Details HR Advisor - Schools & Academies - Nottingham/Manchester Vacancy type Specialist Level Mid Business area Business & Professional Risk Duration Permanent Hours Full Time Location Manchester, Nottingham Reference number HRA2 Job title HR Advisor- Schools & Academies Team HR Services - Education Vacancy owner Jonah Philpott At Browne Jacobson, we've always worked across business and society, and this expertise sets us apart. Social and environmental impact are at the top of our business agenda. We champion fairness, make the complex simple and forge connections between clients to find creative solutions. This is how we improve outcomes for every person, community and business we serve. With offices in Birmingham, Cardiff, Dublin, Exeter, London, Manchester and Nottingham, we're a UK & I based law firm with an international reach. Our sectors include: health; real estate and construction; education; energy and infrastructure; financial services; government; insurance; manufacturing and industrials; and retail, consumer and logistics. We nurture talent at all levels and from every background and celebrate what makes people individuals. Law needs all voices to reflect the society it serves and we're working towards social mobility, diversity and inclusion in our firm - and our profession. We strive to create meaningful personal and professional development opportunities and offer flexible working in support of a good work-life balance. We focus on wellbeing and individuality, so that all our people can thrive. We're a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who best meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role. We strive to create meaningful personal and professional development opportunities and offer flexible working in support of a good work-life balance. We focus on wellbeing and individuality, so that all our people can thrive. Why is this role important and how does it fit into the team, department and wider firm? Providing client focused comprehensive and pragmatic HR advice and support to schools and academies in line with their specific policies, procedures and legal requirements is a core component of our service to clients and a core component of this role. This role also supports the HR Consultants in the delivery of a high-quality HR service to education clients, including assisting with projects and complex casework. Our team of legal and HR specialists have a wealth of education knowledge and experience and come highly commended; consistently featured in Band One of the Legal 500 and Chambers UK listings. At the core of our approach is our objective to help our education clients do what is fundamentally right for their pupils and their organisation as a whole. To build excellent relationships with clients at all levels, striving to deliver pragmatic, sector orientated advice that is carefully aligned to client's interests and at the forefront of national best practice. To build excellent relationships with colleagues, relating well to people at all levels within the firm, building team spirit and showing a collegial commitment to ongoing development of the firm's services to the education sector. Objectives set are achieved, and new business generated promotes continued and sustainable growth for the firm. What does the role actually involve? To provide a solution focused HR advisory service to education clients including direct advice in relation to absence and health issues, conduct and capability, grievance matters, organisational change and the full range of employment and employee relations matters. Also advising on T&Cs and entitlements e.g. leave, maternity etc. To support the HR Consultants with complex casework, ensuring legislation, policy and best practice are followed and options and risks are clearly explained To assist in the production and maintenance of HR policies and procedures, ensuring legal compliance and in line with the ethos of the service HR administration in relation to drafting letters and other documentation, proof reading and undertaking research as required To support the HR Consultants in the provision of a day-to-day Human Resources telephone and email service; including telephone cover during periods when consultants are out of the office Attend client sites and conferences/events as required and positively represent the firm, this can involve travel in around the Midlands as well as other locations across the UK Take notes at meetings/hearings in schools as required and on occasion advise panels at hearings Lead on small investigations with supervision from the wider team of HR consultants and employment lawyers Assist in developing new business as required by explaining the scope and cost of the service to schools and academies To be responsible for your own continued CPD through relevant research, reading and other activities Job description View Job description Person specification What technical skills are required for someone to be successful and enjoy the role? An excellent knowledge of employment law and employee relations, the practical application of it and the impact this can have within a business including an understanding of first principles and relevant statutory provisions An understanding of the basis on which HR policies are designed and operated An understanding of contracts of employment Knowledge and experience of a broad range of employee relations issues An understanding of the role of trade unions An understanding of HR best practice At least a basic understanding of current HR issues facing the education sector Who would be a good fit for this role? As part of the HR Services (Education) team, you would be expected to have the following skills and experience: Must have completed the employment law module and be at least working towards Member status of CIPD Experience in the education sector is desirable but more importantly you will have experience of providing employment relations advice in an environment with a range of terms & conditions and policies Must be able to demonstrate experience of exceptional client service. Experience could include service to internal clients and stakeholders Exposure to a wide range of generalist HR issues Experience of drafting letters, reports and correspondence to a high standard is essential and you must be able to demonstrate an eye for detail Excellent interpersonal, influencing and persuasion skills Excellent time and project management skills - ensuring deadlines are met and expectations are managed Self-starting approach to seeking opportunities Clear and professional verbal and written skills including drafting letters, reports and policies in a professional manner and in line with the firm's style and brand IT literate and proficient in the use of MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and email; with the ability to operate in house IT systems If external support is required on a vacancy, a member of the Browne Jacobson recruitment team will release the role to one of our agency partners. We ask that recruitment agencies do not send CVs unless instructed on the role. Please note that any speculative CVs submitted via agencies without invitation will not be considered as represented by the agency. Apply