, and probation periods.
• Act as a first point of contact, along-with the HR Officer, for HR related queries, particularly regarding pay and contract matters.
• Liaise with the HR & Operations Director on complex queries and project-based initiatives.
• Collaborate with the Finance department to process monthly payroll accurately and on time.
• Oversee all annual staff returns to ensure they are collated and returned, as required.
• Maintain accurate records for staff attendance and manage requests for annual leave and other absences.
• Ensure all staff and managers are aware of, and adhere to, absence reporting procedures, including the provision of certification and return-to-work documentation.

Application Closing Date: Wednesday 1 October 2025, 9am

Shortlist Interview Date: WC 6 October 2025

Early applications are advised as the School reserves the right to appoint at any stage during the application process.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

Applicants will be required to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post. As this role involves 'regulated activity' with children the successful applicant will be required to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) disclosure application. Employment will be conditional upon the College being satisfied with the result of the Enhanced DBS check and the outcome of all other checks.

The School will also carry out a check of the Children\'s Barred List on the successful applicant. Applicants should be aware that it is unlawful for the School to employ anyone to work with children if they are barred from doing so, and it is a criminal offence for a person to apply to work with children if they are barred from doing so.

This role is also exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the School is therefore permitted to ask shortlisted applicants to declare all convictions and cautions (including those which are "spent" unless they are "protected" under the DBS filtering rules) in order to assess their suitability to work with children.