At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HR for schools, providing expert advice and ensuring compliance with employment matters.
- Company: Join Liverpool City Council and make a real difference in your community.
- Benefits: Enjoy 31+ days holiday, flexible working, and health benefits.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for professional growth and community impact.
- Why this job: Shape policies and outcomes for schools while championing equality and inclusion.
- Qualifications: Significant HR experience in education or public sector required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic, and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We've got ambitious targets to meet and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our communities. Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents a real opportunity to make a difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of everything we do.
Working at Liverpool City Council provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services. We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, as well as affordable housing, good schools, beautiful green spaces – there’s really something for everyone!
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and highly specialised HR professional to join Liverpool City Council as Schools HR Lead. This is a pivotal role, acting as the Council’s statutory HR adviser for maintained schools, providing expert advice on complex, sensitive and high-risk employment matters. You will be the key HR interface between the Council, Headteachers, governing bodies and senior education leaders, ensuring statutory compliance while promoting high standards of professional practice, inclusivity and integrity.
A key aspect of the role is leading and representing the Council in statutory consultation and joint consultative processes, including participation in Joint Consultation Committees (JCCs). You will play a central role in the development, review and consultation of school workforce policies, ensuring they are legally compliant, aligned with national conditions of service, and consistently applied across maintained schools.
As Schools HR Lead, you will also:
- Represent the Council at complex dismissal and appeal hearings
- Provide expert advice on cases where employment and safeguarding considerations intersect, and support statutory school organisation processes. This includes contributing HR expertise to formal consultations on school reorganisations, disputes and change proposals, and ensuring appropriate Council oversight and governance.
You will work closely with colleagues across HR, Education, Legal and Safeguarding, as well as external bodies such as the LADO, DBS and Teaching Regulation Agency, to manage risk, ensure statutory obligations are met, and support defensible decision-making.
We are looking for a professionally qualified HR leader with:
- Significant experience of advising within schools, education or the public sector
- In-depth and strong knowledge of statutory education employment frameworks
- A proven ability to influence senior leaders and trade union representatives in complex and sensitive environments
You will bring sound judgement, political awareness and a commitment to championing equality, diversity, inclusion and employee wellbeing. In order to be considered, you must be motivated by operating at the intersection of HR practice, statutory guidance and consultation, and want to play a key role in shaping policy and workforce outcomes for maintained schools.
Our offer to you:
- At least 31 days holiday, plus bank holidays rising to 32 after 5 years’ service (pro rata if part time) – option to purchase further days
- Agile working (role dependent) – a “Flexibility First” approach to agile working, where flexibility is the norm rather than the exception
- Part of the Local Government Pension Scheme – option to join the AVC Scheme
- Progression – opportunities and training through a wide range of high quality learning
- Health and Wellbeing – offer including Employee Assistance Programme
- Cycle to Work and Travel Pass Schemes
- Drive Time – a salary sacrifice car lease scheme
- Family friendly policies with enhanced leave
- Discounted Gym Memberships
- Employee Volunteering Scheme
Next steps:
- Closing date: midnight on Monday 4th May 2026
- Shortlisting date: Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th May 2026
- Interview date: w/c Monday 11th May 2026
- Interview type: Face to face competency based interview
Schools HR Lead in Liverpool employer: Liverpool City Council
Liverpool City Council is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the community while working in a vibrant and culturally rich city. With a strong commitment to employee wellbeing, flexible working arrangements, and extensive professional development opportunities, we empower our staff to thrive in their roles. Join us as we strive to deliver the best public services for our residents, ensuring inclusivity and high standards in everything we do.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Schools HR Lead in Liverpool
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the education and HR sectors. Attend local events or webinars where you can meet people who work at Liverpool City Council or similar organisations. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Liverpool City Council’s values and recent initiatives. Think about how your experience aligns with their mission to improve community outcomes. Practise answering competency-based questions, as they’ll want to see how you handle real-life scenarios.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your passion for public service! In your conversations and interviews, highlight your commitment to making a difference in the community. Share specific examples of how you've positively impacted schools or educational environments in the past.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about the role and keen to be part of the Liverpool City Council team. Good luck!
We think you need these skills to ace Schools HR Lead in Liverpool
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the Schools HR Lead role. Highlight your experience in schools and public sector HR, and show how your skills align with our values and the job description.
Showcase Your Expertise:We want to see your knowledge of statutory education employment frameworks. Include specific examples of how you've navigated complex HR situations in schools or similar environments to demonstrate your expertise.
Be Authentic:Let your personality shine through in your application. We value authenticity and want to know what drives you to make a difference in our communities. Share your passion for HR and how it connects to our mission.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way to ensure we receive your details and can consider you for this exciting opportunity to join Liverpool City Council.
How to prepare for a job interview at Liverpool City Council
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on the statutory education employment frameworks and any recent changes in HR policies related to schools. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're not just familiar with the role but also genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare specific examples from your past experiences where you've successfully navigated complex HR situations, especially in educational settings. This could include handling sensitive cases or influencing senior leaders. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses.
✨Understand the Community
Familiarise yourself with Liverpool's vibrant communities and the unique challenges they face. Demonstrating an understanding of local issues and how they impact schools will resonate well with the interviewers and show your commitment to serving the community.
✨Engage with Inclusivity
Be ready to discuss how you champion equality, diversity, and inclusion in your HR practices. Prepare to share ideas on how you would promote these values within the schools you’ll be working with, as this aligns closely with the Council’s mission.
