Executive Assistant and HR Lead

About Us

The vision of Harris Academy Clapham is a simple one. From our opening in September 2020, our academy is a place where 'everything is possible'. The Clapham curriculum is designed to meet the needs, aspirations and abilities of every one of our students. Our aim is to improve their life chances and enable them to make a positive contribution to the city and world in which they live. At Harris Clapham, the curriculum is delivered through high-quality teaching. This is codified in our research-informed approach to pedagogy, which we call the Clapham Way.

The following principles apply in our curriculum:

• Subject specific knowledge and skills come first
• Embedding and building on the basics – ensuring that every student acquires the vocabulary, literacy and numeracy skills to enable them to fully participate in society
• The curriculum must be rigorous and relevant by engaging with the best of what has been thought and said and acknowledging that knowledge is fluid and can be contested
• The curriculum must prepare for life in modern Britain and beyond, and enable Clapham students to understand their rights and fulfil their responsibilities under the Equality Act.

Through the Clapham academic, enrichment and pastoral curriculum we expect our students to develop powerful knowledge and the following values and character attributes that will enable them to achieve our vision that ‘Everything is Possible':

• Endeavour for Excellence: Learning to work hard and relish challenge. Learning to never give up. Learning to take sensible risks. Learning to always strive for the best for themselves and each other.
• Integrity and Honesty: Always acting with kindness. Treating others the way they would like to be treated.
• Self-belief with a Global View: Growing to have the agency to achieve their ambitions for themselves and the wider world.

Our staff are supported in their work and in developing their future careers via:

• A centralised behaviour system, with each year group supported by non-teaching pastoral leaders
• A programme of instructional coaching, supported by the Step Lab platform
• Access to a wide range of National Professional Qualifications delivered by the Institute of Teaching
• Federation subject consultant support
• Harris Federation professional development training days and networking support.

Summary

We are seeking a hardworking, ambitious, and dynamic Executive Assistant to the Executive Principal, who will also act as the HR Lead, to join Harris Academy Clapham at an exciting stage in our development. This pivotal role will be based across Harris Academy Clapham Secondary and Harris Clapham Sixth Form, providing high-level administrative, organisational, and professional support to the Executive Principal. In addition, the postholder will lead on HR administration and coordination, acting as the main point of contact for staff HR matters and supporting the effective implementation of people processes across both sites.

The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring the smooth day-to-day operation of executive leadership and HR functions, whilst also benefiting from excellent opportunities to engage with wider Harris Federation academy improvement initiatives and to participate in ongoing professional development, supporting both personal growth and career progression. This role is term time only, and the actual salary will be £45,092.19 - £46,895.95 (39 weeks per year, 37.5 hours per week).

Main Areas of Responsibility

The key duties of this role will cover:

• Managing the Executive Principal's diary, including identifying and arranging meetings and disseminating briefings and documents, adding any necessary deadlines
• Communications and administration, including proofreading correspondence, communicating with key stakeholders, dealing with complex enquiries, and maintaining files and contact lists
• Managing meetings
• Being the Clerk to Governors
• HR support, including managing resignations, absence leave, risk assessments and sickness records

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• An appropriate degree or equivalent level of education
• Training in the use of a variety of ICT packages
• Knowledge of personal assistant roles and responsibilities
• Training in typing and formatting of a variety of documents including spreadsheets
• At least two years' experience working in school or other educational establishment
• Experience of managing staff in relation to the PA role
• Some experience of human resources e.g. recruitment and/or monitoring attendance
• Experience of working to targets and deadlines
• Experience of managing meetings including preparation and circulation of papers, minutes and ensuring information is circulated as required
• Experience of managing diaries at a high level, including communication with a range of audiences
• Experience of managing high profile events
• Experience of developing policies, processes and procedures

Please download the Job Pack for a full person specification.

Rewards & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level. In addition to the opportunities for career development and progression, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance for teachers on MPS/UPS, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme with generous employer contributions, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please send us an email, or call to arrange a conversation. Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. This will be helpful for you when completing your application, and throughout the recruitment process. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we may interview and offer to a candidate before the closing date. Please note that we only accept applications submitted before the closing date via our careers website.