Human Resources Business Partner

About the role

Gosforth Group require an enthusiastic and proactive HR Business Partner – Central Services to play a pivotal role in shaping and supporting the delivery of a dynamic and forward-thinking HR shared service hub, continuing our journey from transactional HR Services to transformational HR Services. 

Following the recent re-structure of the operational Human Resources team and the centralisation of the HR support services function, the Human Resources Business Partner – Central Services is a newly created role, and is key in ensuring the successful delivery and compliance of the central HR support services function, ensuring a consistent and complaint approach is taken across the Trust.

The successful candidate will work in partnership with the Deputy Director of Human Resources – HR Services and colleagues across the HR function and wider Trust, to continue to develop HR operational processes and procedures to ensure compliance with our legal obligations, keeping children safe and internal policies. 

In addition, it is expected that the post holder will facilitate regular reviews of operational HR software, systems and processes to make sure they remain fit for purpose, promote service improvement and ensure that every touch point in the employee life cycle provides both, internal and external stakeholders with the best possible customer service experience.

The post holder will also take the day to day lead in all HR Central Services activity from; coaching, supporting and developing colleagues within the HR Central Service team, Trust wide recruitment and selection, including safer recruitment checks, on boarding, induction, contracts of employment/contractual changes and payroll support, HR data management, analytics and reporting, management of the Trust’s Single Central Records (SCR) through to employee off-boarding.

The post is a job share with the option to work 14.5 hours per week or 18.5 hours per week, all year round. The work pattern would be 14.5 hours; Thursday, 8.00am – 4.00pm, Friday 8.00am – 3.30pm or; 18.5 hours; Alternative Wednesday’s, Thursday, 8.00am – 4.00pm, Friday 8.00am – 3.30pm

What we are looking for

You'll be an experienced HR professional who understands how to achieve our Trust vision through the provision of an excellent HR operational central support service, working in partnership with the HR Business Partners – Field Based, People Managers and colleagues across the Trust to ensure recording, transfer and delivery of key people data and information is actioned in a timely and accurate manner, ensuring confidentiality is maintained and data is managed in accordance with GDPR.

You will thrive on collaboration, striving to maintain exceptional working relationships with colleagues across the Trust and Trust Service Level Agreement providers, such as Payroll and Occupational Health.

You will be a confident communicator, with the ability to communicate with diverse audiences, proven experience of all aspects of managing a centralised HR operational service, sound understanding employment legislation and the ability to effectively translate legislation into your operational practice, ensuring any operational risks are identified and well managed.  

The ability to extract and analyse people data, identify common themes and operational risks to inform service improvement plans and ensure business continuity is maintained is an extremely important aspect of the HR Business Partner – Central Services role, therefore advanced data literacy is essential.

You will have a calm, well organised and methodical nature, with the ability to work professionally to strict deadlines, responding effectively and efficiently to challenges of the role, bringing vision and drive to make things happen.  

In addition, in times of need you may be called upon to support HR case work, therefore a good understanding of employee relations matters and experience of managing HR case work is also essential.

It’s definitely going to be a varied and responsible role, but a truly rewarding one, with the ability to support and develop the service as the Gosforth Group grows.

Finally, the safety of our pupils is non-negotiable, therefore it is essential that the successful post holder is committed to child protection and safeguarding.

If you are interested in this opportunity to join the Human Resources team at the Gosforth Group, you can find out more about the role and the essential requirements in the job description and person specification.

If you would like to discuss this vacancy further or would like to arrange an informal visit, please contact Debbie Worrall at debbieworrall@gosforthgroup.org.uk  

To apply

Applications should be submitted via the Gosforth Group’s recruitment portal. https://gosforthgroup.face-ed.co.uk/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2FEmp%2FCampaign%2FView%2F8658

If you have any queries, please email hr@ga.newcastle.sch.uk. 

Applications are shortlisted for interview as they are received, and so early application is encouraged. We reserve the right to commence the interview process and close the vacancy prior to this date.

You will be employed by the Gosforth Group and may be required to work across all locations within the Multi Academy Trust as required. 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. This means certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’. Further information about filtering offences can be found in the DBS filtering guide and you can view our Policy on the Employment of Ex-offenders here. 

Gosforth Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We will ensure that all our recruitment and selection practices reflect this commitment. References will normally be requested prior to interview for those candidates shortlisted. The successful candidate will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check, along with other relevant pre-employment checks, including an online check.

The Trust is committed to equality, inclusion and diversity and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

Following the shortlisting process, where applicable, candidates who attend interview, will be reimbursed reasonable expenses for travel and accommodation.