We are seeking an experienced and proactive HR Business Partner to join a central HR team supporting a dynamic multi-academy trust.
In this critical role, you will act as a trusted adviser delivering high-impact strategic and operational HR support across multiple academies. Partnering closely with senior leaders and Principals, you will drive workforce planning, foster employee engagement, and strengthen organisational capability all whilst keeping people and educational outcomes at the heart of everything you do.
This assignment starts ASAP and will run until at least April, offering an exceptional opportunity for an influential HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced, multi-site education environment.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Business Partnering: Act as a dedicated, trusted partner to academy leaders offering proactive, pragmatic advice on workforce planning, performance, engagement, and staff wellbeing.
- Complex Employee Relations: Lead and provide expert guidance on complex ER cases (including disciplinaries, grievances, long-term sickness absence, and capability), ensuring statutory compliance, fairness, and swift resolutions.
- Organisational Change & Restructuring: Support leadership through change management programmes, restructures, and TUPE transfers; lead consultation processes and nurture constructive trade union relationships.
- Leadership Coaching & Capability: Coach, upskill, and mentor senior leaders to embed HR best practice, enhance people-management capability, and champion informal dispute resolution.
- Data-Driven Insights: Analyse workforce metrics and trends to design targeted interventions around retention, attendance, and the broader employee experience.
- Projects & Policy Development: Deliver central people initiatives and federation priorities, design and facilitate leadership training programmes, and contribute to HR policy frameworks and toolkits.
- Employment Legislation: Monitor changes in employment law and case law, translating updates into actionable guidance for leaders and colleagues.
Person Specification
- Proven Experience: Substantial background operating at HR Business Partner or Senior HR Advisory level within a complex, multi-site organisation (education or public sector experience is highly desirable).
- Technical Expertise: Comprehensive knowledge of UK employment law with a track record of handling high-volume, complex ER casework, restructuring, and change management.
- Stakeholder Influence: High emotional intelligence, credibility, and the confidence to challenge, guide, and coach senior stakeholders effectively.
- Project Delivery: Demonstrated success leading HR projects from initial design through to implementation.
- Analytical Mindset: Proficiency in analysing workforce data to build actionable improvement plans.
- Qualifications & Professional Standing: CIPD qualified (or equivalent professional experience), with a firm grounding in HR best practice and informal dispute resolution.
- Safeguarding & DBS Requirements: Due to the educational setting and immediate start date, an Enhanced DBS check (registered on the DBS Update Service) is preferred, or willingness to apply immediately
- Working Pattern & Mobility: Full-time, immediate availability with the flexibility to work on-site/travel to academies three days per week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays), with set remote working days on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Why Work with Randstad?
- Dedicated Consultant: Specialist recruitment support from an expert consultant throughout your placement.
- Competitive & Timely Pay: Transparent day rates with prompt, reliable weekly payroll paid PAYE.
- Referral Scheme: Generous 'Refer a Friend' voucher incentives.
- Ongoing Opportunities: Priority consideration for future interim, fixed-term, and permanent HR opportunities across our network.
How to Apply
If you are an available, HR Business Partner ready to hit the ground running and make a tangible difference across the education sector, please submit your CV for immediate consideration.
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