HR Operations Manager

Levenshulme High School; Manchester; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health cash plans

Generous pension scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Flexible working options

Blue Light Card

Free parking

Comprehensive professional development

Career progression opportunities

Job summary

Greater Manchester Education Trust is seeking an experienced HR Operations Manager to lead HR for a portfolio of schools, initially based at Levenshulme High School. You will advise Headteachers and senior leaders, covering employee relations, attendance, recruitment, and compliance.

You will line-manage HR Administrators, monitor workforce metrics, and use data to drive continuous improvement while ensuring safeguarding and a people-centred culture across our Trust schools.

Qualifications

• Experienced HR professional with generalist HR and employee relations.
• Sound knowledge of employment law and handling complex casework.
• CIPD Level 5 qualification or equivalent experience.
• Ability to advise leaders and support across multiple schools.

Responsibilities

• Lead HR for a portfolio of schools and provide expert advice.
• Support attendance management, recruitment, workforce compliance and organisational change.
• Manage and develop HR Administrators and monitor compliance and metrics.
• Use data to identify risks and drive continuous improvement across the trust.

Education

CIPD Level 5 qualification

Job description

All Year Round

Position based at Levenshulme High School

You will be employed by Greater Manchester Education Trust and will support a designated portfolio of schools, initially based at Levenshulme High School.

About Greater Manchester Education Trust

Greater Manchester Education Trust (GMET) was established in 2022 following the successful merger of two local multi-academy trusts. We currently oversee four academies and two sixth form colleges, working in some of the most academically, socially, and ethnically diverse communities in the region. The trust is at a point of growth which will further extend the impact and reach of this role.

GMET is a diverse and inclusive Trust for young people of all backgrounds in Greater Manchester. We are committed to providing the best learning, the best support, and a sense of belonging in our community so that every child and adult can fulfil their ambition and have a great future.

To support our progressive and values-led organisation, we are seeking a high-quality HR Operations Manager to join our central team.

About the Role

As our HR Operations Manager, you will be the lead HR professional for a portfolio of schools, providing expert advice and operational leadership across the full employee lifecycle. Working closely with Headteachers, senior leaders and HR colleagues, you will support a wide range of people matters including employee relations, attendance management, recruitment, workforce compliance and organisational change. You will play a key role in ensuring consistent, high-quality HR services that enable school leaders to manage their teams confidently, fairly and effectively.

This is a varied and rewarding role that combines hands-on casework with strategic operational oversight. You will manage and develop HR Administrators within your portfolio, monitor compliance and workforce metrics, and use data to identify risks and drive continuous improvement. Through your expertise and professional judgement, you will help maintain a positive, compliant and people-focused culture across our Trust schools.

About You

You will be an experienced HR professional with a strong background in generalist HR and employee relations. Comfortable advising and influencing leaders at all levels, you will have sound knowledge of employment law, experience managing complex casework, and the ability to apply policies fairly and consistently. Whether supporting attendance management, recruitment processes or organisational change, you will bring confidence, credibility and a pragmatic approach to achieving positive outcomes.

Highly organised and solutions-focused, you will be able to manage competing priorities while maintaining excellent attention to detail and confidentiality. You will be a collaborative team player with strong communication skills, capable of building effective relationships across multiple schools and stakeholders. A CIPD Level 5 qualification, or equivalent experience, combined with a commitment to delivering outstanding HR support, will help you succeed in this rewarding role.

Full details about the role and the qualifications, experience, and attributes required can be found in the attached Job Description and Person Specification.

Why Join GMET?

A Trust for Every Child and Every Colleague

At GMET, we believe that great futures are built by great people. Every colleague in our schools experiences the same focus on care, guidance, opportunity, and challenge that we provide for our learners. We strive for excellence in everything we do, and every role, whether teaching or support, is valued.

When you join GMET, you’ll be part of a trust that puts people at the heart of its strategy. You’ll be supported and empowered to grow within an inclusive, ambitious environment where wellbeing and professional development are priorities. Through bespoke support, tailored CPD, and opportunities to collaborate and innovate, you’ll become the very best practitioner and advance your career with us.

What We Offer

• A warm, inclusive, and supportive school culture
• High expectations for all learners and staff
• A strong focus on wellbeing and professional development
• Opportunities to innovate and collaborate across the trust
• A commitment to equity, diversity, and accessibility
• Tailored CPD and coaching
• Trust-wide networks and learning communities
• Leadership development pathways
• Access to wellbeing resources and flexible working options

Employee Benefits

• Comprehensive professional development and clear career pathways
• Health cash plans and generous pension scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Flexible working options
• Blue Light Card and similar discount schemes
• Free parking and more

We are committed to safeguarding, child protection and promoting the wellbeing of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. All roles are subject to:

• Enhanced DBS checks
• Reference and identity verification and other pre-employment checks.
• Compliance with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE)

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you require any adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know.