People Advisor

London South East Academies Trust; Orpington; On-site; GBP 34,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

London South East Academies Trust is seeking a proactive People Advisor to join the Trust People Team. The role supports managers and staff across the college, guiding them through recruitment, performance management and employee relations, with travel across sites and a base in the Orpington office.

You will manage HR/ER cases, coach managers, and ensure consistent policy application in line with current employment law. A fast-paced environment and strong communication are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in an HR role.
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide HR advice and guidance on employee relations matters, including grievances, disciplinaries, and absence management.
• Maintain accurate HR/ER case records and track progress within the HR team.
• Support organisational change initiatives, including restructures, TUPE transfers, and performance management processes.
• Drive college-wide recruitment initiatives and participate in recruitment activities, from candidate selection to onboarding.
• Contribute to employee engagement, wellbeing, and safety, using resources such as the Occupational Health provider and Employee Assistance Program.
• Assist in developing HR policies and ensuring compliance with HR best practices.

Skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Microsoft Office

HR software

Tools

Microsoft Office

HR software

Job description

Job Purpose

We are looking for a proactive and experienced People Advisor to join our Trust People Team. This role will involve supporting managers and employees across the college, guiding them through the employee lifecycle, from recruitment and selection to performance management and employee relations. You will actively manage HR/ER cases, provide coaching to managers, and ensure the consistent application of college policies in line with current employment legislation. This role will work across schools in Bromley, Bexley, Lambeth, Surrey and Sussex with travel needed across all sites but be based in our Orpington Office.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide HR advice and guidance on a variety of employee relations matters, including grievances, disciplinaries, and absence management.
• Maintain accurate HR/ER case records and ensure progress tracking within the HR team.
• Support organisational change initiatives, including restructures, TUPE transfers, and performance management processes.
• Drive college-wide recruitment initiatives and participate in recruitment activities, from candidate selection to onboarding.
• Contribute to employee engagement, wellbeing, and safety, utilizing resources such as the Occupational Health provider and Employee Assistance Program.
• Assist in developing HR policies and ensure compliance with HR best practices.

About You

The ideal candidate will be approachable, professional, and possess strong communication and organisational skills. You should have a good understanding of employment legislation, experience in an HR role, and be comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office and experience with HR software are essential, along with excellent interpersonal skills to engage effectively with colleagues and staff at all levels.

About Us

About the Trust

London South East Academies Trust is a growing and ambitious Multi‑Academy Trust, currently comprising mainstream, special and alternative provision academies, alongside an outreach service and a music hub. Our schools are located across Bromley, Bexley, Sussex, Lambeth and Surrey, serving a wide range of communities and educational contexts.

Across the Trust, our schools share a strong commitment to raising attainment, encouraging aspiration and supporting social mobility for every pupil, throughout their educational journey and beyond. We take a holistic but personalised approach to education, recognising that children thrive when their individual strengths, needs and circumstances are properly understood and supported. This enables pupils to flourish and achieve their full potential, whatever their starting point.

We believe that great schools are built by great people. As a Trust, we invest in our staff through strong professional development and leadership opportunities, clear expectations and supportive structures. We actively encourage collaboration and the sharing of best practice across schools, supported by high‑quality, cost‑effective central services that allow leaders and teachers to focus on what matters most: improving outcomes for pupils.

London South East Academies Trust sits within the Elevare Civic Education Group, which also includes a multi‑campus further and higher education college, London South East Colleges and a charitable foundation, Elevare Education Foundation. This unique structure provides meaningful progression pathways for pupils and families, as well as broad development and career opportunities for staff across the wider Group.

Our teams are united by a shared belief in the power of education to change lives. By continuing to grow our Trust and welcoming new expertise and perspectives, we aim to strengthen our schools further and extend the positive impact we have on our communities.

Equal Opportunities

London South East Academies Trust is fully committed to being an Equal Opportunities Employer and to creating a diverse, inclusive and respectful working environment, free from discrimination and harassment. We welcome and encourage applications from all, regardless of race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, age, parental status or marital or partnership status.

As a Disability Confident Committed employer, we will offer an interview to applicants who declare a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role.

If you have accessibility needs or require any reasonable adjustments to support you through the application or interview process, please let us know.

Please note that if a suitable applicant is identified, we may close the advert before the published closing date.

If you have any specific queries about the role, please contact us at [e-mail].

As the Trust supports children and vulnerable adults, all roles are exempt from Section 4(2) of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. Appointments are subject to an enhanced DBS check and, where relevant, a Children’s and/or Adult’s Barred List check. Any offer of employment may be withdrawn if these checks are unsatisfactory. Self‑disclosure is required as part of the recruitment process, and failure to make a full disclosure or to provide sight of a DBS certificate is likely to result in withdrawal of an offer. The Trust’s DBS policy on the recruitment of ex‑offenders is available on request.

All appointments are also subject to verification of the right to work in the UK, in line with Home Office requirements. Original documentation will be required prior to commencement of employment.