Human Resources Advisor – Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust
Location: Copthall House, 9 The Pavement, Grove Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 1DA
Working Pattern
Full time (Term Time plus 3 weeks, 42 working weeks), 8.45am – 4.30pm M – Th, 8.45am – 4.15pm F.
Contract
Fixed‑Term until the end of the Academic Year (Wednesday 22nd July 2026)
About Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust
OHC&AT is a family of specialist education providers for pupils and students from nursery to further education. We operate across academies and college centres in London, Surrey, Sussex and Berkshire. Supporting our academies and college, OHC&AT also operates learning support services such as nursing and therapy, and a central business support team which includes HR, finance and IT.
Key Responsibilities
* Provide first‑line HR support to schools and the central team across the Trust, offering generalist advice and guidance under the direction of HR Business Partners.
* Support employee relations processes, including drafting formal documentation, maintaining accurate meeting notes, and ensuring timely case management in line with HR policies.
* Administer HR systems and processes, ensuring accurate data entry on iTrent, maintaining personnel records, and supporting payroll, absence, and pay change procedures.
* Coordinate recruitment and onboarding checks, ensuring compliance with safer recruitment policies and advising on pre‑employment requirements such as DBS, references, and right‑to‑work.
* Promote HR service excellence, upholding confidentiality, safeguarding, equality, and wellbeing standards while maintaining up‑to‑date knowledge of employment terms and HR best practice.
Key Requirements
* Successful experience of working within Human Resources or an office environment providing customer services.
* Awareness of issues relating to people with learning difficulties and willingness to work alongside students who may communicate through challenging behaviour.
* Experience of maintaining both manual and computerised records.
* To possess or be willing to work towards CIPD level 5 qualification, or equivalent.
* Able to operate at an advisory level, advising and informing colleagues within the central team and school on policy, procedure and legislation relating to HR and tackling sensitive issues.
* Willingness to travel to sites across all OHC&AT locations on an ad‑hoc basis.
* To possess a current driving licence and to own a suitable vehicle.
Benefits
* Pathways for progression within the trust, ensuring you can grow and thrive in a supportive and inclusive environment.
* Pension Scheme – you will be enrolled in the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) offering life cover and financial protection for your family.
* Salary Sacrifice Schemes (Cycle Scheme and Home Electronics Scheme).
* Employee Wellbeing – We support employee wellbeing with access to counselling, mental health support, generous leave, flexible working, and enhanced parental leave including Employee Assistance Programme, MyGym Discounts, Corporate Eyecare Scheme.
* Employee Discounts (Blue Light Card, Costco Membership, Discounts for Teachers, and more).
* Other (Season Ticket Loan and Employee Referral Scheme).
Closing Date: 28th October 2025
Interviews will take place on: 4th November 2025
Safeguarding Statement
Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
Appointments made will be subject to an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020.
Orchard Hill College and Academy Trust is proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, committed to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace for all.
We are committed to promoting and advancing equality of opportunity by attracting and retaining the most diverse range of students, staff and partners.
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