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Head of HR Operations, HARRIS FEDERATION
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WORKING WITH US
The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.
We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.
As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.
Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.
To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the Why Work For Us page.
About This Opportunity
At Harris Federation, we are committed to excellence in everything we do. As we continue to modernise and strengthen our HR function, we are looking for an exceptional Head of HR Operations to lead improvement across our network and help shape the future of HR at Harris.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR professional who thrives on challenge, enjoys solving complex problems and is motivated by the opportunity to make a lasting impact. You'll play a pivotal role in ensuring our HR operations are efficient, effective and fit for the future, supporting nearly 60 academies and the colleagues who work within them.
As Head of HR Operations, you will lead the delivery of high-quality HR services while driving continuous improvement across key processes and systems. From embedding HR administration within our ERP platform and improving data quality, to strengthening relationships with external providers and enhancing the reporting relied upon by our academies, you will identify opportunities, deliver practical solutions and raise standards across the function.
Alongside this operational leadership, you will help define what a modern HR service looks like at Harris. Working closely with senior leaders and HR colleagues across the Federation, you will contribute to the development of a proactive, high-performing HR function that delivers excellent service, supports organisational priorities and enables operational excellence.
We are looking for a strong people leader with deep technical HR expertise and experience of working within large, complex organisations. You will be equally comfortable managing operational detail, leading change and building strong relationships with stakeholders at every level. Most importantly, you will bring the energy, resilience and commitment needed to drive improvement and deliver results.
If you are passionate about creating better ways of working, developing high-performing teams and delivering exceptional HR services that support our mission of transforming lives through education, we would be delighted to hear from you.
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MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Your Responsibilities Will Include
HR Leadership and Strategy
- Build Harris Federation's ability to make timely, data-led people decisions through accurate production and interpretation of people data.
- Develop line managers' HR capability, and ensure HR strategies, policies and processes align with the Federation's wider strategic objectives.
- Lead the central HR operations team and provide direction to academy-based HR Officers and Primary Office Managers, embedding a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
- Bring fresh thinking and innovation to HR practice across the organisation.
- Collaborate with senior stakeholders to identify HR operational needs and trends, responding quickly with effective solutions.
- Act as the link between HR and other departments, ensuring alignment on HR-related matters.
Payroll, Systems and Compliance
- Oversee the payroll function, ensuring pay is accurate and timely, with continuous month-on-month improvement.
- Fully embed Oracle across the HR network, identifying opportunities for improved business processes and reduced manual input.
Service, Data and Reporting
- Oversee day-to-day HR operations, ensuring seamless processes and high-quality service delivery to all internal stakeholders.
- Manage and improve the reports produced for academies (e.g. sickness absence), underpinned by strong data quality.
Team Development
- Working closely with HRBPs and our talent team, manage training and induction provision for HR across academies, and work with colleagues to create clearer development paths for HR Officers to become fully fledged and self-sufficient in role.
- Mentor and coach HR team members, including academy-based HR Officers, supporting their professional growth.
Change and Culture
- Lead HR change initiatives with clear, transparent communication across the organisation.
For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.
What We Are Looking For
We would like to hear from you if you have:
- A Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
- HR experience ideally at senior level with a compliance and operational focus, with experience in a people leadership role.
- Proven track record of implementing operational improvements and driving change in a fast-paced environment.
- Developing and maximising HR systems to better meet the needs of the department and wider organisation through continuous improvement.
- Experience of developing contracts and other documentation to ensure they are compliant with legal requirements.
- Strong knowledge of HR processes, employment law, and best practices.
- Confident with management of HR and People data across a complex organisation.
- Familiar with operating with an integrated/complex HR and Payroll system.
For a full job specification, please download the Job Pack.
APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION
If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.
Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.
When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.
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OUR VISION & VALUES
Our vision, from the start, has been to provide the structure and services needed for our schools to amount to more than the sum of their parts, and to free-up our teachers and leaders to focus on one thing and one thing only: the outstanding education of all their pupils. Our young people and communities are at the heart of everything we do. Our core mission has always been to close the educational gap between young people from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Our ambition is one where every child in London, no matter their background, has equal access to high quality education, giving them the same opportunities and potential to succeed.
We know there are many challenges facing our young people and the communities we serve, and that’s why we need determined people like you to help us tackle those inequalities. Whilst each of our academies has their own unique cultures and values; as a whole Federation, we have four core values which are central to successfully achieving our vision: Excellence, Collaboration, Support, and Innovation. We are proud of our values because they guide us in how we work allowing us to achieve the best possible outcomes for our young people, communities, and colleagues.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Safeguarding Notice
The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, references, an online search, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed.
Equal Opportunities
The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates. We value the diversity of our staff and students, and everyone at the Harris Federation is equally valued and respected. We aim to be an inclusive employer that reflects the communities we serve. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment.
What We Can Offer You
Harris has a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level.
You will also have access to a variety of benefits, support programmes and initiatives including:
- Excellent opportunities for continuous professional development and career progression
- Annual performance and loyalty bonus
- Pension scheme (Teachers' Pension Scheme or Local Government Pension Scheme) with generous employer contribution
- 26 days' annual leave (inclusive of our Christmas Eve closure day) plus bank holidays, rising to 27 days after 2 years' service, or equivalent for staff on term time contracts
- Harris Wellbeing Cash Plan including cover for routine and specialist healthcare
- Employee Assistance Programme for free and confidential advice
- Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme
- Wide range of shopping, leisure, and travel discounts
- 20% off at Tapi Carpets, exclusive to Harris employees
- Interest-free ICT and season ticket loans
For most non-teaching staff based at our Head Office in Croydon, we also offer lifestyle friendly working arrangements including flexible start and end times, and hybrid working with two days from home and three days on site.
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