HR Advisor Location: Manchester (travel to schools across Greater Manchester required) Contract Type: Full-time, Permanent Salary: Competitive, based on experience Reports to: Senior HR Consultant / Head of Education Services We are recruiting for a specialist consultancy providing HR support, guidance, and strategy to schools, academies, and trusts across the Greater Manchester region. Our mission is to help education providers create positive, compliant, and high-performing working environments through expert HR advice grounded in sector knowledge. As demand for our services grows, we are seeking a confident and experienced HR Advisor, ideally with local authority experience, who understands the unique challenges and structures of the education sector. Role Overview The HR Advisor will play a key role in delivering high-quality HR services to schools. You will provide both remote and on-site advice, supporting leaders, business managers, and governors with a wide range of HR matters. The role involves travel to schools across Manchester and surrounding areas, so confidence in working face-to-face with clients is essential. This role is perfect for someone who enjoys building relationships, problem-solving, and influencing good practice in a fast-paced and varied environment. Key Responsibilities Advisory & Casework Provide clear, timely, and practical HR advice in line with employment law, education sector guidance, and local authority policies. Manage complex employee relations casework including sickness absence, disciplinary matters, grievances, performance, and capability. Support schools through restructuring, redundancy processes, and organisational change. Advise on safer recruitment, pre-employment checks, and safeguarding-related HR considerations. Policy & Compliance Produce, review, and update HR policies tailored to the education sector. Ensure client schools are compliant with employment legislation, Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), and local authority frameworks. Support the implementation of HR best practice across schools and trusts. Training & Support Deliver training sessions and workshops to school leaders and staff (e.g., performance management, attendance, safer recruitment). Coach school management teams to build internal HR confidence and capability. Relationship Management Build strong, long-term relationships with headteachers, school business managers, governors, and trust leaders. Represent the consultancy professionally in all client interactions. Operational HR Support with HR documentation, templates, contracts, and reports. Assist with HR audits and workforce planning. Maintain accurate and confidential case management records. Person Specification Essential Experience Proven experience in an HR Advisor or similar role. Strong background in education or local authority HR (schools HR, children's services, or council HR team). Strong employee relations casework experience. Experience giving advice to managers at all levels. Confident working independently and in client-facing situations. Desirable Experience CIPD Level 5 or above (or working towards). Experience supporting multi-academy trusts. Experience delivering training or workshops. Skills & Attributes Sound understanding of UK employment law and HR best practice. Ability to interpret and apply school-specific policies and safer recruitment requirements. Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship-building skills. Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage a varied caseload. Calm, professional, and solution-focused. Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel across Greater Manchester. What We Offer Competitive salary and benefits. Professional development including CIPD support. Supportive team environment with sector specialists. Varied and meaningful work with schools that value our contribution. Opportunity to make a real difference in the education landscape.