HR Manager

HR Manager
Education sector experience essential
Location: Home-based (UK) with regular travel to client sites
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent

The Opportunity
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced HR Manager to join a growing and highly respected HR advisory team supporting schools, academy trusts and other education organisations across the UK.
This is not a traditional in-house HR position. Instead, you will act as a trusted HR partner to a portfolio of education clients, providing expert advice, practical support and guidance on a broad range of employee relations and workforce management matters.
The role offers the variety and influence of consultancy work combined with the opportunity to build meaningful long-term relationships with clients. You will enjoy a high degree of autonomy while benefiting from the support of an experienced, collaborative team.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of education-sector clients, acting as their primary HR contact.
• Provide expert advice on disciplinary, grievance, absence management, capability, performance, probation, conduct and flexible working matters.
• Manage employee relations casework from initial consultation through to resolution.
• Identify and assess employment, safeguarding and reputational risks, escalating more complex matters where appropriate.
• Draft high-quality HR documentation, including correspondence, hearing packs, outcome letters and guidance notes.
• Coach and support school leaders, headteachers and managers through sensitive people matters.
• Deliver engaging and practical HR training sessions and workshops.
• Assist with organisational change projects, restructures and formal consultations.
• Maintain accurate records and case management information.
• Contribute to client review meetings and identify opportunities to provide additional value and support.

About You
We are looking for a credible, commercially aware and consultative HR professional who is confident building strong client relationships while providing clear, practical advice.
You will be comfortable handling a varied workload, managing priorities independently and navigating complex employee relations matters with professionalism and sound judgement.

Essential Requirements

• CIPD Level 5 qualification or above.
• Significant generalist HR experience with a strong employee relations focus.
• Recent experience supporting schools, academy trusts or similar education-sector organisations.
• Experience within an HR consultancy, outsourced HR service or multi-client advisory environment.
• Proven ability to advise, coach and challenge senior leaders and managers.
• Experience delivering HR training, workshops or management briefings.
• Excellent written communication and case management skills.
• Strong Microsoft 365 skills and experience handling confidential information appropriately.
• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel regularly to client sites.

Desirable Experience

• Organisational change, restructures and consultation processes.
• Safer recruitment.
• Safeguarding-related employment matters.
• Supporting educational organisations through workforce transformation initiatives.

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