Head of HR Operations

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.

You will lead a team of HR professionals within Head Office, with a dotted line to the 55 Secondary HR Officers (HRO) and Primary Office Managers (POM) in our academy network. 

If successful, you will drive the development and implementation of our HR operational strategies and processes, while providing line managers across the Federation with useful and timely people data. You will ensure compliance with regulations and enhance the employee experience, to retain our very best staff.

A full list of responsibilities can be found in the Job Pack.

We are looking for a strong people leader, with deep technical skills and experience in large, complex organisations. We would like to hear from you if you have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field 
• A Master’s degree or HR certification (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR)
• Qualifications to CIPD level 5 or equivalent
• At least seven years' HR experience, ideally at senior level with a compliance and operational focus, with a minimum of three years in a leadership role
• A proven track record of implementing operational improvements and driving change in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience of developing and maximising HR Management information systems to better meet the needs of the department and wider organisation
• Experience of developing contracts and other documentation to ensure they are compliant with legal requirements

For a full person specification, please download the Job Pack.

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. 

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