People Operations Officer

Shorefields; Tendring; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Cash Plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work

Discounted gym memberships

Cinema tickets

Blue Light Card

Job summary

The Sigma Trust is seeking a dedicated People Operations Officer to join our central People & Culture team and deliver core People Operations across a designated group of academies.

You will manage recruitment, contractual administration, and employee benefits, acting as the first-line contact for school queries and escalating complex matters to a People & Culture Business Partner. Based at Tendring Education Centre in Clacton-on-Sea, with occasional travel.

Qualifications

• Experience in a busy administrative or transactional HR environment.
• Experience using modern HR software platforms (Every HR, Arbor, MyNewTerm).
• Attention to detail and handling confidential data in line with GDPR.
• Understanding of pre-employment checks and core lifecycle processes.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate school operations and communication across assigned academies.
• Oversee recruitment processes and employer branding activities.
• Validate safeguarding and vetting checks and maintain SCR records.
• Prepare contracts, variations, leaver letters and payroll-related documents.
• Administer employee benefits and ensure clean data for statutory returns.

Skills

HR administration

Recruitment coordination

Communication

Data privacy (GDPR)

Education

Relevant university degree

Tools

Every HR

Arbor

MyNewTerm

Job description

Position Start Date: Immediate Contract Type: Full-time Contract Term: Permanent

Application Close: 12/10/2026 Midnight Date of Interviews: Friday 16th October

Join a Community Where Everyone Feels They Belong at The Sigma Trust

Are you a passionate individual who holds high expectations and aims for excellence? Are you ready to use your skills to ensure that across our Trust, every colleague feels they truly belong? As a People Operations Officer, you won't just join the community - you will help define it.

At The Sigma Trust, we are a forward-thinking family of 12 academies across North East Essex, serving over 11,500 pupils and employing 1,600 members of staff. Our founding philosophy - that we are "Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts" - is the principle that guides every decision we make. We believe that we are stronger and more successful working together, ensuring that no child is left behind.

Our central People & Culture team plays a pivotal role in enabling our schools to thrive by delivering high-quality, efficient, and proactive HR and operational support across the Trust.

The Role:

We are seeking a People Operations Officer to join our central People & Culture team and deliver core People Operations across a designated group of schools.

Working closely with school leaders and People & Culture school links, you will take operational ownership of the end-to-end lifecycle for your assigned academies. Serving as the first-line point of contact for school queries, you will manage recruitment, contractual administration, and employee benefits schemes, while escalating complex advisory matters to the relevant People & Culture Business Partner.

• Contract & Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week across the full calendar year (52 weeks).
• Working Pattern: Monday-Thursday 08:30-16:30 and Friday 08:30-16:00 (includes a 30-minute unpaid daily lunch break).
• Location: Based at the Trust's central office at Tendring Education Centre in Clacton-on-Sea, with occasional travel to our schools to provide on-site partnership and support.

A Day in the Life:

You'll be responsible for bringing your passion and expertise to the following areas:

• School Coordination & Communication: Act as the primary operational point of contact for school leaders and People & Culture school links across your assigned schools, managing the central People & Culture inbox, resolving first-line policy queries, and directing complex advisory queries to the relevant People & Culture Business Partner.
• Drive Recruitment & Employer Branding: Oversee candidate journeys from initial advert to onboarding via digital platforms such as MyNewTerm. Represent the Trust at recruitment events and job fairs to promote our schools and attract talent.
• Champion Safeguarding & Vetting: Rigorously validate statutory pre-employment checks (KCSIE, References, Online Checks, Enhanced DBS, Right to Work, Overseas, Prohibition/S128) and maintain "Ofsted-ready" Single Central Records (SCR) for your assigned schools.
• Contractual, Payroll & Reporting Accuracy: Complete and issue contracts, variations, and leaver letters. Calculate standard salary changes in accordance with Trust pay policies, complete 5-year service recognition correspondence, and conduct regular monthly audits and workforce reports.
• Employee Benefits & Systems Administration: Administer Trust-wide benefits schemes including Cycle to Work and eye care vouchers. Maintain accurate daily inputs in HR Trackers and MIS systems (e.g., Every HR, Arbor) to ensure clean data for statutory returns like the School Workforce Census.

What We're Looking For:

• Experience working in a busy administrative or transactional HR environment (or a relevant university degree).
• Proven experience using modern HR software platforms and systems (e.g., Every HR, Arbor, MyNewTerm).
• Meticulous attention to detail and a track record of handling sensitive, confidential data in accordance with GDPR.
• Strong understanding of pre-employment vetting checks, safer recruitment principles, and core employee lifecycle processes.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the confidence to collaborate with school leaders and represent the Trust professionally at job fairs.
• A solution-focused, adaptable, and collaborative mindset with the ability to manage competing deadlines under pressure.

• Please note that an integration period applies to all new staff joining the Trust, to support introduction into the organisation.

Why Choose The Sigma Trust?

We believe in investing in our staff and fostering a culture of collaboration. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive package designed to support your professional and personal life.

Professional Development:

• A robust CPD training programme that empowers you to flourish.
• Unrivalled opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the Trust, sharing ideas and building strong professional relationships.

Employee Benefits:

• A competitive salary and excellent pension scheme.
• A Health Cash Plan and Employee Assistance Programme for your well-being.
• Exclusive perks like the Cycle to Work scheme, discounted gym memberships, cinema tickets, and eligibility for a Blue Light Card.

Commitment to Safeguarding & Diversity

The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment processes, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.

The Sigma Trust is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristics. This is embedded in our vision 'To Be Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts', where we believe we are strong and more successful working together, creating a workplace which celebrates diversity.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert early should we receive an overwhelming response. Candidates may be invited to interview prior to the closing date, so an early application is advised.

• We are unable to provide sponsorship for this position, so please ensure you have the right to work in the UK before you apply.
• We are managing all current recruitment directly and kindly request that agencies do not contact us regarding open positions.

Information about the School

SafeguardingThe Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.

All appointments are subject to safer recruitment requirements to ensure the safeguarding of children and young people. All positions will involve appropriate checks and clearances.

Documents

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Trust HR & Payroll Officer

HIVE Family of Schools, Chelmsford Closing: 12/10/2026 Midday