At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team ensuring safer recruitment and smooth onboarding for new colleagues.
- Company: Esland, dedicated to changing children's lives through care and education.
- Benefits: Salary up to £55,000, 28 days leave, hybrid working, and funded professional development.
- Other info: Join a supportive team and access senior leadership for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable young people while developing your HR skills.
- Qualifications: CIPD Level 5 or equivalent experience, with strong HR operations knowledge.
At Esland, your work changes children’s lives. We provide the care, education and therapeutic support that helps vulnerable young people turn the curve on their futures. Nobody starts work with our young people until their checks are right. This role owns that, along with everything else that happens to a colleague from offer to leaving day. You will lead a team of six: two HR Administrators and four Onboarding and Compliance Administrators. Between you, you run the service the rest of Esland leans on. Contracts, onboarding, changes, leavers, and the safer recruitment checks that sit behind all of it. Safer recruitment compliance is yours as a named accountability. DBS, right to work and Keeping Children Safe in Education checks need to be watertight before anyone sets foot in a home or a school. Part of the job is telling a manager no when a check is not right, however short-staffed the rota is. The volume is real. So is the room to improve it. You will own the procedures, the metrics and the decisions about how this service works.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the HR Shared Services team day to day, setting clear standards and expectations.
- Drive first-time resolution, so managers get an answer rather than a ticket number.
- Coach, develop and balance workload across two HR Administrators and four Onboarding and Compliance Administrators.
- Build a can-do culture where supporting the people who support our young people comes first.
- Own safer recruitment compliance as a named accountability.
- Make sure DBS, right to work and Keeping Children Safe in Education checks are complete and correct before any start date.
- Keep our records accurate and inspection-ready, including the single central record.
- Challenge managers, at any level, when a check or a process is not right.
- Spot risks to the People function and the wider business, and escalate them early.
- Manage onboarding end to end, from accepted offer through to a confident first week.
- Work with Recruitment and L&D so every new starter gets a joined-up, positive start.
- Keep offer-to-start timescales tight, so good candidates do not drift away.
- Oversee lifecycle administration, including contract changes, family leave, flexible working and leavers.
- Hold the line on data quality and record keeping across our HR systems.
- Act as the senior escalation point for complex queries and complaints.
- Produce and interpret HR metrics, giving the HR Director clear management information on onboarding, data quality and service performance.
- Document and review every standard operating procedure in the function, keeping them current, compliant and easy to follow.
- Simplify how colleagues get support, and take out the steps that add nothing.
- Embed best practice across the function, rather than firefighting the same issues twice.
Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
- CIPD Level 5, or equivalent experience and qualification.
- Proven success leading an HR operations, shared services or administration team.
- A track record of delivering accurate, efficient transactional HR at volume.
- Strong knowledge of HR policy, employment law and safer recruitment (Keeping Children Safe in Education).
- Confidence with HR systems, Excel and reporting tools.
- Excellent written and verbal communication, credible and diplomatic at every level.
- The organisation and calm to prioritise a high-volume workload.
What we offer
- Salary up to £55,000 per annum.
- 28 days annual leave, plus bank holidays and your birthday off.
- Hybrid working, 3 days at our Head Office in Belper and 2 days remote.
- A team of six to lead and develop.
- A named accountability that genuinely matters, safer recruitment compliance.
- Direct access to the HR Director and our senior leadership team.
- Funded professional development, including CIPD.
- A wide range of benefits, including our employee assistance programme, 24/7 GP access, the Green Car Scheme, a Health Cash Plan, and retail and gym discounts.
- Real scale, 850 plus colleagues across 64 residential homes, 5 assessment homes and 5 schools.
HR Shared Services Manager in Belper employer: Esland
Esland is an exceptional employer that values integrity and quality in education, offering a supportive work culture where independent auditors can thrive. With opportunities for professional growth and development, you will play a crucial role in ensuring educational standards are upheld across our schools, all while enjoying the flexibility of regular travel. Join us in making a meaningful impact on the lives of students and educators alike.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Shared Services Manager in Belper
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
✨Make Your Presence Known
Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at Esland!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still in uni, tap into your career services and alumni network. Many universities have connections with companies looking for HR talent, so get those leads and apply through our website for a smoother application process.
✨Showcase Your HR Passion
Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at Esland.
We think you need these skills to ace HR Shared Services Manager in Belper
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at Esland. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to Esland and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at Esland. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Esland's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Esland
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with Esland.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at Esland will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Esland and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
