School HR Officer & People Operations Lead

Location: Hackney, East/Inner London

School Type: Secondary School & Sixth Form (Co-educational)

Contract: Full-Time, Permanent (37 hours per week, All-Year-Round or Term-Time + 3 Weeks)

Start Date: Immediate / ASAP

A progressive, vibrant secondary school and Sixth Form in the heart of the London Borough of Hackney is seeking a meticulous, proactive, and people-focused School HR Officer to manage their end-to-end human resources and staff welfare operations. Situated in one of London’s most creative and culturally rich communities, this role is ideal for an experienced HR coordinator, school administrator, or CIPD-qualified practitioner eager to deliver robust HR processes, lead safer recruitment, and champion employee engagement across a diverse secondary workforce.

About the Role

As the HR Officer, you will serve as the operational anchor for all employment, staffing, and people operations across the school. Reporting directly to the School Business Manager and Senior Leadership Team (SLT), you will manage employee lifecycles, oversee safer recruitment compliance, maintain the Single Central Record (SCR), coordinate staff absence and payroll interfaces, and provide trusted guidance on school HR policies and staff wellbeing.

• Environment: A dynamic Inner London secondary school utilizing modern HR management systems (e.g., SIMS, Access People, CIPHR, Every HR) and digital recruitment portals

• Culture: A collaborative, forward-thinking workplace committed to safer recruitment standards, staff wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, and professional growth

Key Responsibilities

• Safer Recruitment & Onboarding: Manage end-to-end recruitment drives, prepare job packs and adverts, process pre-employment checks (DBS, references, right to work, overseas checks), and design comprehensive onboarding programs for new staff.

• Single Central Record (SCR) Compliance: Maintain an immaculate, audit-ready Single Central Record in strict alignment with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) statutory requirements.

• Employee Lifecycle & Records Management: Draft employment contracts, manage variation letters, log staff attendance and sickness absence, coordinate occupational health referrals, and maintain secure HR digital personnel files (GDPR compliant).

• Payroll & Benefits Liaison: Collate monthly payroll variances (pensions, pay progression, maternity/paternity, overtime), liaise directly with external payroll providers, and resolve staff pay inquiries accurately.

• HR Advisory & Welfare Support: Provide first-line advice to SLT and line managers regarding school policies (disciplinary, grievance, appraisal, capability), coordinate staff wellness initiatives, and support exit interviews and turnover metrics analysis.

Requirements

• Professional qualification in Human Resources (CIPD Level 3 or Level 5 preferred) or equivalent demonstrable experience within a dedicated HR role.

• Proven track record of managing HR processes within an educational setting, local authority, or public sector environment.

• Expert operational knowledge of safer recruitment practices in education and statutory compliance regarding the Single Central Record (SCR) and KCSIE guidelines.

• Strong digital literacy with HR databases, SIMS/management information systems, and Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook).

• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, maintaining utmost discretion, tact, and professional integrity when handling sensitive personnel matters.

Salary & Benefits

• Pay Scale: Inner London Support Staff Scale (commensurate with CIPD qualifications and HR experience).

• Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), generous annual leave provisions, funded continuous professional development (CIPD advancement support), and access to staff health and wellbeing programs.

How to Apply

If you are a dedicated HR professional ready to drive people operations and champion staff welfare at a forward-thinking secondary school in Hackney, we would love to hear from you. Please submit your application and CV as soon as possible for consideration.