School jobs in Hackney Downs

Job Description

Job Title

Human Resources Officer

Department

Human Resources

Reports To

Principal/Vice Principal (or another designated Senior Manager)

Location

Mont Rose College Mont Rose House, 412-416 Eastern Avenue, Ig2 6NQ (with travel to other College sites if required)

Contract

Full-time, 12-month fixed (possibility to extend)

Hours: 37.5 hours per week

Salary: £38,000 – £42,000 per annum (depending on experience)

Main Purpose of the Role

The Human Resources Officer is responsible for delivering a professional, efficient and proactive Human Resources service across the College. The post holder will support managers and employees throughout the employee lifecycle while ensuring compliance with employment legislation, regulatory requirements, College policies and best practice.

The HR Officer will lead on all day-to-day HR operations, providing expert advice and guidance on recruitment, employee relations, performance management, attendance management, training and development, HR systems and compliance.

The post holder will work closely with the Principal, Vice Principal, and senior managers to support organisational objectives, promote employee engagement and contribute to continuous improvement across the College.

Key Responsibilities

HR Administration

• Act as the first point of contact for all HR enquiries, providing accurate, timely and confidential advice to managers and employees.
• Ensure all HR emails and correspondence are responded to promptly and professionally.
• Maintain accurate employee records in accordance with GDPR and data protection legislation.
• Maintain both electronic and paper personnel files, ensuring information is complete, accurate and securely stored.
• Administer the College HR Information System (BreatheHR or equivalent), ensuring records remain accurate and up to date.
• Produce regular HR reports including workforce statistics, absence reports, turnover data, headcount reports and management information for senior leadership.

Recruitment and Onboarding

• Coordinate the full recruitment process from advertising vacancies through to appointment.
• Prepare job descriptions, person specifications and recruitment documentation.
• Arrange interviews, prepare interview packs and coordinate interview schedules.
• Issue offer letters, employment contracts and all associated documentation.
• Ensure all pre-employment checks are completed, including:
• Right to Work checks
• Identity verification
• Reference checks
• Qualification verification
• DBS checks
• Occupational health clearance where required
• Manage the onboarding process, ensuring all new employees receive a positive induction experience.
• Coordinate probation reviews and ensure probation documentation is completed within required timescales.

Employee Relations

• Provide advice to managers on disciplinary, grievance, capability, absence and performance matters.
• Manage employee relations cases from initial investigation through to conclusion.
• Conduct investigations and prepare detailed investigation reports.
• Arrange and chair disciplinary, grievance and absence management meetings where appropriate.
• Produce accurate meeting notes and outcome letters.
• Support managers in resolving workplace issues fairly, consistently and in accordance with College policies.
• Promote positive employee relations and wellbeing initiatives.

Payroll and HR Systems

• Work closely with the Finance Department to ensure payroll information is accurate and submitted within agreed deadlines.
• Verify timesheets, contractual changes, overtime and salary amendments prior to payroll processing.
• Process changes relating to:
• Starters
• Leavers
• Salary changes
• Contract amendments
• Maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• Sickness absence
• Maintain accurate HR records to support payroll processing.

Attendance Management

• Monitor sickness absence across the College.
• Produce absence reports for managers.
• Monitor Bradford Factor scores and notify managers when trigger points are reached.
• Coordinate return-to-work interviews and formal absence review meetings.
• Support managers in managing long-term and short-term sickness cases.

HR Policies and Compliance

• Review, develop and update HR policies and procedures in line with current employment legislation and best practice.
• Ensure HR documentation remains compliant with statutory and contractual requirements.
• Support compliance with:
• Employment Rights Act
• Equality Act 2010
• GDPR
• Health and Safety legislation
• Right to Work legislation
• UKVI requirements where applicable
• Safeguarding obligations
• Ensure confidentiality is always maintained when handling sensitive information.

Learning and Development

• Coordinate mandatory training programmes.
• Deliver HR induction sessions for new employees.
• Organise internal and external training events.
• Maintain employee training records.
• Monitor mandatory training compliance.
• Support managers with identifying staff development needs.

