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- Tasks: Lead HR strategy across 12 schools, supporting a positive culture for staff and students.
- Company: Join Lift Schools, a values-driven national trust focused on excellent education.
- Benefits: Enjoy comprehensive training, generous benefits, and lifestyle perks like gym discounts.
- Other info: Flexible working options available; we embrace diversity and support career growth.
- 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 50000 - 60000 £ per year.
Posted on: 01/05/2026 – Application Deadline: 16/05/2026
Location: Conrad Road, Witham, Essex, CM8 2SD, United Kingdom
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
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 role supports 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.
- 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.
Benefits:
- 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.
EEO 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 levels 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.
Closing date: Friday 15th May 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive an overwhelming response. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application.
Senior HR Business Partner employer: SIR HERBERT LEON ACADEMY
Contact Detail:
SIR HERBERT LEON ACADEMY 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 insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Lift Schools and their values. Show us how your experience aligns with our mission to support schools and create positive cultures. We love candidates who are genuinely passionate!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common HR scenarios. We want to see how you handle complex people matters, so think through your approach to employee relations and safeguarding cases before the interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows us you’re serious about joining our team at Lift Schools.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior HR Business Partner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Senior HR Business Partner role. Highlight your experience in leading HR strategies and managing complex employee relations, as these are key aspects of the job.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've built positive cultures and supported teams in previous positions, especially in education or large organisations.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to see your leadership style! In your application, mention how you've coached and developed teams in the past. This will help us understand how you can lead our HR advisors and coordinators effectively.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can't wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at SIR HERBERT LEON ACADEMY
✨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 HR strategy. Think about times when you’ve successfully coached others or managed challenging situations, as these stories will resonate with the interviewers looking for a strong leader.
✨Understand the Organisation
Research Lift Schools and their values. Familiarise yourself with their approach to education and how they support their staff and pupils. This knowledge will help you tailor your responses and demonstrate your genuine interest in the role.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare insightful questions that reflect your understanding of the role and the organisation. Inquire about their current HR challenges or how they measure success in their people strategy. This shows you’re engaged and thinking critically about how you can contribute.