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- Tasks: Lead HR strategy across 12 schools, supporting a positive culture and driving improvement.
- Company: Lift Schools, dedicated to providing excellent education through strong team support.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, wellbeing cash plan, pension scheme, and lifestyle perks.
- Other info: Flexible working options and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in education while developing your HR leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Strong HR experience, especially in complex employee relations and safeguarding.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 60000 £ per year.
Conrad Road, Witham, Essex, CM8 2SD, United Kingdom
Salary: £60,000 + wellbeing cash plan + pension scheme (LGPS) + additional Lift Schools benefits
Hours: 37 (full-time)
Contract: Fixed-term maternity cover for up to 12 months
Start date: As soon as possible
Hybrid working: typically three days on site, two days remote
Base location: Lift New Rickstones, Witham, Essex with regular travel across Essex schools
A role where your impact is felt every day. At Lift Schools, we believe every child deserves an excellent education. Behind every great school is a strong, supported team and that’s where you come in. We are looking for a senior HR business partner to provide maternity cover and lead people strategy across our East region. This is a high-impact role supporting 12 schools in Essex, working directly with principals and regional leaders to build positive, inclusive cultures where colleagues thrive and pupils succeed. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HR professional, interim HR consultant, or senior HR generalist looking for a meaningful, values-driven role within a growing national trust.
What you’ll be doing:
- Lead HR across the region: provide strategic and operational HR leadership across 12 schools, lead, coach and develop a team of HR advisors and coordinators, work closely with the lead HR business partner and head of HR services to deliver a consistent, high-quality service.
- Be the expert on complex people matters: manage high-level employee relations cases, including disciplinary, grievance, absence and capability, lead on safeguarding and child protection-related investigations, offer clear, confident and balanced advice in sensitive situations.
- Partner with leaders to drive improvement: support organisational change, restructures and workforce planning, contribute to Ofsted readiness and follow-up activity, build trusted relationships with school and regional leaders, bring practical, solutions-focused thinking to complex challenges.
About you:
You bring credibility, sound judgement and a calm, confident approach. You might come from education, local government or another large, complex organisation. What matters most is your ability to lead, influence and deliver. You will:
- Have strong experience in HR, including complex employee relations.
- Be confident handling safeguarding-related cases.
- Have experience working across multiple sites or services.
- Build trust quickly with senior leaders.
- Support and develop others within a team.
- Stay organised and focused in a fast-paced environment.
We also welcome applicants with transferable experience from large organisations or consultancy backgrounds who are ready to bring their expertise into education.
We offer you:
- Comprehensive training – Access a wide range of developmental training to boost your career.
- Generous benefits – From your pension plan to healthcare and financial support, we've got you covered.
- Lifestyle perks – Enjoy discounted gym memberships and travel deals.
Equal Opportunity and Diversity: Lift Schools embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity. Job share, part-time and flexible working opportunities will be considered. We are a Disability Confident Employer and there is a guaranteed interview scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. Lift Schools is committed to ensuring the highest level of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our pupils, and we expect all our people and volunteers to share this commitment. We adopt a fair and consistent recruitment process in line with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. This includes online checks for shortlisted candidates. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check.
Senior HR Business Partner employer: Lift New Rickstones
Contact Detail:
Lift New Rickstones Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior HR Business Partner
✨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 opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet. Don’t be shy; people love to help!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Lift Schools and understand their values and culture. Tailor your answers to show how you can contribute to their mission of providing excellent education.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your experience with real-life examples. When discussing complex employee relations or safeguarding cases, share specific situations where you made a positive impact. This will demonstrate your expertise and confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Lift Schools team. Let’s get you that interview!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior HR Business Partner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Senior HR Business Partner role. Highlight your experience in complex employee relations and any leadership roles you've had, as this will show us you're the right fit for our team.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about education and how your background aligns with our values at Lift Schools. Be genuine and let your personality come through!
Showcase Your Impact: In both your CV and cover letter, share specific examples of how you've made a difference in previous roles. We love to see measurable outcomes, so if you’ve led successful initiatives or improved team dynamics, let us know!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our organisation there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Lift New Rickstones
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the specifics of HR practices, especially around complex employee relations and safeguarding. Brush up on relevant legislation and best practices, as this will show your expertise and confidence during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples that highlight your experience in leading teams and driving organisational change. Think about times when you’ve successfully coached others or managed high-stakes situations, as these stories will resonate with the interviewers.
✨Understand the Culture
Research Lift Schools and their values. Be ready to discuss how you can contribute to building positive, inclusive cultures in schools. Showing that you align with their mission will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare insightful questions that demonstrate your interest in the role and the organisation. Inquire about their approach to HR challenges or how they measure success in their people strategy. This shows you’re not just interested in the job, but also in making a meaningful impact.