HR Business Partner

We are seeking an experienced, confident, and proactive HR Business Partner to join our People Team on a maternity cover fixed-term contract, supporting a cluster of academies within our 31-school Trust.

We welcome applications from candidates interested in term-time working.

This is a rewarding role for a strong HR practitioner who thrives in a fast-paced, unionised environment and enjoys working closely with senior leaders to shape and deliver effective people solutions.

As HR Business Partner, reporting into the HR Director, you will work in true partnership with Trust Leaders, Headteachers, School Leaders, and HR colleagues to develop and deliver HR plans aligned to our organisational and People strategies. You will provide a first-class, pragmatic HR service, supporting leaders across the full employee lifecycle and acting as a trusted advisor on complex people matters, including:

• Employee relations investigations and case management
• TUPE processes and organisational restructures
• Grievance and disciplinary hearings
• Coaching and advising leaders through change

You will bring:

• Proven experience as an HR Business Partner or in a senior HR advisory role
• Strong generalist HR knowledge with confidence handling complex ER matters
• Experience working in a unionised environment (education sector experience desirable)
• Excellent stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to challenge and influence at senior level
• The ability to manage conflicting priorities across multiple sites while remaining professional and solutions-focused

At Shaw Education Trust, we believe every role has the power to transform a life. Whether you’re supporting behind the scenes, inspiring in the classroom, or leading with vision, you will be part of something truly meaningful.

Our values—opportunity, integrity, community, and equity—guide everything we do. Our vision is “Opening doors to the world through the power of learning.” We bring this to life through our mission: working together to inspire communities where every school is valued, every voice matters, and every learner thrives.

We are a dynamic and growing family of primary, secondary, and special schools, proudly serving communities from Birmingham to Bury.

Our people are our greatest asset, and we are deeply committed to their development through high-quality training, apprenticeships, talent development programmes, and research opportunities, we empower our staff to thrive as skilled, confident professionals. We champion wellbeing, value every voice, and foster a culture where you feel supported, motivated, and inspired to make a real difference.

You will join a collaborative network of schools where shared expertise and a strong professional community drive success. Every academy within our Trust has an equal voice, and every colleague plays a vital role in shaping tailored learning experiences that raise aspirations and build brighter futures.

If you have the passion, dedication, and drive to help shape lives and create futures filled with promise, we would love you to join our team.

Together, let’s make the remarkable happen.

We believe every child has the potential to be extraordinary.

Working hours: 37 hours a week, full time, all year

Contract type: 12 months FTC

Start date: ASAP

Location: This is a hybrid role, combining remote working with travel as required to a cluster of academies within North Midlands to Cheshire and Head Office in Kidsgrove for training and team meetings