We are seeking to appoint an HR Officer who has the technical knowledge and experience of the full range of HR requirements consistent with a small independent school employing just over 100 staff.
The role will be based on our school site working 40 hours a week all year round with remuneration dependent on experience and skills, but likely to be in the range £30-35k.
The successful applicant will:
• be responsible for all stages of an employee life cycle – from recruitment to exit
• act as liaison with the school’s external payroll provider
• largely autonomously manage routine HR matters such as staff absences (sickness, maternity, paternity), flexible working requests
• provide HR guidance together with procedural and administrative support to school senior managers including occasions where contentious HR matters arise such as disciplinary procedures
• be the owner of all HR filing and administration records and processes including the Single Central Record and related safeguarding checks
You will be part of a friendly and supportive team, and training will be available to enhance skills. Our staff also benefit from free parking, free refreshments, and a free lunch.
Experience of school HR processes and an understanding of the Single Central Record would be desirable, but full training will be given a successful candidate whose experience has been gained in sectors other than education.
Further details may be obtained from our website or from HR on 01258 882306 or email hr@miltonabbey.co.uk. Applications must be submitted on the school’s application form. The closing date for applications is Wednesday 23rd April 2025. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Please note that we are not accepting applications for this position through any employment agency and all applications should be made direct to the school.
Milton Abbey School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. The appointment will be the subject of an enhanced disclosure from the Disclosure and Barring Service. Additionally, please be aware that Milton Abbey School will conduct online searches of shortlisted candidates. This check will be part of a safeguarding check, and the search will purely be based on whether an individual is suitable to work with children. To avoid unconscious bias and any risk of discrimination a person who will not be on the appointment panel will conduct the search and will only share information if and when findings are relevant and of concern.
Please note that our school is a no smoking/vaping site.
www.miltonabbey.co.uk Registered Charity No 306318
JOB DESCRIPTION
JOB ROLE:HR Officer
RESPONSIBLE TO:Head of Operations
Director of Finance (for: payroll, contracts & legal HR matters)
JOB PURPOSE:To undertake all HR duties consistent with a small independent school employing c100 staff and act as payroll liaison with external payroll provider
Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
Duties and Responsibilities:
Human resources
• Management of all staff recruitment (from authorisation to recruit through to appointment)
• Drafting to agreed templates and distribution of
o Offer letters, contract of employments and variations
o pet license agreements
o service license agreements
• Working closely with line managers, supervise all aspects of the lifecycle of the employee within agreed policies including (without limitation):
o Induction and probation
o Appraisals
o Flexible working requests
o Sickness absence
o Maternity and paternity
o Retirement
o Leaver protocols
• Owning employee data and files (electronic and hard copy) to include annual audit and archive of ex-employee files together with ownership of the School’s Single Central Record of safeguarding information as required under statutory guidance KCSIE (Keeping Children Safe in Education).
• Preparation of and issuing references when requested in compliance with school policy
• Ownership, organisation, maintenance and distribution/publication of the employment manual and HR policies (subject to senior leadership approval) and other HR documents.
• Management of the online DBS disclosures site.
• Issuing annual leave cards for relevant staff members and recording annual leave carry forward entitlement.
• Preparation and submission of DFE workforce census and provision of information as required during inspections and audits (e.g. Independent School’s Inspectorate).
• Acknowledgement and response to ad-hoc vacancy requests.
• Management of HR@miltonabbey email inbox.
• Taking advice on routine HR legal matters from the school’s appointed legal advisors, acting consistent with such advice and recognising when to refer contentious matters to Head of Operations and/or Director of Finance
Payroll
• Maintenance of the staff pay database
• Central liaison with the school’s external payroll provider to ensure all staff are paid correctly and on time to include
o starter information
o leaver information
o statutory leave (maternity, paternity etc)
o sickness
o variations
o timesheets for additional pay, subject to authorisation procedures and protocols
o liaison with accounts as regards staff expenses
o net pay deductions (e.g. staff common room subscriptions)
• Administrative oversight of school pension schemes working closely with school payroll provider who will manage joiners, leavers and monthly contributions to include
o Opt outs
o Periodic auto-reenrolment
• Supporting the finance director in the annual pay review and awards, preparing and distributing pay review letters
Budgets
• Manage HR and payroll budgets within agreed limits, always assuring best value.
Miscellaneous Assistance
• Support line managers with HR knowledge and experience across full range of HR issues
• Support to the Head of Operations relating to whole staff wellbeing
• Support the Head of Operations and Senior Leadership generally in meeting all statutory and otherHR compliance requirements (including particularly inspection readiness and policies).
Any other reasonable duties as requested by the Head of Operations and Finance Director.
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Skills, Experience and Personal attributes required:
• Significant experience of HR processes.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills
• Ability to work accurately with attention to detail and an understanding of the role and importance of appropriate procedures and policies and compliance therewith.
• Discretion and clear understanding of confidentially requirements.
• Polite manner and smart appearance.
• Excellent IT skills across several relevant platforms, including word, excel, zoom, teams, outlook,and PowerPoint.
• Attend relevant training courses internally or externally as requested.
• As for all staff responsibility for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of the children and young people in School.
