People Partner

Our People Services team is at the centre of that ambition. We are guided by Be Leigh, our cultural framework that defines what every colleague should experience at LAT, and we are now developing our next People Strategy, which will shape how we recruit, develop and retain our people through to 2030. This is a team with a clear sense of direction and the senior leadership support to deliver it.

This is a senior, varied and fast-moving role.  You will manage the Employee Experience team, overseeing workloads and cases, building capacity and being the person your People Advisors and Administrators turn to when they need support, guidance, or a steer.

You will manage a complex caseload, support chairs at formal hearings, undertake and support investigations, lead on restructures, TUPE and redundancy, and provide expert advice and appropriate challenge to Principals and senior leaders. You will also play an active part in developing the capability of the People Advisors around you.  

This is a full-time role, 37 hours per week, 52 weeks a year. It is a hybrid role. You will work four days in the office or across your academy portfolio, with one day working from home. Your academies will be based across North West Kent and South East London.

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 1st July 2026.

 You will bring demonstrable experience of managing complex employee relations casework and proven experience of supporting chairs at formal hearings. You will have led on restructures, TUPE and redundancy processes and contributed to HR policy development. A strong working knowledge of employment law and the ACAS Code of Practice is essential, as is the confidence to advise and challenge at a senior level. You will be CIPD qualified at Level 5 minimum, emotionally resilient, solutions-focused and committed to placing colleague experience at the centre of everything you do.

Education sector experience is desirable but not essential. What matters is that you bring the skills, knowledge and professional approach this role demands.

 You will join a capable, committed People Services team at an exciting moment. We are investing in our people offer, developing our strategy for 2030 and building the kind of people function that makes a real difference to 33 academies and the colleagues within them.

You will have a varied and genuinely challenging portfolio, real autonomy, and the opportunity to help shape the experience of HR across a large and complex organisation. This is not a role where you will stand still.

To apply for the role please visit our webiste direct on https://leighacademiestrust.org.uk/careers/

£41,348-£53,178

• 24/7 Virtual GP Service — free for you and your family, giving quick access to medical advice whenever you need it
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) — confidential guidance on mental health, finances, legal advice, and personal matters
• Wellbeing Champions and Mental Health First Aiders promoting connection and peer support
• Wellbeing resources and campaigns to help you build resilience, manage stress, and maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Enhanced family-friendly policies offering generous maternity, adoption, surrogacy, paternity, fertility, and foster-care leave
• Free parking at every site to make your day that bit easier
• On-site catering with freshly prepared, affordable meals – and even options to take home for the evening
• Social and wellbeing events across the Trust, helping you build meaningful relationships and celebrate success together
• Practical tools and expert advice: Access trusted resources to help you manage your money, plan ahead, and make informed financial decisions from budgeting and saving to mortgages, insurance, and future planning
• Planning for retirement: If you’re a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme, you can boost your long-term savings through a shared-cost arrangement that increases your take-home pay while building your pension
• Retail and lifestyle discounts: From everyday essentials to special treats, enjoy savings through our partnerships with national discount providers helping your pay go further on shopping, travel, dining, and leisure
• Cycle to Work Scheme: A great way to combine fitness, sustainability, and savings. The scheme makes it easy to spread the cost of a new bike and accessories through salary sacrifice, supporting healthier, greener commuting
• Employee Referral Scheme: As a valued member of the Trust, if you refer someone who successfully joins us, you will receive a reward as a thank-you for your vital contribution to growing our team. This is a simple, internal initiative to grow our community