The posting
Trust HR Manager
37 hours per week/52 weeks per year. Grade 8, scale point 21 to 24
This is a permanent position, based at Keystone Academy Trust Central Office, Westbourne Park, Bourne, Lincolnshire with opportunities for home working.
At Keystone Academy Trust, our people are our greatest strength. We are seeking an ambitious, knowledgeable and forward-thinking HR Manager to lead and develop our trust-wide HR administration and payroll service.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a successful and supportive multi-academy trust at a time of continued growth and development. Working closely with the Chief Operations Manager, Headteachers, school leaders and the central team, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring our schools have the people, systems and professional support they need to deliver the best possible education for our pupils.
You will provide trusted, practical HR advice to leaders across the Trust, oversee key HR systems and processes and ensure that our employment practices remain lawful, effective and aligned with Trust policies, safer recruitment requirements and current statutory guidance.
You will be based permanently at our central office in Bourne, with opportunities to work across our seven primary academies as you support Headteachers and senior leaders. Mileage will be paid at the current HMRC rate for journeys to a non-permanent place of work. Where appropriate, and subject to the needs of the role, some home working will be possible.
About the role
This is a varied and influential role covering the full employee lifecycle. No two days will be the same. You will balance the day-to-day management of HR administration and payroll with the opportunity to improve systems, strengthen practice and contribute to the Trust’s wider workforce strategy.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading and continually improving the Trust’s HR administration and external payroll service.
- Providing clear, practical and timely advice to Headteachers, senior leaders and employees on HR policies, employment matters and good practice, supported by our external HR advisory service.
- Co-ordinate employee relations matters, including disciplinary procedures, grievances, investigations, capability processes and other complex casework.
- Ensuring compliance with safer recruitment practices and current Keeping Children Safe in Education requirements.
- Overseeing absence management, occupational health referrals, flexible working requests and family-related leave.
- Ensuring accurate and confidential employment records, personnel files and HR systems are maintained.
- Auditing schools’ Single Central Register.
- Overseeing staff contracts, offer documentation, changes to terms and conditions, and other employment correspondence.
- Ensuring compliance with induction and probation processes and supporting effective performance-management arrangements.
- Contributing to the development of HR policies, procedures and guidance so that they remain clear, consistent and up to date.
- Overseeing monthly payroll processes, pensions administration and responses to pay-related enquiries.
- Supporting members of the HR administration team in schools.
- Monitoring workforce information, including absence, turnover and recruitment, and producing clear reports for senior leaders and trustees.
- Supporting organisational change, workforce planning and the continued growth of the Trust.
- Working with external HR advisers, occupational health providers, payroll and pension services, and other professional partners.
- Ensuring sensitive and confidential information is handled with professionalism, discretion and sound judgement.
About you
You will be an approachable and credible HR professional who can combine strong technical knowledge with practical judgement, sensitivity and discretion. You will be confident working with senior leaders, able to manage competing priorities and committed to providing a responsive and high-quality service.
You will bring:
- A Level 5 CIPD qualification, preferably in HR Management.
- Strong knowledge of HR best practice and relevant employment legislation.
- Experience of providing advice and support across a range of employee relations matters.
- The confidence to work independently, manage pressure and meet deadlines.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong IT skills and experience of working with HR databases or management information systems.
- A positive, flexible and solution-focused approach.
- A clear commitment to safeguarding children and young people.
Experience of HR within education, a multi-academy trust or another multi-site organisation would be advantageous.
Why join us?
You will:
- Join a welcoming, experienced and supportive central team.
- Work across a diverse family of schools and make a visible difference.
- Take on a varied role combining HR management, service development and operational responsibility.
- Have the opportunity to influence trust-wide workforce strategy and HR practice.
- Work in a values-led organisation where your expertise is recognised and your ideas are welcomed.
- Have opportunities for flexible working.
- Have the opportunity to join the Local Government Pension scheme.
- Be able to take term time holidays around payroll deadlines.
Keystone Academy Trust is fully committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. An enhanced DBS disclosure will be requested for all successful candidates prior to appointment, including a Children's Barred List check if the role meets the criteria for regulated activity. All pre-employment checks are in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020). This means that certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’ and do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/new-guidance-on-the-rehabilitation-of-offenders-act-1974
