Working With Us

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.
We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.
As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.
Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.
To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the Why Work For Us page to learn more.
Main Areas of Responsibility

Your main responsibilities will be:
* To develop and deliver a Federation HR Plan, in liaison with the Head of HR and the wider team.
* To advise, jointly review/design and establish key people processes such as performance management, appraisal cycle, capability, disciplinary, salary review, resourcing processes.
* Be able to demonstrate a clear understanding of current employment law requirements to support Senior Leaders with complex employee relations cases.
* Provide advice on all Employee Relations issues and policies taking into account current employment and case law to influence best practice.
* Coaching, supporting and mentoring senior leaders on people management practices, issues and priorities, through development of close working relationships and understanding of business challenges and opportunities.
* Advising and supporting academies with TUPE transfers and restructuring projects ensuring legal compliance and a reduced risk to the Federation.
* Working with Trade Unions in negotiations, consultations and case work whilst maintaining a good working relationship.
* Management of employment tribunal cases; liaising with ACAS on early conciliation, liaising with legal representatives regarding tribunal claims and attending tribunals if required.
* Negotiation and drafting of settlement agreements.
* Designing and delivering in house workshops and update sessions to line managers and HR representatives within the Federation and academies.
* Working with outsourcing provision to ensure the smooth running of Federation processes such as payroll and benefits administration.
* To participate in, and deliver HR projects as required.
* To evaluate Job Descriptions and provide advice and guidance on salary bandings to ensure a consistent and fair pay approach.
What We are Looking For

We would like to hear from you if you have:
* Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
* Excellent interpersonal skills and gravitas to liaise with a wide range of stakeholders
* Strong leadership skills
* The ability to be a ood team player and skilled at building relationships
* The ability to work to tight reporting deadlines
* Excellent knowledge of Employment Law 
* Demonstration of a problem solving attitude   
* Excellent time management, planning and prioritising skills
* Good analytical skills
* High level of ICT capability
* Ability to work in a rapidly changing environment
* Previous experience in an HR Business Partner role
* Previous experience of managing Employee relations issues and restructures
* Demonstrable experience of supporting stakeholders at a senior level.
For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.
Applying for this Position

If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.
Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.
When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application. 
A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.