* Job type: Administration and Business Operations
* Contract: Permanent
* Work pattern: Full-time/ Part-time
* Salary: Grade 5 to Grade 7 dependent on experience
* Date posted: Friday 20 February 2026
* Closing date for applications: Monday 9 March 2026
* Employer: Cumbria Education Trust
HR & Payroll Assistant
Start Date: As soon as possible
Positions Available: 1
Location: Cumbria Education Trust (based out of Yewdale Primary School)
Hours: Flexible – full time or part time considered
Contract: Permanent
Join Us and Grow Your HR Career
Cumbria Education Trust (CET) is seeking a motivated, people focused HR & Payroll Assistant to join our central HR team. This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to develop their HR career within a collaborative, supportive and forward thinking Trust.
Whether you already have HR and payroll experience or are still growing your skills, we want to hear from you. We welcome applications from candidates with a range of backgrounds and experience levels. Hours and working patterns can be flexed to suit the right candidate, and salary will be matched to your skills and experience.
What You’ll Be Doing
You will play a key role in delivering a proactive and responsive HR service across our academies, supporting colleagues with:
* Day to day HR and payroll queries
* Accurate and timely processing of payroll data (new starters, leavers, changes, calculations)
* Maintaining and updating employee records and HR systems
* Recruitment administration across the full process
* Supporting school administrators with HR and payroll tasks
* Providing data, reports and information to support HR decision making
* Contributing to the development and roll out of HR systems and processes
This is a varied, interesting position where no two days are the same.
We recognise that the best people don’t always fit into standard working patterns. Part time, school hours, compressed hours and flexible start/finish times can all be discussed.
✔ Salary matched to your experience
We will appoint on Grade 5–7 depending on your skills, experience and qualifications.
✔ Commitment to your growth and development
We actively support and encourage:
* CIPD qualifications
* Specialist HR/payroll training
* On the job coaching and mentoring
* Opportunities to take part in Trust wide HR projects
* Regular CPD and learning opportunities
✔ A positive, supportive team culture
You’ll join a forward thinking HR team who work together with the aim of delivering high quality support to our schools.
What We’re Looking For
You’ll bring:
* Experience of HR or payroll administration (or the motivation and potential to learn quickly)
* Strong organisational skills and attention to detail
* Excellent communication and customer focused approach
* Ability to work under pressure and prioritise effectively
* Confidence with IT systems and Microsoft Office
* A commitment to confidentiality, accuracy and high quality service
* Experience in the education sector is helpful but not essential.
Safeguarding
Cumbria Education Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Enhanced DBS disclosure and Barred List checks are required for this post. In line with Keeping Children Safe in Education, online searches are carried out on successful candidates.
Apply Today
If you’re looking for a varied HR role with flexibility, development opportunities and a supportive team, we’d love to hear from you.
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