Human Resources Lead

Spirehouse Recruitment; Portsmouth; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Trust-wide Multi Academy Trust invites an experienced HR professional to join as Trust Deputy Lead for People & Culture in Portsmouth. You will provide operational leadership across People and Talent, advising leaders and delivering professional support across a broad range of people matters.

You will lead complex ER casework, oversee key People processes, supervise the People team and drive the Trust’s People Strategy across recruitment, wellbeing, CPD, talent and succession planning.

Qualifications

• Minimum CIPD Level 5 or equivalent experience.
• Significant HR generalist and advisory experience.
• Proven experience managing complex employee relations casework.
• Experience leading organisational change.
• Experience managing a team.
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
• Safer recruitment and safeguarding knowledge.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to handle difficult conversations with empathy.
• CIPD membership is desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex employee relations casework and support leaders with absence, probation, performance, organisational change, TUPE and workplace adjustments.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, DBS checks, Safe Recruitment, SCR and wider employee lifecycle.
• Supervise and develop the People team and support delivery of the Trust’s People Strategy (recruitment, wellbeing, CPD, talent & succession).
• Embed the Relational Culture Charter focusing on respect, fairness, inclusion and solution-focused communication.
• Provide strategic advice to senior leaders on complex people matters; travel across academy and Trust sites.

Skills

HR generalist experience

Employee relations

Organisational change

People leadership

Employment law knowledge

Confidentiality & discretion

Communication & influencing

Safeguarding knowledge

HR data & metrics

CIPD membership

MS Office / HRIS familiarity

Education

CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent)

Tools

Microsoft Office

HR systems

Job description

Location: Trust-wide / across multiple academy sites

Location: Portsmouth

Essential: CIPD Level 5 minimum and significant HR generalist experience

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced HR professional to join our multi academy trust as Trust Deputy Lead for People & Culture.

You will provide operational leadership across the People and Talent functions, acting as a trusted advisor to leaders and providing professional, compassionate and practical support across a broad range of people matters.

The Opportunity

• You will lead complex employee relations casework and support leaders with absence, probation, performance, organisational change, TUPE and workplace adjustments.
• You will oversee key People processes including recruitment, safer recruitment, onboarding, DBS checks, Single Central Records, contractual changes and the wider employee lifecycle.
• You will also supervise and develop the People team, while supporting the delivery of the Trust’s People Strategy across recruitment and retention, wellbeing, CPD, talent and succession planning.
• A key part of the role will be embedding our Relational Culture Charter, ensuring People practices are based on respect, fairness, inclusion, effective communication and a solution-focused approach.
• This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HR professional who combines strong technical HR knowledge with excellent interpersonal skills, sound judgement and a genuine commitment to positive workplace relationships.
• Experience within education, a multi academy trust or a similarly complex organisation would be highly desirable.

Requirements

• CIPD Level 5 minimum, or equivalent experience
• Significant HR generalist and advisory experience
• Proven experience managing complex employee relations casework
• Experience managing organisational change
• Experience leading and developing a team
• Strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice
• Strong understanding of safer recruitment and safeguarding requirements
• Excellent communication, influencing and interpersonal skills
• Ability to manage difficult and sensitive conversations with empathy and professionalism
• Strong organisation, prioritisation and problem-solving skills
• Ability to work independently and manage competing priorities
• High level of confidentiality, integrity and discretion
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office and HR systems
• Commitment to equality, inclusion and continuing professional development
• Experience within the education sector or a multi academy trust
• Experience supporting senior leaders with complex people matters
• Experience with TUPE, restructures and organisational change
• Experience coaching and advising managers
• CIPD membership
• Experience using People data and workforce metrics

The multi academy trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. Any successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced DBS check.

The role will require travel across academy and Trust sites.