Location: Cambridge area
Salary: £40,000 to £45,000 per annum, depending on qualifications and experience
Hours: Monday to Friday, 40 hours per week, 8:00am to 4:00pm, 52 weeks per year
Start Date: November 2026

We are recruiting for an experienced HR Manager to join a specialist education setting supporting children and young people aged 5 to 19.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HR professional looking for a varied and rewarding role where you can make a genuine impact. Working closely with the Headteacher and Senior Leadership Team, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day management of HR across two sites, ensuring that effective, compliant and people-focused HR practices are embedded throughout the organisation.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide proactive day-to-day HR management and advice across two sites.
• Manage HR systems, processes and employee records.
• Support recruitment, appraisal, disciplinary and grievance processes.
• Lead absence management, including sickness reviews, occupational health referrals and return-to-work processes.
• Oversee safer recruitment and ensure recruitment practices comply with Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE) requirements.
• Manage employee relations matters, including investigations, disciplinaries and grievances.
• Oversee staff induction, probation and performance management processes.
• Manage maternity, paternity, adoption and parental leave.
• Monitor staff turnover and conduct exit interviews where required.
• Support staff learning, development and training.
• Lead and support initiatives focused on staff wellbeing and morale.
• Provide regular HR updates and advice to the Senior Leadership Team.
• Line manage the HR Administrator, delegating work and supporting high levels of performance.

About You

We are looking for someone who can operate confidently at a senior HR level and provide practical, professional advice within a busy and varied environment.

Essential requirements include:

• Level 5 CIPD qualification in HRM or HRD.
• Associate CIPD or MCIPD membership.
• 5 GCSEs or equivalent, including passes in Maths and English.
• Strong knowledge of HR best practice and relevant employment legislation.
• Experience managing an HR department and team.
• Experience developing and managing HR strategies, policies, staff handbooks and training plans.
• Strong experience of performance management and dispute resolution.
• Understanding of legislation and best practice relating to safeguarding vulnerable groups.
• Ability to interpret data and produce meaningful reports.
• Ability to handle confidential and sensitive information appropriately.
• A positive, flexible and proactive approach.
• Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to join a supportive specialist education environment where staff work collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes for children and young people.

The setting offers small, personalised classes and a high staff-to-student ratio, with education, care and therapeutic support working together. Staff feedback within the recruitment information particularly highlights the supportive culture, close-knit teams and sense of pride and achievement that comes from working with the young people.

If you are an experienced HR professional who enjoys combining strategic oversight with hands-on employee relations and operational HR, we would love to hear from you.