HR Manager – Primary School

Location: Dagenham, East London
Contract: Full-Time
Start Date: To be confirmed

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and proactive HR Manager to join a primary school in Dagenham. This is an excellent opportunity for a knowledgeable school HR professional to take responsibility for the day-to-day management of the school's HR function, providing practical support and guidance to school leaders and staff.

The successful candidate will have substantial, hands-on HR experience within a school environment and be confident managing a wide range of operational HR matters independently.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day HR operations, providing advice and support to senior leaders and staff.

• Oversee sickness absence management, return-to-work meetings and attendance monitoring.

• Manage employee relations matters, including performance management, disciplinary and grievance procedures.

• Support safer recruitment processes, ensuring appropriate pre-employment checks and compliance with safeguarding requirements.

• Apply knowledge of employment legislation and its application within a school setting.

• Work alongside the school's local authority HR advisory service, identifying when specialist advice is required and implementing recommendations effectively.

• Maintain accurate and confidential HR records and documentation.

• Support financial administration, including accurate cost coding and related processes.

• Line-manage the school's Caretaker and Catering Lead, providing direction and support.

Essential Requirements

• Substantial and recent hands-on HR experience within a school environment.

• Proven experience managing sickness absence, return-to-work processes and attendance monitoring.

• Strong knowledge of employee relations, performance management, disciplinary and grievance procedures.

• Understanding of safer recruitment, safeguarding requirements and employment law within education.

• Ability to manage operational HR matters independently and seek specialist advice appropriately.

• Excellent organisational, communication and interpersonal skills.

• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information with professionalism and discretion.

Desirable Requirements

• Previous experience working as a School Business Manager or HR Manager within a school.

• Experience using Arbor or other school management information systems.

• Experience of financial administration, cost coding and managing support staff.

How to Apply

If you have substantial school-based HR experience and are interested in this opportunity, please submit your CV outlining your relevant experience and availability.

Please note: Candidates must demonstrate strong, recent school-based HR experience. General business management or administration experience without substantial operational HR responsibility will not meet the requirements of this role.