Chief People Officer jobs in United Kingdom

Please get in touch if you would like to discuss this role. This is a fabulous opportunity to work for an award-winning educational establishment, with an outstanding reputation. As the HR Officer, you will establish and develop an efficient and professional HR capability internal to the school, administering an effective and compliant recruitment process, records management service and advisory service for employment law queries.

The role will suit someone who is highly organised, adept at multi-tasking, has excellent verbal and written communication skills, maintains scrupulously accurate records and is a warm, naturally empathetic people-person.

PLEASE NOTE: The HR Officer works year-round (52 weeks) on a full-time basis. The total hours will be 37.5 hours a week working Monday to Friday. Daily start and finish time can be flexible to meet the needs of candidates and the school. Requests for hybrid working will be considered, though it is expected that the majority of the work completed will be on site. There are occasionally times when you may be asked to work outside the above stated hours, to be available for staff meetings or training after school or for the (very) occasional Saturday morning or weekday evenings for extra-curricular events.

Recruitment

• Implement the Safer Recruitment Policy and maintain the Single Central Register of Appointments (SCR)
• Administer all recruitment activities including advertising, liaising with recruitment agencies, managing applications, scheduling interviews, and attending interviews as needed
• Manage the full recruitment cycle for staff and contractors, ensuring compliance with Safer Recruitment guidelines
• Liaise with external recruitment agencies and providers of co-curricular clubs, afterschool care, and visiting professionals to ensure vetting and safeguarding compliance
• Conduct DBS checks, Right to Work checks, and ensure all necessary documentation is completed for staff, contractors, governors, and volunteers
• Maintain accurate personnel records and HR databases
• Administer contracts, variations, leavers, and salary reviews
• Monitor and support HR processes including induction, probation, appraisal, absence, maternity, and performance management
• Provide advice on HR matters including disciplinaries, grievances, and capability procedures
• Liaise with legal advisers and senior managers to ensure compliance and communication across the school

Payroll

• Liaise with the Finance Department to ensure accurate and timely payroll processing
• Ensure all salary data, including new starters, leavers, and contractual changes, is correctly recorded and communicated
• Support the calculation and implementation of annual salary reviews and pay awards
• Monitor and report monthly payroll changes including absences, allowances, and deductions
• Ensure payroll-related documentation is maintained and securely stored

Compliance and Reporting

• Keep up to date with employment legislation and HR best practice
• Review and update HR policies and procedures regularly
• Compile termly reports for Senior Managers and Governors
• Support ISI inspections and annual census data submissions
• Ensure training records are maintained and refresher sessions are scheduled

Professional Development

• Support staff development processes and maintain associated records
• Attend HR conferences, webinars, and training events
• Network with HR professionals in other schools to share best practice

Overall, the successful applicant will wish to play a full part in the life of a highly energetic, caring and successful School and is likely to possess some or all of the following qualifications, characteristics and experience:

• Excellent organisational skills, the ability to prioritise for self and others, and be able to work on own initiative
• Excellent literacy and proofreading skills and high attention to detail
• Excellent numeracy to GCSE level or equivalent
• Strong IT skills and a willingness to undertake further training as necessary
• The ability to multi-task and work to and achieve tight and / or changing deadlines
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills
• Able to relate well to all staff, both teaching and support
• A positive, pro-active and forward-thinking manner
• A respect for colleagues and an understanding both of education in general and of the school’s specific ethos and aims
• A commitment to the safeguarding of, pastoral care of, and respect for children
• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Experience of managing an HR function, ideally in an educational setting
• Strong in-depth knowledge of current employment legislation and HR best practice
• Good practical knowledge of the application of the General Data Protection Regulations
• Knowledge of the Independent Schools Standards Regulations