Head of Employee Relations

About Us

The founder and sponsor of the Harris Federation, Lord Harris of Peckham, opened our first school in 1990. We have, over the past thirty years, implemented ideas and initiatives that have transformed the opportunities of pupils from working class and disadvantaged backgrounds. Harris academies are widely recognised as a force for social mobility. We are immensely proud of the role that our alumni are now beginning to play in the world and of what we believe our current generation of pupils will go on to achieve.

We now have over 50 schools educating more than 40,000 young people across London and Essex, and employ over 5,000 staff across our academies and head office. With the majority of our academies located in areas of high socioeconomic disadvantage, a high-quality education is key to the futures of the pupils we serve.

As a provider of employment and education, we value the diversity of our staff and students, and all our staff are equally valued and respected. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff.

Our work will impact many generations to come, and our staff come from all backgrounds and walks of life, coming together to inspire young minds. We promote an inclusive culture that embraces the valuable and enriching contribution that all of our community make. We continue to be proactive in uplifting and supporting all voices at Harris.

Main Areas of Responsibility

You will manage the central HR/ER team and drive pace and rigour through their caseload management, as well as managing senior employee cases, employee concerns and advising management on employment-related issues.

You will also ensure that all employee relations activities comply with public sector rules, regulations, and policies, while fostering a fair and transparent working environment for all employees.

A full list of responsibilities can be found in the Job Pack.

Qualifications & Experience

We would like to hear from you if you have:

• A Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Employee Relations, or a related field
• A Master’s degree or HR certification (e.g., SHRM-SCP, SPHR)
• A CIPD qualification to at least level 5
• At least seven years' experience in human resources and employee relations, preferably in the public sector or government agencies
• Familiarity with public sector employment laws, regulations, and practices
• A strong understanding of employment laws, regulations, and unionised work environments
• A demonstrated ability to resolve workplace conflicts and disputes in a fair, balanced, and objective manner
• Experience in conducting workplace investigations with a high degree of thoroughness, impartiality, and professionalism
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build strong relationships with employees, unions, and management
• The ability to assess situations, interpret collective bargaining agreements, and provide solutions that align with both legal requirements and Federation objectives
• Strong organisational skills, ensuring accuracy in documentation, reporting, and case management
• The ability to handle sensitive information with discretion at all times
• The ability to mediate disputes and negotiate solutions that balance employee and Federation interests
• Experience working with union representatives to resolve grievances and manage employee relations

For a full job description and person specification, please download the Job Pack.

Professional Development & Benefits

If you would like to discuss the opportunity further, or if you have any questions, please contact us via email to arrange a conversation.

Before applying please ensure you download the job pack from our careers website, this will help with completing your application. Please note that we only accept applications submitted online before the closing date.

When applying, you will have the option to import your CV or use a LinkedIn profile which will auto populate the online application.

A reminder to check your junk mail for our email communications and add us to your safe senders list to ensure all future email communication is received.