At a Glance
- Tasks: Support schools with HR solutions, strengthen staff retention, and lead employee relations casework.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking organisation dedicated to the wellbeing and education of young people.
- Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package focused on wellbeing and professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a team that values inclusion, respect, and high standards.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education while building strong relationships and fostering a positive culture.
- Qualifications: Substantial HR experience, especially in education or complex organisations, is essential.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 € per year.
Kirklees Council are advertising this role on behalf of Accord Multi Academy Trust Place Partnership Trust. To Start As Soon As Possible, Place Partnership Trust are seeking to appoint an experienced, organised, and influential HR Partner to work across our Trust in the West Hub.
Through proactive, solution-focused HR partnership, the postholder will play a key role in strengthening staff retention, workforce planning, and supporting leaders to deliver people plans that underpin school improvement. The HR Partner will lead a portfolio of complex employee relations casework from triage through to resolution, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, and attendance matters, as well as sensitive or high-risk cases where required.
Substantial HR experience, including in education or similar complex organisations, is essential to ensure the successful candidate can effectively deliver expert procedural advice informed by their strong knowledge of employment law and HR best practice. As the primary HR contact for designated academies, the HR Partner will maintain a visible and proactive presence, building strong and trusted relationships with leadership colleagues.
By developing a deep understanding of academy context and emerging challenges, the postholder will offer tailored advice informed by workforce needs and risk, contributing to leadership and planning meetings and providing insight on performance, staffing structures and culture. Close collaboration with HR Operations, Payroll, and Finance colleagues will ensure seamless delivery of people processes across the Trust. The HR Partner will also build and maintain constructive working relationships with trade unions.
Using workforce data and insight to identify trends and risks, the postholder will help shape interventions and lead or contribute to Trust-wide projects such as policy development, employee benefits, workforce initiatives, engagement actions, leadership development and equality, diversity, and inclusion.
Building leaders’ confidence and consistency through coaching, workshops and targeted development will be central to the role, promoting early intervention and restorative approaches that strengthen culture and reduce escalation.
The successful candidate will be:
- Approachable and emotionally intelligent, building trust quickly with leaders and colleagues.
- Calm, resilient and composed under pressure, particularly in sensitive or high-stakes situations.
- Analytical, methodical, and proactive, with high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
- Influential and confident, able to provide constructive challenge with tact and professionalism.
- Pragmatic and solutions-focused, balancing empathy with consistency and sound judgement.
- Values-led and fair, demonstrating integrity, impartiality, and discretion at all times.
- Collaborative and relationship-focused, working effectively across teams and academies.
- Committed to motivating others and developing leadership confidence and capability.
- Positive and inspiring, able to champion high standards and contributing to a culture of belonging.
This is an exciting opportunity to join a forward-thinking and ambitious organisation, driven by a genuine passion for the wellbeing, care and education of young people. We treat people with care and compassion, building belonging, and hold high expectations because everyone matters. We recognise that our people are our greatest strength, and as such, we offer a comprehensive suite of benefits as part of our commitment to wellbeing and professional growth.
Closing Date: Friday 05 June 2026 at 9am. Interviews are expected to take place between: 09 June to 12 June 2026.
Place Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. This post is subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, further details of which can be found at www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check.
Place Partnership is committed to providing a culture of inclusion, respect and equity of opportunity that attracts, supports, and retains high quality colleagues from all backgrounds and across all job roles. Candidates will always be shortlisted based on the content of application against the job description and essential criteria without access to the personal details information.
HR Partner - Place Partnership Trust employer: Kirklees Council
Place Partnership Trust is an exceptional employer that prioritises the wellbeing and professional growth of its staff, offering a comprehensive suite of benefits and fostering a culture of inclusion and respect. As an HR Partner, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of education within the West Hub, working collaboratively with leaders to enhance workforce planning and employee relations while contributing to a supportive and ambitious environment dedicated to the care and development of young people.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Partner - Place Partnership Trust
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education sector or HR field. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings or even a referral, which can give you a leg up in the application process.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research the Place Partnership Trust and understand their values and challenges. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their needs, especially around staff retention and employee relations.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your soft skills! As an HR Partner, emotional intelligence and relationship-building are key. Be ready to share examples of how you've built trust and collaborated effectively in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to engage with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace HR Partner - Place Partnership Trust
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your relevant experience in HR, especially in education or complex organisations. We want to see how your skills align with the role of HR Partner and how you can contribute to our mission.
Showcase Your Soft Skills:As an HR Partner, emotional intelligence and relationship-building are key. Use your application to demonstrate how you've built trust and collaborated with leaders and colleagues in previous roles. We love seeing examples of your approachability and resilience!
Be Specific About Your Experience:When discussing your past roles, be specific about the employee relations casework you've handled. Detail your involvement in disciplinary, grievance, and attendance matters, as well as any high-risk cases. This will help us understand your expertise and how you can hit the ground running.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to keep track of your application and ensure it gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you're keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Kirklees Council
✨Know Your HR Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of employment law and HR best practices. Be ready to discuss specific cases you've handled in the past, especially those involving complex employee relations. This will show that you have the experience needed to tackle the challenges of the role.
✨Build Relationships
Since this role involves working closely with leadership colleagues, think about how you can demonstrate your relationship-building skills. Prepare examples of how you've successfully collaborated with others in previous roles, and be ready to discuss how you would approach building trust within the Trust.
✨Show Your Analytical Side
The job requires a methodical and analytical approach, so be prepared to talk about how you've used data to inform your decisions in HR. Bring examples of how you've identified trends or risks in workforce data and what actions you took as a result.
✨Emphasise Your Coaching Skills
As the HR Partner, you'll need to develop leadership confidence and capability. Think about how you can showcase your coaching experience during the interview. Share specific instances where you've helped leaders improve their skills or resolve issues, highlighting your ability to inspire and motivate others.
