Regional People Partner

KCGroup; Runcorn; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

LGPS pension (6.8% employee / 14.1% -

30 days' annual leave plus bank/public

Reimbursement of business travel

Job summary

KC Group Recruitment, in partnership with a leading education organisation, is seeking an experienced Regional People Partner for a 12-month fixed-term contract. This hybrid role requires travel across academies in the North region, with 1-2 days on-site in the Runcorn area.

The successful candidate will manage complex employee relations, advise senior leaders, and support a large, unionised workforce across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a People Partner/HR Business Partner role with strong ER casework.
• Experience in the education sector and in a unionised environment.
• Up-to-date knowledge of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.
• CIPD qualification or equivalent experience desirable.

Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders to provide expert HR guidance.
• Manage high-volume, complex ER caseload across multiple sites.
• Support managers through disciplinaries, grievances, absence, and performance issues.
• Collaborate with Trade Union representatives to maintain positive employee relations.
• Support organisational change projects, restructures, and workforce planning.
• Analyse people data to identify improvement opportunities.
• Help develop and implement people policies and initiatives.

Skills

Employee relations

HR advice

Stakeholder management

Coaching

Change management

Education

CIPD qualification or equivalent experience (desirable)

Job description

KC Group Recruitment are partnering with a leading education organisation to recruit an experienced Regional People Partner on a 12-month fixed-term contract. This hybrid role combines home working with regular travel across academies in the North region, including 1-2 days per week on-site in the Runcorn area.

This is an excellent opportunity for a HR professional with a strong employee relations background to join a busy and supportive People team. The role will have a significant focus on managing complex ER casework, partnering with senior leaders, and supporting a large, unionised workforce across multiple sites.

Key Responsibilities of the Regional People Partner:

• Partner with senior leaders and managers to provide expert HR advice and guidance.
• Manage a high-volume and complex employee relations caseload, including disciplinaries, grievances, absence, performance, capability, and wellbeing matters.
• Support managers through difficult people matters, ensuring risks are effectively managed and employment law requirements are met.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships across the region and act as a trusted HR advisor.
• Work closely with Trade Union representatives to maintain positive employee relations.
• Support organisational change projects, consultations, restructures, and workforce planning activities.
• Analyse people data and trends to identify opportunities for improvement and support decision-making.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of people policies and initiatives.

Key Responsibilities of the Regional People Partner role:

• Proven experience in a People Partner, HR Business Partner, or Senior HR Advisor role.
• Strong employee relations experience with the ability to manage complex casework autonomously.
• Previous experience working within the education sector.
• Experience operating within a unionised environment.
• Up-to-date knowledge of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Strong stakeholder management, influencing, and coaching skills.
• CIPD qualification or equivalent experience desirable.

What's on Offer

• £50,000 - £54,000 per annum
• Hybrid working with 2 days per week required in the Runcorn area
• 12-month fixed-term contract
• Opportunity to join a values-led organisation making a positive impact within education
• Supportive and collaborative working environment
• Excellent benefits package including LGPS pension (6.8% employee / 14.1% employer contributions), 30 days' annual leave plus bank holidays, and reimbursement of business travel expenses