Senior HR Adviser

Help us shape the future of People support across our Trust

At Brooke Weston Trust, we believe that great people make great schools. Behind every successful school is a team of colleagues who feel supported, valued and empowered to do their best work - and our People team plays a vital role in making that happen.

We are looking for an experienced and passionate Senior HR Adviser to join our People team and provide high-quality, practical and trusted HR support across our schools.

This is an exciting time to join us. As we continue to strengthen our People function, this role will play a key part in ensuring our schools receive the right advice, support and expertise when they need it most.

About the role

As a Senior HR Adviser, you will be a trusted partner to school leaders, providing expert advice and guidance across a broad range of employee relations matters. You will support leaders to navigate complex people challenges, ensuring decisions are fair, consistent and aligned with best practice.

You will work closely with a great team of colleagues, building strong relationships with leaders and helping them to create positive working environments where colleagues can thrive.

The role will include:

• Providing expert advice and guidance on a wide range of HR matters, including absence, performance, conduct, grievance, disciplinary and change processes.
• Supporting leaders through complex employee relations cases, ensuring they feel confident and supported.
• Building strong relationships with principals and senior leaders, becoming a trusted and visible HR partner within schools.
• Coaching and developing leaders to manage people matters effectively.
• Using workforce data and insight to identify trends, support decision-making and improve organisational health.
• Working collaboratively with colleagues across the People team to deliver a consistent, high-quality service.
• Supporting the continued development of our People service as we look to improve how we support schools across the Trust.

About you

You will be an experienced HR professional who enjoys working closely with leaders and making a genuine difference. You will have strong knowledge of employment legislation and employee relations practice, with the confidence to provide advice, challenge where needed and build positive relationships.

You will be someone who:

• Can translate HR knowledge into practical advice that helps leaders make confident decisions.
• Builds credibility quickly and develops strong working relationships.
• Is approachable, solutions-focused and enjoys working collaboratively.
• Is organised, resilient and able to manage competing priorities.
• Has a genuine interest in improving the experience of colleagues and supporting schools to succeed.

Experience of working within education or a multi-site organisation would be advantageous, but we are equally interested in people who can bring transferable experience and a passion for working in a values-led environment.

Why join us?

At Brooke Weston Trust, you will be joining a People team that is ambitious, supportive and committed to making a difference.

This role provides an opportunity to:

• Work closely with inspirational school leaders and make a visible impact across our schools.
• Be part of the continued development of our HR operating model.
• Work on meaningful employee relations matters where your expertise will genuinely add value.
• Join a collaborative team that values ideas, improvement and innovation.
• Contribute to a Trust where people and culture are at the heart of our success.

We are committed to investing in our colleagues and providing opportunities for learning, development and career progression.

The benefits at Brooke Weston Trust we can offer you:

• Generous annual leave entitlement starting at 25 days annual leave per year, plus bank holidays
• One Wellbeing Day a year in addition to your annual leave
• Local Government Pension Scheme plus immediate life cover (3 times salary from day one) and ill health protection
• Employee Discounts with local and national retailers, covering high street supermarkets, days out and holidays, health and beauty, dining out plus lots more
• A freshly prepared breakfast and hot or cold lunch each day when you work in one of our Trust schools
• Payment of professional subscription/membership - if your role requires you to be a member of a professional body, BWT will pay for your professional subscription or membership
• Employee Assistance Programme - We have an employee support programme run by YourCare, an independent, external organisation. YourCare is available for you, 24 hours hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and includes telephone counselling, both face to face and online.
• Additional Health benefits including a Health Care Cash Plan and access to online GP service
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Ongoing opportunities for training and development and access to the BWT Centre of Professional Development
• Collaborative and Ambitions colleagues with the support of a committed team who work to maintain high standards and expectations
• Be the Difference - At Brooke Weston Trust we believe every child deserves the best possible start, giving them a "ticket for life". If you want to use your skills with an organisation committed to making a difference and improving lives, this is the place for you.

About Brooke Weston Trust

Our Trust was formed more than 30 years ago with a simple and clear mission - to transform educational performance in all our communities. Working in some of the most challenging contexts, we improve our students' achievements by making long term commitments to the community and championing new approaches to improve the life chances for young people.

Our members of staff are essential to realising this vision, and a happy, motivated and supported team will deliver the best possible experiences for our young people.

We place great emphasis on creating a supportive and collaborative working environment in all our schools, where all staff can share best practice through our colleague network. Brooke Weston Trust staff get access to first class professional development through our Ambition Hub, which is also home to the Northamptonshire Teaching School.

Safer Recruitment

Care and respect for others are the values that lie at the heart of our Trust. The Trust is an Equal Opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. It expects all staff to share this commitment. All posts require proof of identity and as the role is working with children and young people this will also be subject to an enhanced disclosures barring service check.

A copy of the Trust Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy can be found here - Safeguarding and Child Protection

The Trusts position on the recruitment of Ex-Offenders can be found under section 7 of the Trust SCR, Safer Recruitment and Staff Files Policy - Safer Recruitment and Staff Files Policy

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013, 2020