Tallented are working with a MAT that operate along the South Coast to develop their People function by adding an experienced HR Business Partner to support their Trust.

This role is working with two schools that are based in the Isle of Wight, however regular site visits are not necessary. Beyond the first few months when relationships are developed, travel to the schools are required as and when needed, once a month visits are expected to be the maximum. Outside of that, the HR Team meet once a week in Southampton, with the rest at a location of your choosing.

The schools that are currently partnered by this role require development from an HR perspective, but both have a highly engaged leadership team who are seeking to implement and drive the change that this role should lead on. There is real scope to lay foundations and make a material impact within the schools with a view to make wider strategic level thinking and actions once these are built.

The core purpose of this role support the ED People in delivering a high-quality HR business partnering service to the assigned school(s)/ unit(s), actively contributing to the effective implementation of the people strategy, priorities and wider organisational objectives.

The role will have a customer-centric approach with their primary client group (school/unit line managers) and provide day to day client relationship management and service delivery. The role will work closely with colleagues across the Central teams to ensure the people needs of the school/assigned unit are met.

Key Responsibilities:

• Business partner the school unit and middle leaders in the implementation and development of our clients people policies and procedures, advising on key people processes (i.e. recruitment, onboarding, safer recruitment compliance, performance management, absence management, pay, well-being and employee relations).
• Operate independently in providing necessary appropriate HR and legislative guidance
• Identify the capability gaps within the schools and advise on routes to build, borrow or recruit the capability as required.
• Discuss and challenge school/unit leaders on people related decisions to ensure legal and financial compliance.
• Identify and implement innovative solutions to people issues within policy particularly where there is a financial, legal or reputational risk to the organisation – referring upwards to the ED/senior leadership when necessary.
• Lead on all school employment relations cases providing expert advice and guidance to the client group
• Provide and analyse agreed monthly people related management information (bespoke and generic), contributing to reporting on HR SLA’s and KPI’s as required.
• Undertake face to face discussions with leavers on escalated cases to identify issues/risks, take follow up action as appropriate.
• Provide advice and support to employees for escalated queries from locally based HR staff and line managers.
• Ensure transactional local-based HR operations are carried out in an efficient and effective manner and support HR administrative staff as appropriate.
• Lead and develop local-based administrative HR staff ensuring necessary professional development and our clients People Strategy implementation at all levels through effective objective setting and performance management.
• Undertake job evaluation and benchmarking (as necessary), within agreed governance / delegations.
• Work closely with the school/unit leaders and designated Finance contacts on financial curriculum planning to deliver effective workforce management.
• Identify employee trends and support the school/unit leaders in planning and developing strategies to address these.
• Monitor and sign-off payroll inputs for assigned schools/units within set payroll deadlines and liaise with local HR contacts on contractual changes.
• Communicate with school-based Trade Union Representative as necessary.

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