Human Resources Business Partner
Location: Hybrid Homeworking / travel to all Unity School Partnership locations required*
Start date: As soon as possible
Salary: Grade 7 scp 30-35 £45,947 to £51,483 per annum (Local Government Pension Scheme, holiday entitlement starts at 24 days holiday per year plus bank holidays)
Contract type: Full time, 37 hours per week, 52 weeks per year
Contract term: Permanent
*We want you to be a success in your role, therefore the first few weeks will be in the office (Haverhill, Suffolk) and schools with members of the team for induction and training. Once your initial training is completed, office attendance is once a fortnight for the whole team to get together. On your other working days, we will ensure you have the equipment you need to work from home and whilst you support our schools onsite.
Are you an experienced HR generalist with solid employee relations experience looking to join a flexible and supportive HR Business Partnering team?
We offer an excellent employment package that includes hybrid working, enabling you to design your working week in collaboration with your manager through a blend of home and onsite working. To reduce our carbon footprint, we look to allocate schools with travel distances in mind, therefore this role would benefit someone who is willing to travel to the West Suffolk and South Norfolk area.
You will be responsible for providing a business partnering support service to our schools and central team, providing advice and guidance to line managers on a range of HR management issues ensuring compliance with the academic lifecycle, HR policies, employment law and current HR best practice. You will manage a range of employee relations issues, including disciplinary, capability and grievance cases and organisational change projects including TUPE. A key function of the role is to develop the skill and capacity of managers to empower them to manage people issues effectively and independently. You will also have an opportunity to work on HR projects to ensure our service continually adds value to the organisation.
The role will require a combination of HR experience and expertise, as well as interpersonal and technical skills, and the ability to establish credible relationships with a diverse range of people. Demonstrable skills and experience at either an associate or manager level in a large, complex, and regulated environment is essential. HR experience in the education sector would be an advantage, but not essential as training and support will be given to ensure you are confident in your role.
In return we will offer:
- Job satisfaction through making a positive impact on our pupils’ lives
- Friendly and supportive working environment
- Family friendly policies
- Supportive and positive management
- Investment in your training and development
- Excellent career development opportunities
- Wellbeing and staff benefit packages
Due to the role covering multi-sites, the post holder must have a current driving licence, and we have a travel claims policy to ensure you are supported on travel requirements of the role.
Unity Schools Partnership is a Multi Academy Trust of 40 schools and growing, the trust expects its work to be characterised by ethical leadership, an ambition for improvement at pace and the expectation that remarkable improvements can be achieved. If you are ambitious and keen to work in a family of schools committed to these values, please consider applying for the post. For more information about Unity Schools Partnership please visit www.unitysp.co.uk
Closing Date: Thursday 21st August 2025 at midday
Interview Date: Tuesday 2nd September 2025 (Haverhill CB9 8QP)
If you would like an informal discussion prior to submitting your application, please contact Suzy Jackson, Senior HR Business Partner on 07392414187 or email sjackson@unitysp.co.uk.
Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and advise you check the job information as per the listing on our careers site.
In line with safer recruitment, we are unable to accept CVs. Failure to complete an application form satisfactorily may result in not being shortlisted for the post.
Unity Schools Partnership is committed to safeguarding, safer recruitment and promoting the welfare of pupils. Our comprehensive recruitment and selection processes aim to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants. Successful candidates are subject to rigorous pre-employment checks. We are equally committed to eliminating discrimination and encouraging diversity. We aim for our workforce to be representative of society and that each employee feels respected and able to give their best. We are committed to providing equality and fairness in our recruitment and employment practices and not to discriminate on any grounds. We oppose all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination.
We care deeply about inclusive working practices and diverse teams. If you’d prefer to work part-time or as a job-share, we’ll facilitate this wherever we can – whether to help you meet other commitments or to help you strike a great work-life balance. We’re keen to ensure we’re designing an organisation that works for everyone, so we particularly encourage applications from different under-represented groups.
Closing Date
2025-08-21