Head of HR Business Partnering

Overview

In this role you lead the HR Business Partnering function across Unity Schools Partnership to shape and delivery the People Strategy. You will advise senior leaders, coach HR Partners, and simplify HR processes to ease workloads for schools. You’ll drive strategic workforce planning, change initiatives, and policy development to improve staff experience and pupil outcomes. This is a high-impact leadership position with a clear focus on collaboration, data-driven decisions, and system-wide improvement.

Pay / Benefits

• comprehensive staff benefits and wellbeing
• reimbursement of business travel between Trust sites
• professional development and career progression opportunities
• flexible working arrangements
• Local Government Pension Scheme
• annual leave up to 29 days after 5 years’ service

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the HR Business Partnering team
• Oversee complex employee relations matters
• Lead organisational change, restructures, consultation and TUPE
• Drive strategic staff attendance and workforce planning
• Use workforce data to identify priorities and improve outcomes
• Develop HR policy and enhance manager capability
• Lead Trust-wide people projects and service improvements

Key requirements

• Extensive HR experience in a large or complex organisation
• Strong employment law and employee relations knowledge
• Ability to influence leaders at all levels
• CIPD Level 7 or equivalent qualification
• Experience in education or other unionised environments is advantageous but not essential

• Influencing at all levels
• Collaborative and people-centric leadership
• Commercial awareness
• Employee relations expertise
• Workforce planning and data analytics
• HR policy development and implementation

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