HR Manager

HR Manager — September Start (Multi-Academy Trust, Rapid Growth) A rapidly expanding Multi-Academy Trust is seeking an experienced HR Manager to join us from September. This is an exciting opportunity to play a central role in shaping the Trust's people approach as we grow, onboard new schools, and embed consistent, high-quality HR practice across our academies. You'll be a key driver of strategic HR, culture, EDI (Equality, Diversity & Inclusion) and the wider people strategy, working closely with senior leaders to support sustainable growth and positive employee experience. The opportunity Our Trust is entering a significant period of development, including: Organisational change and evolving structures Multiple HR process changes and standardisation across schools Union involvement and consultation activity School transfer processes as new schools join the Trust Formal consultations expected to begin shortly in relation to incoming schools This role suits someone who can confidently balance day-to-day HR leadership with change delivery, and who thrives in a fast-moving, values-led education environment. Key responsibilities Strategic HR, culture and EDI Contribute to and help deliver the Trust's people strategy, aligned to organisational priorities Champion a positive, inclusive culture and support EDI initiatives across the Trust Support leaders to embed consistent approaches to people management and employee experience HR operations and employee relations Provide oversight of HR operations, ensuring robust, compliant and consistent practice Lead on complex employee relations casework, advising leaders through formal processes Support business partnering activity, working with leaders to anticipate and address workforce issues Transactions, pensions and operational oversight Oversee HR transactions and operational processes, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and compliance Provide leadership/oversight for pensions and associated processes (including queries and workflow improvements) Growth, onboarding and workforce planning Support (and potentially lead) aspects of new school onboarding, including people process alignment and change support Support evidence-based workforce planning, working alongside curriculum and financial planning to ensure workforce sustainability Develop and improve people metrics and reporting, using insight to inform decisions and priorities What we're looking for Strong, current HR generalist experience with high-volume operational oversight and complex ER casework Demonstrable experience supporting and delivering organisational change (ideally within education, public sector, or similarly complex environments) Confidence working with trade unions, consultations and formal processes Ability to build credibility quickly with senior and operational leaders A practical, improvement-focused approach to HR processes and service delivery Commitment to creating inclusive environments and supporting positive organisational cultur TPBN1_UKTJ