Job Description
About The Role
We’re looking for a confident, approachable HR professional who is passionate about supporting people and delivering high-quality advice. This role will primarily focus on employee relations casework, so a strong skill set and confidence in this area is important. Alongside this, there will be opportunities to get involved in wider HR activity and projects across the Trust.
We’re looking for someone with a strong HR generalist background and solid employee relations experience, who can build positive, trusting relationships and take a calm, pragmatic approach. You’ll be confident providing clear, practical advice, while also being willing to get involved more widely and contribute to the ongoing development of our People Function.
Our schools are supportive, welcoming environments, and the people you’ll work with are a real asset to the Trust. You’ll partner with leaders and colleagues who value practical, people-centred HR support.
If you would like to discuss this role in more detail please contact PHQ.recruitment@arkonline.org
The HR Advisor will report into People Business Partner. This role is currently operating hybrid working in our Pontefract Office on a permanent basis working full time.
Interviews will be taking place in person on Thursday 8th October 2026.
Key Responsibilities:
- As the named HR lead for employee relations in Pontefract schools, act as the first point of contact for day-to-day ER queries, providing clear, pragmatic and solutions-focused advice and seeking guidance from the wider People team
- Support a full range of ER casework including disciplinary, grievance, attendance, capability, safeguarding concerns, probation and appeals
- Coordinate casework end to end: preparing case packs, organising meetings, supporting meetings, note-taking and drafting outcome letters
- Using absence data, support leaders in managing sickness in line with policy and disability legislation, including liaising with Occupational Health and supporting return-to-work plans
- Embed robust probation management for all new starters, ensuring reviews are completed on time, issues are escalated promptly, and clear advice is given on next steps
- Ensure leaders understand and follow Ark policies and processes; escalate complex or high-risk cases to the People Business Partnering team
- Build effective relationships with school leaders and Office Managers; act as the named HR lead for operational ER queries and assurance
- Support implementation of updated policies, guidance and HR ways of working across the Pontefract region, ensuring managers understand requirements and expectations
- Work collaboratively with Central People Team (Business Partners, AskHR, People Operations, Recruitment) to ensure high-performing support services for schools
- Support the People Business Partner and the wider Pontefract People team to ensure all HR activity is up to date, well organised and delivered efficiently, with all processes completed on time and in full compliance with statutory, safeguarding and Ark policy requirements
Key Requirements:
- Right to work in the UK
- GCSE English & Maths (or equivalent)
- CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent) preferred; willingness to work towards Level 5 if currently Level 3
- Proven HR generalist experience delivering day-to-day HR services, with a strong focus on employee relations and attendance management
- Experience providing clear first-line HR and ER advice to managers, with confidence to escalate appropriately
- Experience supporting ER casework, including disciplinary, grievance, capability, attendance and probation matters, as well as preparing case documentation, taking notes and drafting outcome letters
- Experience supporting attendance management, including OH referrals
- Understanding of core employment legislation and the ability to apply it pragmatically in schools
- Strong administrative and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple schools
- Excellent written and oral communication skills with strong attention to detail
- Strong IT skills (MS Office) and Applicant Tracking System (ATS)/HR system experience
- Professional, discreet and resilient, with the integrity to handle sensitive and confidential matters appropriately
- A confident communicator who can build credibility and positive relationships with school leaders and managers
About Us
It works: our schools achieve great results – significantly outperforming national averages, especially when it comes to driving progress – the best measure for ‘closing the gap’.
We take what we learn in our schools to develop new solutions and approaches that we can share. Over the last two decades, we have developed and incubated more than 20 projects and programmes, supporting them to scale and achieve systemic impact on the life chances of all children. Over 300,000 children currently learn using an Ark curriculum and our Ark Start nurseries are demonstrating a new model for early years education that we hope will become the norm.
Diversity and inclusion:
We aim to build a diverse and inclusive organisation where everyone – staff and students – can do their best work and achieve their full potential. We want to reflect and represent diverse perspectives across our organisation because we know that doing so will make us stronger and more effective. To know more about Ark’s diversity and inclusion commitments, please click on this link.
Safeguarding statement:
Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in its academies. In order to meet this responsibility, its academies follow a rigorous selection process to discourage and screen out unsuitable applicants.
Ark requires all employees to undertake an enhanced DBS check. You are required, before appointment, to disclose any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975. Non-disclosure may lead to termination of employment. However, disclosure of a criminal background will not necessarily debar you from employment - this will depend upon the nature of the offence(s) and when they occurred. To read more about Ark’s safer recruitment process, please click this link.
Please note we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this role may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response. We strongly encourage to submit your application at your earliest convenience.
What you'll earn (you won't find "competitive salary” written instead of a figure on our watch!)
£35,412 to £38,220 (depending on experience)
What you'll receive in return (Benefits)
- Our flexible working model offers the best of both worlds, balancing in person collaboration, either in our Pontefract office or through visits to our schools, with the flexibility of remote working.
- In addition to flexible working arrangements, employees can request to work fully remotely for up to 10 working days a year, whether this be in the UK or abroad.
- Our flexitime policy allows you to work your hours around our core hours of 10.00 - 16.00, helping you prioritise your work-life balance and personal commitments.
- 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service up to 30 days after 3-years’ service. This entitlement is pro rata for part time employees. This entitlement excludes bank holidays.
- Full office closure between Christmas and New Year.
- As an Ark employee, you will have the opportunity to be part of the TPT (The Pension Trust) scheme, our workplace pension scheme where we make an 11% contribution; you are not required to contribute towards this scheme unless you choose to. Depending on your role you may also be entitled to LGPS which is a defined benefit scheme where you contribute a percentage based on how much you earn (as do we) in exchange for a guaranteed amount in your pension pot every year.
- Access to high-quality professional learning throughout your career, offering both face-to-face sessions and a bespoke online learning platform.
- Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bike, gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym and free eye tests.
CIPD Requirement
Email Contact for candidates
Closing Date
About us
It works: our schools achieve great results – significantly outperforming national averages, especially when it comes to driving progress – the best measure for ‘closing the gap’.
We take what we learn in our schools to develop new solutions and approaches that we can share. Over the last two decades, we have developed and incubated more than 20 projects and programmes, supporting them to scale and achieve systemic impact on the life chances of all children. Over 300,000 children currently learn using an Ark curriculum and our Ark Start nurseries are demonstrating a new model for early years education that we hope will become the norm.
Ark is among the top performing trusts at primary. Seventy-eight percent of pupils achieved the expected standard or above in reading, writing, and maths – surpassing the national average of 62 percent by 16 percentage points.
At secondary, pass rates in maths and English fell nationally by 0.5 percentage points while at Ark pass rates increased by three percentage points. Disadvantaged students outperformed their peers nationally by this measure by 18 percentage points (61% vs 43.5%).
Eighty-five percent of our sixth form students go to university at 18, compared to 37 percent nationally. Of those progressing to university, 74 percent attend a top third university compared to 41 percent nationally.
There is more to do, and we are currently planning how we can grow our network of schools and expand the work we do. Partnership is critical to this and our new home at EdCity will become a meeting place for like-minded education reformers.
At Ark, we are all united by the same goal: a commitment to drive real change in education where it’s needed most. Explore career opportunities in our central team, nurseries and schools.