Pontefract Academies Trust
HR Advisor
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HR Advisor
HR Advisor – Employee Relations (Full-Time)
Salary: £35,412.00 – £38,220.00 FTE per annum Type: Full Time Contract: Permanent Closing Date: 13/07/2026 (12:00) Interview Date: 16 July 2026 Start Date: 1 September 2026
About the Role
Joining our Trust as a HR Advisor, you will serve as the designated HR contact for employee relations, supporting our nine schools (seven primary and two secondary) and ensuring equitable, fair, and people-centred operations.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading end-to-end support for a wide range of employee relations matters:
- Disciplinary cases
- Grievance procedures
- Attendance management
- Probation and capability assessments
- Working closely with Head of People, People Business Partners, and the central People Team to enforce HR policies, legal compliance, and supportive decision-making.
- Assisting school leaders in managing challenging situations with professionalism, empathy, and practical guidance.
- Contributing to broader HR operations, including recruitment support, onboarding, payroll coordination, and administrative HR tasks.
About You
We seek a confident, adaptable HR generalist with a passion for people-centric problem-solving. Ideally, you will bring experience from an education or high-complexity environment and meet the following criteria:
- First-line HR and ER advisory experience: Ability to offer direct guidance to managers on tricky employee issues.
- Full-cycle support: Comfortable handling complex cases from start to finish while maintaining objectivity.
- Employment law fluency: Strong understanding of regulations, with a pragmatic approach to reforms.
- Emotional intelligence: Communicates calmly, professionally, and compassionately even in high-pressure situations.
- Organisational agility: Manages competing priorities effectively while balancing long-term planning and immediate needs.
- Relationship-building: Attracts trust, fosters collaboration, and embraces a solutions-focused approach.
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Qualifications & Scope for Growth:
- Hold (or be progressing towards) CIPD Level 5 (or equivalent qualification).
- CIPD Level 7 and education sector experience are advantageous but not mandatory.
What You Can Expect From Us
- A warm, collaborative People Team focused on growth and shared learning.
- Meaningful impact – Your work directly enhances school environments for staff and pupils.
- Professional development backed by central HR support and robust training provision.
- A dynamic culture centred on continuous improvement.
We promise a seamless introduction, where every new colleague feels valued and productivity from the outset.
Contract Details
- 37 hours per week, year-round (Monday-Friday, 08:00–16:00).
- Some travel to Birmingham required for casework.
- Permanent status with structured career progression.
Virtual Coffee Chats
Opportunity to meet Claire Kitchen (People Partner) via virtual 1:1 sessions. Book a time here: [address removed for formatting]
About Pontefract Academies Trust
A multi-academy trust driving excellence across education in Pontefract. Nine schools (7 primary, 2 secondary) united to champion ** melhores outcomes**.
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Major Change Ahead: From September 2026, we merge with Ark Schools, creating a stronger network designed to:
- Boost support for both pupils and staff.
- Foster collaboration between teams.
- Open new leadership and development opportunities for staff.
What We Offer
Professional Development & Careers
- Outstanding CPD opportunities for career progression.
- Everyday Development (EDD) Framework:
- Personalised, flexible goal-setting for growth and well-being.
- Paid EDD days throughout the year for focused reflection.
Benefits
- Competitive pension (West Yorkshire Pension Fund – LGPS).
- Annual leave:
- 29 days (increasing incrementally to 32 days after 10 years’ service).
- 8 statutory bank holidays included.
- Family-friendly policies ensuring a balanced workload.
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Blue Light Employee Discount Card.
- Discounted Gym Membership & Free Eye Care via Specsavers.
- Childcare Vouchers & Wellbeing Programme.
- Retail Discounts (including 02).
- Free annual flu vaccinations.
Key Dates
- Application deadline: 12 noon on Monday, 13 July 2026.
- Interviews: Thursday, 16 July 2026.
- Start Date: Tuesday, 1 September 2026.
Contact Us
📞 01977 232146 |☕ recruitment@patrust.org.uk
Note: Requirements/ressounces remain adapted for all job roles with British spelling conventions.
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