HR Administrator

Working as part of our People Services Function, we are looking for an HR Administrator to deliver a high quality and professional transactional HR service.  This is a varied role providing ongoing support to the Head of HR and the HR Business Partners with HR projects, payroll, benefits, absence reporting, probation and performance management.  You will be key in providing effective administrative support to the HR Team,  Head office staff and as the first point of contact for HR colleagues in each academy on HR matters, you will have the ability to consistently deliver a high  level service in a timely manner.  

We are looking for candidates who can demonstrate strong administrative skills and experience. Attention to detail, excellent organisational skills, a keen interest in HR and passionate about providing an excellent service to our employees will be key. Applicants should be able to maintain confidentiality, possess excellent communication skills and the ability to develop and maintain professional relationships at all levels within the Federation, as well as with external customers. You will be joining an experienced, friendly and collaborative team who will foster your professional development.

We offer flexible working in the form of "Core Hours", potential for hybrid working and a competitive benefits package.

About Us

The Harris Federation is a leading large multi-academy trust in England for primary and secondary education.  Our Harris primary and secondary academies across London and Essex are making a  significant difference to the life chances of young people and our mission is to ensure that every student in a Harris Academy receives an outstanding education.  With 51 academies in and around London, over 4,000 staff and 38,000 students, we are a successful and thriving organisation.  Our people are at the heart of our success.

Main Areas of Responsibility

Reporting to the Head of HR, you will be responsible for supporting the HR Team with a wider range of employee lifecycle activities.  Specific areas of responsibility will include:

Supporting HR Team and Strategy

• Creating and maintaining standard letters, reporting templates and guidance documentation. 
• Responsible for the administration and promotion of the Federation’s employee benefits; updating all communication relating to benefits, producing and updating reports etc. 
• Submitting payment forms to external payroll provider ensuring full authorisation is obtained and accurate internal records are maintained. 
• Providing administrative support to the Head of HR and HRBPs on activities; for example, restructure programmes, employee relations cases, employment tribunal activities and TUPE. 

HR Administration for Head Office

• In conjunction with the HR Advisors, coordinating termly new starter induction sessions. 
• Producing and updating employee personnel files for Head Office staff
• Liaising with line managers with regards to probationary start and end dates and maintaining the probation monitoring process for Head Office staff. 
• Drafting and issuing letters to employees; resignation acknowledgement, contract extensions, notification of end of contracts, variation of terms etc. 
• Supporting the performance management cycle and associated documentation. 
• Responsible for updating and maintaining the employee absence records; sickness absence, annual leave, maternity leave etc.
• Assisting with the administration associated with the ongoing or repeat employment checks for Head Office staff; right to work documentation and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, as and when required.
• Maintaining and updating employee sponsorship files. 

Academy HR Support 

• To be the first point of contact for HR queries and contract requests, liaising with Academies, internal and external providers and escalating as appropriate to the Head of HR, HR Business Partners or HR Advisors 
• Evaluating Job Descriptions using the Greater London Provincial Council Job Evaluation Scheme.

Qualifications & Experience

We are looking for someone with a keen interest in HR and employment law with robust experience in a busy administrative role.   You will have strong attention to detail and ability to work accurately and independently. 

You will have the confidence and ability to develop and maintain professional relationships at all levels within the Federation, as well as with external customers using your excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills, in particular an excellent phone manner.

Next Steps

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please contact by an email to arrange a conversation with the Director.

Before applying, please download the Job Pack for full details on the job responsibilities and person specification. You will need this when completing your application.

Please note: we may hold interviews as and when applications are received and we reserve the right to offer to a candidate prior to the closing date. We only accept applications submitted online via our careers website and which are completed before the closing deadline. With this in mind, we encourage you to apply as soon as possible and advise you check the job information as per the listing on our careers site.

Rewards & Benefits

Our people are at the heart of our success. We have developed a strong culture of collaboration and best practice, with professional development and career planning at its centre. We invest in our staff with support, coaching, mentoring, and a wide range of top-quality training programmes delivered at every level to senior leadership.

We look for talented individuals who share our vision for creating exceptional places of learning, and are committed to ensuring that every child in London has access to the best possible education.

In addition to the opportunities for career progression, training and development, we also offer a competitive rewards and benefits package which includes our Harris Allowance, a Performance and Loyalty Bonus, Pension Scheme, a Wellbeing Cash Plan and many other benefits.

We also operate a flexible hybrid working policy, details of which can be discussed at interview.

Safeguarding Notice

The Harris Federation and all our academies are committed to ensuring the highest levels of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, and we expect all our staff and volunteers to share in this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to an Enhanced DBS check, references, and where applicable, a prohibition from teaching check will be completed for all applicants. Before applying, please review our Policy Statement on the Recruitment of Ex-Offenders.

Equal Opportunities

The Harris Federation is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates.

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.