Interim HR Officer / HR Administrator

Lime Tree Education Search Ltd; Greater London; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Lime Tree Education Search Ltd is seeking an Interim HR Officer/HR Administrator in North East London to provide hands-on HR support to the School Business Manager. The role focuses on onboarding, payroll administration, and maintaining confidential HR records within a school environment.

The successful candidate will have school-based HR experience, a structured, methodical approach, and the ability to handle confidential information while managing their own workload.

Qualifications

• Previous school-based HR experience is essential.
• CIPD experience or qualification would be advantageous.
• Strong organisational and confidential information handling skills.

Responsibilities

• Supporting the full staff onboarding and induction process
• Maintaining accurate and confidential HR records
• Managing day‑to‑day absence administration
• Supporting payroll processes and related administration
• Taking accurate minutes and maintaining confidential notes
• Preparing and maintaining HR documentation
• Supporting general HR administration and employee correspondence
• Providing practical operational support to the School Business Manager
• Ensuring HR records and processes remain organised, accurate and up to date

Job description

Interim HR Officer / HR Administrator

North East London

Initially Interim | Immediate Start

Salary: Dependent on experience

An established maintained special school in North East London is looking for an experienced HR professional to provide hands‑on support to its School Business Manager.

This is an important role within the school's day‑to‑day operation, supporting with the practical HR administration and processes that keep things running effectively.

The successful candidate will have previous school‑based HR experience and a good understanding of the pace, processes and responsibilities involved in supporting staff within a school environment.

You will be organised, methodical and committed to doing things properly, with the ability to pick up an existing workload, establish what needs attention and work through it in a structured and efficient way.

The Role

• Supporting the full staff onboarding and induction process
• Maintaining accurate and confidential HR records
• Managing day‑to‑day absence administration
• Supporting payroll processes and related administration
• Taking accurate minutes and maintaining confidential notes
• Preparing and maintaining HR documentation
• Supporting general HR administration and employee correspondence
• Providing practical operational support to the School Business Manager
• Ensuring HR records and processes remain organised, accurate and up to date

This is a hands‑on, operational HR role and would suit someone who takes pride in their work, is comfortable working with confidential information and can manage their own workload effectively.

You will need to be able to work with a good degree of independence, use your judgement and take responsibility for seeing tasks through.

Previous school‑based HR experience is essential. Candidates without experience working in a school environment will not be considered.

CIPD experience or qualification would be advantageous, although the school is primarily looking for someone with the right practical experience, approach and commitment to make a positive contribution from the outset.

The position is available for an immediate start, initially on an interim basis with potential to extend.

Safeguarding

The school is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All appointments are subject to appropriate pre‑employment checks, including Enhanced DBS, satisfactory references, online checks and overseas police checks where required.

Right to Work / Sponsorship

Please note that the school is unable to offer visa sponsorship for this position. Applicants must have the existing right to work in the UK without sponsorship.