Strategic HR Partner for Education Trust & TUPE Lead

Co-op Academies Trust; Preston; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Enhanced DBS check required

Job summary

Co-op Academies Trust is recruiting a high-impact HR Business Partner to lead the new South Cumbria hub and support regional expansion across six academies. The role combines strategic workforce planning, TUPE leadership, and expert employment-law guidance, with executive partnering to drive educational performance and organisational design.

You will work across locations in South Cumbria and Manchester, with hybrid/remote working options, and you will mentor HR Advisors to build regional

Qualifications

• CIPD Chartered status or equivalent experience.
• Substantial experience as a Strategic HRBP or HR Manager delivering large-scale change.
• Proven track record of leading complex end-to-end TUPE transfers.
• Deep knowledge of UK employment law and union negotiations.
• Experience in multi-site education or Multi-Academy Trust settings desirable.
• Strategic workforce planning and organisational development experience.
• Executive stakeholder management and strong negotiation skills.
• Commitment to cooperative values, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding.

Responsibilities

• Strategic partnering and HR model alignment with regional leaders.
• Design and deliver multi-school restructuring and organisational redesigns.
• Lead end-to-end TUPE consultations and integrations for academy joiners.
• Develop 3-year strategic workforce plans with succession frameworks.
• Provide authoritative advice on UK employment law, STPCD and NJC terms while managing ER caseloads and negotiations.
• Offer executive coaching and capability development for academy leadership.
• Champion diversity, equity, inclusion and staff wellbeing.
• Lead Trust-wide strategic HR projects and mentor HR Advisors and Admin Partners.

Skills

Strategic HR Partnering

TUPE Leadership

UK Employment Law

Workforce Analytics

Executive Coaching

Education

CIPD Chartered Status or equivalent

Job description

Co-op Academies Trust is recruiting a high-impact HR Business Partner to lead the new South Cumbria hub and support regional expansion across six academies. The role combines strategic workforce planning, TUPE leadership, and expert employment-law guidance, with executive partnering to drive educational performance and organisational design.

You will work across locations in South Cumbria and Manchester, with hybrid/remote working options, and you will mentor HR Advisors to build regional