HR Officer/Advisor

Are you a dedicated and highly proficient individual looking to develop your HR practice in a supportive team environment and progress your career in a growing organisation within the education sector? If so, the expansion of the WeST HR team could provide the opportunity to take the next exciting step in your journey and we would be keen to hear from you. 

WeST is a complex schools trust that is maturing rapidly, and these posts provide an exciting opportunity to join an organisation with students and staff at its heart, built on an extensive track record of excellence.  

Our Trust consists of 27 schools (in both primary and secondary phases) and The Learning Institute (TLI).  Our schools are in relatively close geographical proximity to one another, across south Devon, Plymouth and south-east Cornwall.  We are positioned in the heart of the south-west peninsula, a stone’s throw from some of the most picturesque countryside and coastal locations in the UK.

The Trust is an exciting place to work, with lots of aspirational professionals – and other occupational benefits too which come as part of your employment through WeST:

• Regular CPD opportunities, as well as support to achieve CIPD qualifications through the apprenticeship Levy or other appropriate routes. 

• A defined HR career structure. 

• Generous contractual provisions around maternity, annual leave and sick pay.

• Membership of the Local Government Pension scheme, one of the most generous schemes in the UK with high employer contributions through national provider Peninsula Pensions. 

• Free eye tests and contributions towards VDU use glasses through a choice of national opticians.

• The opportunity to buy a bike or the latest Tech through our cycle and Tech schemes.  You pay nothing upfront and the payments are taken tax efficiently from your salary through salary sacrifice. 

• An Employee Assistance Programme to all of our employees.

• Free Parking on-site

• Access to community sports centre gym facilities (based in secondary schools)

What does the role involve?

The postholder will report to a HR Business Partner. 

The HR Officer/Advisor will have demonstrable generalist HR experience and will hold their own portfolio of primary schools, providing advice and support on a broad range of employee relations matters, helping to ensure timely progression of queries and cases.  They will also have the ability to support the HRBP with a variety of more complex cases. 

Individuals in this role will also support the continuous improvement of the HR Service through their contribution to policy and project work, and will be strong team players with the ability to work on their own initiative and make judgements within the boundaries of their role.

Stakeholder management is key and there will be a high level of interaction with colleagues at all levels in the provision of support, advice and guidance. 

We expect our team members to be committed to their own personal development and qualified to/working towards (or willing to work towards) the CIPD level appropriate to the post, or necessary for career progression to the next level.  Support will be provided to enable this via apprenticeships or other appropriate routes.

For an informal discussion regarding this role please contact Jocelyn Davis, Director of People, on mob. 07799730789 or Jenna Gipson, HR Business Partner, on mob: 07719047373.

The application forms and full job descriptions are available from https://www.westst.org.uk/news/?pid=7&nid=2&storyid=215 or recruitment@westst.org.uk.

Completed applications to be returned to recruitment@westst.org.uk  by 9am on Monday 18th July 2022 at the latest*.  

*PLEASE NOTE: The Trust reserves the right to call suitable candidates for interview on receipt of applications prior to the date above, and may close the vacancy early if successful appointments are made.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  

A DBS check is required for this post.