Schools Senior HR Advisor

Reading Borough Council; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 37,000 - 49,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading council in Reading is looking for a committed part-time Senior HR Consultant to join their Schools HR Consultancy team. This role offers an opportunity to provide expert HR advice to over 30 schools while fostering diversity and inclusion within a supportive environment. The ideal candidate will have HR experience, particularly in employee relations and teamwork, and will engage in innovative HR initiatives to enhance service delivery.

Benefits

Generous holiday entitlement

Flexible working opportunities

On-site day nursery

Season Ticket Loan

Lease car salary sacrifice scheme

Qualifications

• HR experience is essential, ideally with schools.
• Good customer focus and relationship-building skills.
• Knowledge of employment legislation and best practices.

Responsibilities

• Provide comprehensive HR consultancy to schools.
• Collaborate with headteachers and senior leaders.
• Contribute to projects and initiatives for HR service improvement.

Skills

Employee Relations

Communication

Teamwork

Customer Focus

Education

HR qualification or equivalent experience

Job description

Job Share – 2 days a week (14.8 hours, Wednesday and Thursday) 52 weeks a year or2.5 days a week (18.5 hours, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday), term time

Salary – RG6-7 £37,938 to £48,710 pro rata

Over the last few years we’ve taken great strides to modernise the HR services provided to our Schools, developing a dedicated a Schools HR Consultancy service and introducing self-service through iTrent HR System and recently developing bespoke training on HR policies.

An exciting opportunity for a part time, job share Senior HR Consultant has arisen and that means we’re looking for someone amazing to join our fabulous Schools HR Consultancy team.

We seek the best talent from the widest pool of people as diversity and inclusion is the key to our success. Reading Borough Council is a Disability Confident Employer and is committed to the recruitment and continued employment of people with disabilities.

We support hybrid working, it’s important to us that working arrangements are designed to enable our employees to excel and you’ll have the option to work on a largely remote basis within this role, however occasional travel to the Civic Offices and Schools will be required.

About the role

As a key team within the Council’s corporate HR service, we provide a comprehensive HR consultancy service to 30+ schools in the borough. We’ll need you to work closely with your job share, headteachers, senior Leaders, governors and other key stakeholders, who will rely on you to provide expert ER knowledge and support.

You’ll join us on our change journey, we’re always looking to improve and provide an HR service that goes beyond the norm, making a genuine difference to all employees and schools. We love ideas – you’ll have plenty of opportunity to get involved in projects and initiatives and put your stamp on our practice.

You’ll be part of a team that relies on everyone to play their part to the best of their ability. As well as the colleagues that you work closely with every day, you’ll also be part of Team Reading, playing your personal part in making Reading a successful and vibrant place.

Our vision is to ensure that Reading realises its potential as a great place to live, work and play, and that everyone shares the benefits of this success. Our values and behaviours guide how we will achieve this:

Work Together as one team - work collaboratively, with each other and with our partners, and demonstrate the Team Reading values in everything we do.

Drive Efficiency- show initiative, be adaptable to change and put forward ideas to help improve delivery and efficiency. Take responsibility for our own learning and development and for reaching our potential.

Be Ambitious - be demanding of our own performance – striving to be even better – and be prepared to engage with and challenge leaders in a constructive and positive way.

Make a Difference to Reading- maintain the highest levels of customer service and be flexible and willing to provide the services needed at the time they are needed.

About you

Previous HR experience is a must, ideally with schools, but we’re open to other relevant experience.Good customer focus is important and the ability to build great working relationships within the team and the wider diverse stakeholder group.

Teamwork and great communication skills with your job share partner are essential to ensure a seamless service to our schools and management of ER cases.

Specific requirements

• Employee Relations casework experience. Experience in developing and maintaining positive working relationships with colleagues and client users. Experience of working with customers to identify needs and resolve issues without service disruption. Good knowledge of legislation and best practice affecting employment including the Employment Rights Act, the Equality Act, Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations, Trade Union and Labour Relations Act, ACAS Codes of Practice etc. Experience of working with schools would be desirable.

Please specify your preferred job share working pattern on your application.

Our offer

We offer a supportive environment to grow and develop your career with the opportunity to put your ideas across. Innovation and ambition is strongly encouraged, and you’ll get a great feel for that working in our friendly and collaborative environment.

A competitive salary alongside a range of benefits including:

• Generous holiday entitlement - 25 days holiday each year plus bank holidays - rising to 33 days after 10 years' service, with the option to buy additional leave.
• A wide range of flexible working opportunities . Modern working environment at the Civic Offices in the heart of Reading. Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS).
• On-site day nursery (Kennet Day nursery) rated outstanding by Ofsted, and a salary sacrifice scheme to help lower the cost of your nursery fees.
• Season Ticket Loan - to help with the cost of your rail/ bus journey, to & from work.
• Lease car salary sacrifice scheme allowing you to lease a brand new, greener car for three years.The monthly fee includes insurance, servicing and road tax.

For more information on this position, please contact our Recruitment Team via email, [e-mail]

Closing Date: 27 June 2025

Interview Date: W/C 30 June 2025

Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. We reserve the right to close this vacancy once a sufficient number of applications has been received. Therefore, it is strongly advised that you complete and return your application as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.