HR & Wellbeing Manager

Chelmsford College; Chelmsford; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

An educational institution in Chelmsford is seeking an HR & Wellbeing Manager to lead a dedicated team and provide comprehensive HR support across the employee lifecycle. The ideal candidate will have recent HR Generalist experience and hold a L5 CIPD qualification. This role emphasizes employee wellbeing and aims to foster an inclusive workplace. The position offers a competitive salary, training opportunities, and a commitment to work-life balance, including generous holiday allowances.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Training and development

Local-government pension

Generous holiday

Additional closure days

Qualifications

• Proven recent experience in a senior or management HR role.
• Strong operational awareness balancing people needs with business priorities.
• Ability to manage complex employee relations cases.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the HR team for efficient service delivery.
• Manage employee relations cases with fairness and sound judgment.
• Coach managers in implementing practical HR advice.

Skills

HR Generalist experience

Emotional intelligence

Communication skills

Team management potential

Education

L5 CIPD qualification or equivalent

GCSE Maths and English Grades 5-9

Job description

About the Role

As HR & Wellbeing Manager, you will manage a small but mighty team, delivering high-quality people‑focused support across the employee lifecycle. From complex employee relations to performance management and sickness‑absence management, you will be the go‑to expert for compassionate and operationally focused HR advice and guidance. We are passionate about the health and wellbeing of our workforce and about ensuring an inclusive working and learning environment where everyone feels safe.

Key Focus

• Leading and developing the HR team to deliver a solution‑focused, responsible and efficient service.
• Managing ER cases with fairness, empathy and sound decision‑making.
• Coaching and mentoring managers to enable them to implement practical HR advice.
• Proactively marketing the College through end‑to‑end recruitment and selection processes.
• Focusing on health and wellbeing strategy to enable a resilient, strong workforce.
• Contributing to the digital transformation of HR processes and practices as part of ongoing projects.
• Building trusted and supportive relationships throughout the business and with external stakeholders.

Essential Skills & Requirements

• L5 CIPD qualification or equivalent management or degree qualification.
• GCSE Maths and English Grades 5‑9 (A‑C).
• Proven recent experience in a senior or management HR Generalist role providing solution‑focused HR advice and guidance (education sector experience an advantage but not essential).
• Strong operational awareness and the ability to balance people needs with business and operational priorities.
• Excellent communication skills with high emotional intelligence, resilience and a collaborative mindset.
• Proven experience in managing complex ER cases and providing sound judgments.
• Team‑management potential – whether you have led a team before or are ready for the step up.

Why Join?

• We put people at the heart of our College and are committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive and equitable workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered.
• We can offer a competitive salary, training and development, local‑government pension. Work‑life balance is important to us – we offer generous holiday plus additional closure days throughout the academic year along with other College benefits.

The College is committed to equality and diversity and to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff to share these commitments.

This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check.

If you have any further questions, please e‑mail [email protected].

Applications will be considered upon receipt. We reserve the right to bring forward the closing date of the advert should we receive a sufficient level of interest!