People Officer

The Methodist Church in Britain; Romford; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Assistance & Wellbeing

Generous pension schemes

Family-friendly policies

Extensive development opportunities

Cycle to Work scheme

Refer a friend scheme

Free onsite parking

Free tea and coffee

Job summary

Newbridge School is seeking a People Officer to provide frontline HR support to managers and staff across the academy, handling employee relations, sickness absence and payroll administration on-site with some hybrid options.

You will support appraisal, attendance management and wellbeing, maintain confidential case records, and use people data to identify trends and improvements across the academy.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent, and/or substantial relevant HR experience.
• Hands-on employee relations casework and advising managers.
• Experience with sickness absence management and payroll administration.

Responsibilities

• Provide first-line HR advice to managers and employees on day-to-day people matters.
• Manage employee relations casework including disciplinary, grievance, capability, conduct, performance and probation.
• Support managers with sickness absence, attendance management and occupational health referrals.

Skills

Employee relations

HR advising

Sickness absence

Payroll administration

Education

CIPD Level 5 or equivalent

Job description

The People Officer post sits within the People team at Newbridge School, giving HR support directly to managers and staff across the academy. The work centres on employee relations casework such as disciplinary and grievance, sickness absence, and payroll administration. The role is based primarily on site and covers the academy's two sites, with some hybrid working possible. Visa sponsorship is not available, and the post can start as soon as possible.

What the job involves

• Provide first-line HR advice to managers and employees on day-to-day people matters
• Manage employee relations casework, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, conduct, performance and probation, keeping cases moving and following up actions
• Support managers with short-term, long-term and complex sickness absence, attendance management and occupational health referrals
• Help managers choose the right approach where conduct, capability, attendance, wellbeing or development issues arise
• Administer payroll accurately and on time, including payroll changes, pensions admin and guidance, data checks, queries and records
• Administer the annual workforce census
• Support appraisal, performance development and probation processes across the academy
• Contribute to staff wellbeing activity and use casework, absence data and feedback to identify support needs
• Support CPD, learning and development activity
• Prepare clear correspondence and keep confidential, high-quality case records
• Use people data to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement
• Work with the wider People Team and colleagues in finance, IT, school administration and leadership to provide a joined-up service

What’s required

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent, and/or substantial relevant HR experience

Experience

• Hands-on employee relations casework
• Advising managers and supporting employee relations matters
• Sickness absence and attendance management, including complex or long-term cases
• Supporting payroll administration

Skills & knowledge

• Sound practical knowledge of UK employment law and HR good practice
• Judgement to know when to advise, challenge or escalation
• Excellent written and verbal communication, explaining HR processes clearly and sensitively
• Strong organisation and attention to detail when managing competing cases, deadlines and priorities
• Calm, professional and objective approach to sensitive or challenging situations

What’s offered

• Employee Assistance & Wellbeing Programme
• Generous pension schemes
• Family-friendly working policies
• Extensive support and development opportunities
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Refer a friend scheme
• Free onsite parking
• Free tea and coffee