Human Resources Advisor

Job Title: Human Resources Advisor
Location: Frognal, Hampstead (on-site)
Contract: Part-time, 3 days per week 9am-5pm all year round (term-time only also considered)

Job Purpose

To support the Senior HR Advisor and Director of HR & Compliance in all aspects of HR, particularly recruitment and employee relations.

Dimensions of role

The HR Department at UCS has five members of staff, Director of HR & Compliance, Senior HR Advisor, Payroll Administrator and two HR Administrators. The department supports all three schools in the UCS Foundation and UCS Active (approximately 400 staff). The HR Department is a small team and everyone helps each other as necessary.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide effective support to the Senior HR Advisor and Director of HR & Compliance on all aspects of HR work and activity.

• Provide strategic oversight of the recruitment process to ensure that UCS effectively utilises new technologies and obtain value for money from recruitment activities.

• To line manage and support the HR Administrator in all aspects of Recruitment and Selection for staff, including advising on effective recruitment practices and involvement in interview panels.

• Have an overview of the recruitment and selection procedures ensuring that all recruitment materials are produced to a high standard.

• Provide day to day advice and coaching to managers, including management of complex casework in respect to grievance and disciplinary issues, and attending hearings as appropriate.

• Work with Senior HR Advisor and Director of HR & Compliance to develop effective and measurable strategies to improve staff wellbeing.

• To be involved in project work as directed by the Director of HR & Compliance.

• Establish and maintain close working relationships with colleagues within and outside of the Foundation/UCS Active, including external contacts.

• Maintaining a safe work environment, including ensuring compliance with legislation and the undertaking of risk assessments.

• Undertake any other duties commensurate with the grade as might reasonably be required including training and deputising for Senior HR Advisor in their absence.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience of recruitment from advertising to appointment.

• Have experience of using HR information systems and analysing HR data.

• Experience in managing sensitive situations and conversations and orientated to problem solving, with an ability to reach practical solutions to difficult employment situations.

• Experience of supporting change in an organisation.

• Experience of dealing with complex case work and staff and managers at all levels.

• Experience of working in HR capacity in a Schools environment (Desirable).

Skills and Abilities and Personal Attributes

• Capable of interacting and engaging with a wide range of people and adapting personal style to suit circumstances.

• Able to communicate clearly both verbally and in writing.

• Be able to work effectively and co-operatively as part of a small team but also to reach appropriate decisions on their own.

• Demonstrable ability to establish priorities and to balance competing workloads.

• Be enthusiastic, self-motivated and resilient in dealing with difficult situations.

• Ability to build and maintain excellent working relationships.

• Ability to use HR information systems and to analyse and explain HR data to different audiences.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of employment law and contracts of employment.

• Up-to-date knowledge of effective HR policies and practices in education (Desirable).

• Awareness of Health & Safety Legislation.

• Part or ideally fully qualified member of CIPD.

UCS is committed to the welfare and safeguarding of children. The successful applicant will be required to undertake an Enhanced check for Regulated Activity from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). This is a requirement as the position is within a school working with children under 18 years of age.

 £24,000 - 27,000 (40 - 45k FTE)

The role offers an excellent benefits package, including 8 weeks’ annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays and the Christmas and Easter close-down periods. Employees also benefit from a contributory staff pension scheme, breakfast and lunch provided on site, and access to a subsidised on-site gym.