HR Project Lead (12 month Fixed Term Contract - 3 to 5 days a week)

Grade 10 plus 10-15% Recruitment and Retention supplement (available for exceptional candidates depending on skills and experience)

3 - 5 days per week

We are recruiting for an experienced interim HR Project Lead to join our central HR Team on a 12-month fixed-term contract and drive forward HR project work.

River Learning Trust (RLT) is a multi-academy trust responsible for 28 schools including both primary and secondary schools and a school centred initial teacher training (SCITT) provider within Oxfordshire and east Swindon. The schools and SCITT are united by their commitment to the principles of the Trust and a common belief in the benefits of everything that is gained by working together.  

Working closely with our HR Director and central HR Team, you will facilitate and lead key projects to completion.  The Trust has grown steadily since 2015 and now is an exciting time to join us to deliver people project areas including:

• Reviewing  the Trust’s pay and terms and conditions of employment including holiday, benefits and reward and taking forward any associated project work arising from this.
• Supporting Trust Wide initiatives in relation to Wellbeing and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• Supporting the HR Director and HR Business Partners with workstreams from the Recruitment, Development and Retention Strategy.

Project areas can be tailored to your experience and preference; and there is flexibility to work part or full time (3-5 days per week).  The role is a hybrid role; working 1 day per week in our central office in Kidlington and home-based on other days.  The role may include occasional travel to RLT schools.

Previous experience as an HR practitioner in the Education sector is essential (ideally within a multi-academy trust), as is a proven track record of leading HR projects and up to date knowledge of employment law.

You will have a positive, enthusiastic outlook with the energy, drive and enthusiasm and determination to succeed, be proactive and not reactive and be good at building supportive and productive relationships with colleagues.

You will be passionate about working at River Learning Trust and excited by the opportunity to be involved with the projects outlined above.  We ask a lot of the people that work with us, and we offer a lot in return, including a real commitment to training and professional development for everyone that works with us.  

To find out more about our schools and for further information about the post please

visit our website www.riverlearningtrust.org 

If you have any questions or would like to chat about the role, please contact our HR Director, Sarah Separovic at sseparovic@riverlearningtrust.org

At River Learning Trust; our collective vision is to be a Trust where pupils and staff thrive in schools which demonstrate:

•all-round education, academic success, lifelong learning and strength of character

•sustainable continuous improvement; no school standing still

•all schools being good and outstanding, or improving rapidly

•collaboration that is raising standards, and reducing workload

• where pupils, staff, parents and communities value all we do to support the best possible outcomes and experiences for our children and young people

This role does not include regulated activity relevant to children. 

Closing date: Thursday 1st December

Shortlisting date: Friday 2nd December (or earlier 

Interview date: Tuesday 6th December

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

The River Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism.  All staff must ensure that the highest priority is given to following the guidance and regulations to safeguard children and young people.  The River Learning Trust are required to conduct online searches about you as part of their shortlisting process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance in order to identify any incidents or concerns which are publicly available online.  By applying for this role, you acknowledge that such searches will be conducted as part of the shortlisting process. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced DBS check  Employment will also be conditional on the receipt of at least two acceptable references (one from current/latest employer) and evidence of the formal qualifications required for the role.The River Learning Trust is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from a range of backgrounds to represent diversity in line with our schools’ community. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children. You should contact the school if you are unsure if this role includes regulated activity relevant to children.

For all RLT Safer Recruitment Documentation candidates should click on the following link RLT Safer Recruitment Documents for Candidates 

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. Which means that when applying for certain jobs and activities certain spent convictions and cautions are ‘protected’, so they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account. For further guidance for applicants click on the this link List of offences that are not filtered

Our staff are expected to maintain high standards of ethics and behaviour, within and outside school, by not undermining fundamental British values including democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect, and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.

What benefits does the Trust offer to its employees?

• Annual pay increase for support staff (in line with grade boundaries) and for Teachers (subject to government framework and successful performance review)
• A Defined Benefit Pension Scheme with favourable terms for all employees

(Teachers Pension for Teachers; LGPS for Support Staff)

• Moving from the public sector? Those without a break in service can be reassured that RLT will recognise their continuous service.
• Employee centred and family friendly policies and practises that support you in and beyond your workplace.
• Offering flexible working wherever we can, in order to support the work life balance of our employees.
• Enhanced sick pay, maternity leave, paternity leave and parental leave.
• Competitive holiday entitlement for support staff (minimum 24 days rising to 32 day plus bank holidays  per annum - dependent on grade of role and length of service) 
• Cycle to work scheme
• Funded eye tests and glasses for DSE users (subject to T/Cs)