HR Advisor

About the role HR Advisor

We are seeking an experienced HR Advisor (Schools) to provide a high-quality, professional HR advisory service across a portfolio of schools. In this role, you will support Headteachers, Governors, and senior leaders with a wide range of employee relations matters, ensuring compliance with employment legislation, policies and best practice. You’ll play a key role in managing complex casework including absence, disciplinary, grievance, capability, and organisational change, while also coaching leaders to build their confidence and capability in people management. Alongside casework, you’ll contribute to policy development, training delivery, helping schools drive improvement through effective HR practices.

About the team HR Advisor

You’ll be part of a collaborative HR function within Culture, Strategy and Communities, working closely with the Head of Schools HR and wider stakeholders across education and local authority services. The team partners with schools through a traded service model, meaning service quality, relationship management, and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything we do. You’ll regularly engage with senior stakeholders including Headteachers, Governors, trade unions, and legal teams, building strong, trusted relationships while supporting schools to navigate complex people challenges and deliver positive outcomes for leaders, workforce and the school communities.

About you HR Advisor

We’re looking for a confident and knowledgeable HR professional with strong employee relations expertise, excellent communication skills, and the ability to influence and coach senior stakeholders. Crucially, it is essential that you have significant prior HR advisory experience supporting schools or education setting with an in-depth knowledge of school support staff and teacher’s terms and conditions.

This is a non-negotiable requirement, as the successful candidate must be able to step into the role and immediately apply their understanding of school environments, policies, education laws and challenges without the need for extensive onboarding. You will ideally hold a CIPD qualification (or equivalent experience) and have a strong working knowledge of employment law, as well as experience operating in a unionised environment. Above all, you’ll be proactive, resilient, and capable of managing complex, sensitive situations with professionalism and sound judgement.