Human Resources Advisor

The Dean Close Foundation consists of four well regarded Independent schools and five nurseries in Cheltenham, Chepstow, Gloucester and Newport.

We are looking for a Human Resources Advisor to join our team and be the first point of contact for managers with Employee relation issues, including performance management, grievances, mediation, consultation process, disciplinary meetings and restructures. The HR Advisor must also have experience of empowering line managers and increasing engagement with the HR team.

The Human Resources Advisor who joins our team must have exceptional Employee Relations skills and experience. The successful candidate will be efficient, well organised, an excellent communicator and capable of dealing with a variety of tasks, often under pressure of time. Attention to detail, flexibility and absolute discretion are essential. This role will suit a pragmatic individual who enjoys finding a solution to complex problems and who is self motivated and enjoys autonomy.

We are a very busy department, so you will have to multitask and prioritise your workload with great skill. Above all else, a positive attitude and motivation to perform well in this role is essential. 

The HR Department is based in Cheltenham and consists of an HR Director, Learning and Development Manager, HR Administrative Team Leader and three HR Administrators. The HR Director reports into the CEO/Warden.

Main Duties

The HR Advisor reports to the HR Director and will deal regularly with senior line managers and staff across The Foundation and will be required travel occasionally to other Foundation sites. In particular, the post-holder is required to be present at Dean Close St. John’s on the Hill, Chepstow once a month during School term time.

Employee Relations

The post-holder will be required to provide advice and guidance regarding employee relations matters and policy interpretation to senior leaders. This will include providing advice regarding conduct, capability, re-organisation, grievances and disciplinaries. The post-holder must have the ability to confidently advise senior managers quickly and accurately regarding the whole suite of employee relations matters.

The HR Advisor will provide representation, coaching and counsel for managers who are initiating or involved in an employee relations process and will ensure that decisions made are consistent with best practice and policy.

Assist with the appraisal process for all managers, coaching line managers, planning induction activities and overseeing staff benefits.

The HR Advisor will support the HR Director to draft new policy, templates and guidance documents for managers.

Person Specification

Essential:

• Resilient, able to manage competing priorities, pragmatic and proactive

• A positive attitude and friendly collaborative approach

• The ability to remain calm under pressure

• Solid experience as an HR/ER generalist with excellent knowledge of best HR practice

• Excellent people skills – an excellent communicator, influencer and relationship builder who can gain trust quickly.

• Proven organisational skills

• A significant level of IT literacy is required with knowledge of HR Databases

• Able to work with the minimum of supervision

• Attention to detail is essential

• Ability to interact positively with all levels of staff within the Foundation

• A ‘can-do’ attitude and willingness to be flexible when required

• Used to working to extremely tight deadlines

• An ability to uphold the standards of the School and to be a positive example to other staff

• Strong Employee relations skills and experience and the desire to continue to develop those skills

• CIPD level 5 qualified as a minimum

Terms and Conditions:

• This role is full time 37.5 hours per week, 52 weeks per year

• Holiday entitlement is 25 days per annum and Bank Holidays, (3-4 days must be retained for the close down period between Christmas and New Year when the Schools close. 

• Salary will be circa £25,000 per annum and this will depend on the skills and experience of the successful candidate. 

• Lunch is offered free of charge during term time.

• Onsite parking, swimming and gym facilities available for employee use.

• Discounted Bacon Theatre tickets

After the statutory probationary period, staff can join the Dean Close Staff Pension Scheme

All staff are expected to 

• Work towards and support the Dean Close Foundation vision and ethos. 

• Support and contribute to the Foundation’s responsibility for safeguarding pupils. 

• Work within the Foundation’s health and safety policy to ensure a safe working environment for staff, students and visitors. 

• Promote equality of opportunity for all students and staff, both current and prospective. 

• Undertake any other reasonable duties required that are related to the job purpose from time to time.

The post holder may be required to perform duties other than those given in the job description for the post from time to time. The particular duties and responsibilities attached to posts may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or the level of responsibility entailed. 

How to Apply

Please use TES Quick Apply. Any queries regarding the role should be submitted to recruitment@deanclose.org.uk

The Dean Close Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the Disclosure and Barring Service.