People Director (Part Time) in Chester

Part-Time People Director

Salary: £28,000– £32,000 actual salary

Working Pattern: 22.5 hours per week

Contract: Permanent – Part Time

Location: Hybrid – Cheshire

The Opportunity

JGA Recruitment Group is delighted to be supporting a growing multi-academy trust in the appointment of a Part-Time People Director. This is a newly created senior role, offering the opportunity to take ownership of the Trust's people agenda and lead the transition from an outsourced HR model to an internal, end-to-end People function. Reporting to the CFOO, you'll act as the Trust's senior HR adviser, working closely with Headteachers, senior leaders and the central team across a growing network of schools throughout Cheshire, Wirral and Liverpool. The role offers genuine autonomy, combining strategic people leadership with hands-on employee relations and operational HR.

The Role

You’ll take the lead across the full employment lifecycle, with an initial focus on understanding how HR operates across the schools, building strong stakeholder relationships and establishing consistent Trust-wide people practices. Key responsibilities will include:

• Acting as the senior HR adviser to Headteachers and senior leaders on complex employment matters, including disciplinary, grievance, capability and absence cases.
• Developing and maintaining the Trust's HR policies and ensuring consistent application across all schools.
• Leading workforce planning, recruitment strategy and safer recruitment compliance.
• Supporting pay, appraisal and reward processes across teaching and support staff.
• Managing the relationship with the occupational health provider and overseeing the effective use of Civica as the HR system.
• Providing workforce data, reporting and insight to the Executive Team and Board.
• Supporting Trust growth, including TUPE, people due diligence and onboarding when new schools join.
• Developing approaches to wellbeing, equality, inclusion and professional development.
• Working with senior leaders to build HR capability and consistency across the Trust.

About You

We’re looking for an experienced senior HR professional who is comfortable operating independently and moving between strategic people leadership and hands-on employee relations. You’ll ideally have:

• CIPD Level 7 or equivalent senior-level HR experience.
• Significant experience operating at Head of HR, People Director or equivalent level within a complex, multi-site organisation.
• Strong employment law and employee relations experience, including complex disciplinary, grievance and capability cases.
• Experience of developing HR policies and improving or building a People function.
• Education or public sector experience is advantageous, although experience from other complex multi-site environments will be considered.
• Knowledge of STPCD, NJC Green Book, Burgundy Book and TUPE would be beneficial.
• Experience working with senior stakeholders and advising confidently on sensitive employment matters.
• A strategic mindset combined with a willingness to remain hands-on.

What’s on Offer

• Permanent, part-time position – 22.5 hours per week
• Hybrid working with planned visits to schools across Cheshire, Wirral and Liverpool
• Flexible working arrangements considered, including job share or term-time-only patterns
• 26 days’ annual leave + bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• Funded personalised training plan
• Salary sacrifice schemes
• Annual pay increases on a national scale
• Supportive, collaborative and values-led working environment