Performance Management

• Coordinate annual appraisal and performance review processes.
• Monitor completion of probation reviews.
• Support managers with performance improvement plans.
• Maintain performance management records.

HR Documentation

Create, maintain and regularly review standard HR documentation, including:

• Employment Contracts
• Contract Variation Letters(addendums)
• Offer Letters
• Job Descriptions
• Person Specifications
• Invitation to Meeting Letters
• Outcome Letters
• Confirmation of Employment Letters
• Reference Templates
• Resignation Acknowledgements
• Probation Letters
• Flexible Working Documentation

Ensure all documentation is legally compliant and reflects current College procedures.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve HR processes and systems.
• Support implementation of new HR initiatives.
• Contribute to HR projects that improve employee engagement and organisational effectiveness.
• Promote best practice across all areas of HR.
• Support the development of an inclusive and positive working culture.

General Responsibilities

• Always maintain confidentiality.
• Demonstrate professionalism and integrity.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across all departments.
• Attend meetings, training and professional development activities as required.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the grade of the post.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• CIPD Level 5 qualification
• GCSE (or equivalent) English and Mathematics at Grade C/4 or above

Desirable

• CIPD Level 7 qualification
• Degree in Human Resources, Business or related discipline

Experience

Essential

• Minimum three years' experience within a generalist HR role.
• Experience managing employee relations cases.
• Experience advising managers on HR policies and employment legislation.
• Experience administering recruitment and onboarding.
• Experience maintaining HR systems and employee records.
• Experience developing and reviewing HR policies.
• Experience producing HR reports and management information.
• Experience handling confidential information with discretion.

Desirable

• Experience working within Higher Education or Further Education.
• Experience using BreatheHR or similar HR Information Systems.
• Experience working within a regulated education environment.
• Experience delivering staff training.

Knowledge

Essential

• Excellent knowledge of UK employment legislation.
• Understanding of GDPR and confidentiality requirements.
• Knowledge of recruitment best practice.
• Understanding of employee relations processes.
• Knowledge of absence management procedures.
• Good understanding of equality, diversity and inclusion principles.

Desirable

• Knowledge of UKVI compliance requirements.
• Understanding of OfS and quality assurance expectations within Higher Education.
• Knowledge of safeguarding requirements in education.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective working relationships.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills.
• Ability to prioritise competing workloads.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• High level of accuracy.
• Competent in Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Desirable

• Experience delivering presentations or training sessions.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Experience using HR reporting tools.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Professional and approachable.
• Self-motivated with a proactive attitude.
• High level of integrity and discretion.
• Flexible and adaptable.
• Positive "can-do" approach.
• Commitment to continuous improvement.
• Strong customer service ethos.
• Ability to influence and build credibility with managers.
• Calm under pressure.
• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Other Requirements

• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of students.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Willingness to undertake continued professional development.
• Ability to occasionally work outside normal hours when required to support College activities.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The post holder will be expected to contribute towards:

• Recruitment completed within agreed timescales.
• 100% compliance with Right to Work requirements.
• HR records are maintained with a high level of accuracy.
• Payroll information submitted accurately and on time.
• HR correspondence issued within agreed service standards.
• Employee relation cases managed in accordance with college procedures.
• Mandatory training compliance targets achieved.
• Positive feedback from managers and employees regarding HR support.
• Continuous improvement of HR processes and systems.

Pay: £38,000.00-£42,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Bereavement leave
• Canteen
• Company pension
• Discounted or free food
• Free parking

Application question(s):

• Do you have CIPD Level 5 or above?
• Experience managing employee relations cases.
• Experience advising managers on HR policies and employment legislation.
• Experience administering recruitment and onboarding.
• Experience maintaining HR systems and employee records.
• Experience developing and reviewing HR policies.
• Experience producing HR reports and management information.
• Experience handling confidential information with discretion.
• GCSE (or equivalent) English and Mathematics at Grade C/4 or above

Education:

• Master's (preferred)

Experience:

• within a generalist HR role: 3 years (required)

Work authorisation:

• United Kingdom (required)

Work Location: In person