HR Officer

HR Officer

An established and highly regarded independent educational organisation is seeking an experienced HR Officer to join its friendly and professional HR team. This is a fantastic opportunity for an HR professional who enjoys delivering a broad generalist service, building strong stakeholder relationships, and contributing to a positive employee experience.

Working closely with senior leaders and managers, you will provide expert HR support across the full employee lifecycle, ensuring compliance with employment legislation, safeguarding requirements, and HR best practice. The role offers exposure to employee relations, recruitment, compliance, payroll administration, policy development, and organisational change projects.

A significant aspect of this role focuses on safeguarding and regulatory compliance within an educational environment, making previous school-based HR experience highly desirable.

Support and sponsorship towards a CIPD Level 5 qualification is available for the successful candidate.

Key Responsibilities

Provide practical HR advice and guidance to managers and employees on a broad range of people matters.

Support and manage employee relations cases, including absence, disciplinary, grievance, performance, capability, and conduct issues.

Ensure compliance with employment legislation, safeguarding requirements, and organisational policies.

Maintain and oversee the Single Central Register (SCR), ensuring records remain accurate, compliant, and inspection-ready.

Coordinate safeguarding, vetting, DBS, right-to-work, reference, and recruitment checks.

Manage recruitment campaigns, onboarding, and offboarding processes.

Draft and update job descriptions, contracts, policies, and HR documentation.

Support payroll processes and resolve employee payroll queries.

Maintain accurate HR records, systems, and management information.

Assist with organisational change initiatives, restructures, and workforce planning projects.

Support appraisal, learning and development, wellbeing, and employee engagement activities.

About You

Essential

Previous experience in a generalist HR role.

Strong understanding of UK employment law and HR best practice.

Experience managing employee relations matters and advising managers.

Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.

Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities.

Ability to manage confidential information professionally.

Highly Desirable

Previous HR experience within a school, academy, college, or education setting.

Experience maintaining and auditing a Single Central Register (SCR).

Knowledge of Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) guidance and safer recruitment requirements.

Experience supporting both teaching and support staff.

CIPD qualification or a desire to study towards CIPD Level 5.

Why Apply?

CIPD Level 5 sponsorship and professional development support.

Broad and varied HR role with genuine responsibility and autonomy.

Opportunity to work across employee relations, recruitment, compliance, and strategic HR projects.

Supportive and collaborative working environment.

Competitive salary and benefits package.

The chance to play a key role in supporting staff and maintaining high standards of safeguarding and compliance.

Please note: Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate will be required to undergo enhanced safeguarding and DBS checks.