HR Manager

HR Manager — September Start (Multi-Academy Trust, Rapid Growth)

A rapidly expanding Multi-Academy Trust is seeking an experienced HR Manager to join us from September. This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in shaping the Trust’s people approach as we grow, onboard new schools, and embed consistent, high-quality HR practice across our academies.

You’ll be a key driver of strategic HR, culture, EDI (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) and the wider people strategy, working closely with senior leaders to support sustainable growth and positive employee experience.

The opportunity

Our Trust is entering a significant period of development, including:

Organisational change and evolving structures
Multiple HR process changes and standardisation across schools
Union involvement and consultation activity
School transfer processes as new schools join the Trust
Formal consultations expected to begin shortly in relation to incoming schools
This role suits someone who can confidently balance day-to-day HR leadership with change delivery, and who thrives in a fast-moving, values-led education environment.

Key responsibilities

Strategic HR, culture and EDI

Contribute to and help deliver the Trust’s people strategy, aligned to organisational priorities
Champion a positive, inclusive culture and support EDI initiatives across the Trust
Support leaders to embed consistent approaches to people management and employee experience

HR operations and employee relations

Provide oversight of HR operations, ensuring robust, compliant and consistent practice
Lead on complex employee relations casework, advising leaders through formal processes
Support business partnering activity, working with leaders to anticipate and address workforce issues

Transactions, pensions and operational oversight

Oversee HR transactions and operational processes, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and compliance
Provide leadership/oversight for pensions and associated processes (including queries and workflow improvements)

Growth, onboarding and workforce planning

Support (and potentially lead) aspects of new school onboarding, including people process alignment and change support
Support evidence-based workforce planning, working alongside curriculum and financial planning to ensure workforce sustainability
Develop and improve people metrics and reporting, using insight to inform decisions and priorities

What we’re looking for

Strong, current HR generalist experience with high-volume operational oversight and complex ER casework
Demonstrable experience supporting and delivering organisational change (ideally within education, public sector, or similarly complex environments)
Confidence working with trade unions, consultations and formal processes
Ability to build credibility quickly with senior and operational leaders
A practical, improvement-focused approach to HR processes and service delivery
Commitment to creating inclusive environments and supporting positive organisational cultur