Head of Human Resources

Head of Human Resources

Salary: Circa £68,000 – £80,000 per annum (dependent on experience)

Location: Ringwood (Central Office) with travel to Trust schools

Contract: Full time, Permanent, 52 weeks per year

At Southern Education Trust, our vision is simple – Making Lives Better.

We're a Trust of 11 schools bound by shared values: Kindness, Collaboration, and Creativity. These values don't just shape how we educate our pupils – they shape how we treat our people too.

We're now ready for the next chapter in our journey and are looking for a Head of HR who's ready to help us build something special.

This is a brand-new role – a blank page, waiting for the right person to write its story. An opportunity to create and shape the HR function from the ground up with efficiency, effectiveness and kindness. You'll lead the transition from our current outsourced model to an in-house service, with support from our existing consultant. You'll take the lead on developing a people strategy that reflects who we are and where we're going. You'll design the team, the systems, and set the tone for a HR culture that's kind, human, and quietly excellent in order to underpin the next phase of our growth.

You'll be trusted to lead, challenge, and turn ambition into action. One moment you'll be talking workforce planning and organisational design with senior leaders; the next, you'll be in a school corridor chatting to someone about how their first term's going.

About you:

You've got solid senior HR experience – maybe in education, maybe not, but what really sets you apart is your approach. You listen first, think deeply, and lead with empathy and kindness. You can see both the forest and the trees: strategic enough to plan for the future, grounded enough to handle what today throws at you.

You know that culture isn't a policy – it's how people treat each other when no one's watching. That's the kind of Trust we're building, and we'd love your help to shape it.

What we can offer you:

In return, you'll receive a competitive salary, a generous pension and sick pay scheme. Uniquely, you'll benefit from the support of our highly experienced external HR consultant, with the opportunity to develop and progress your role as the Trust evolves – because we're big believers in helping people grow, personally, professionally, and occasionally while juggling six things at once

You'll also be part of a supportive leadership team who will have your back through the good, the bad, and the "Did that really just happen?" moments.

If you're ready to build, lead, and make lives better – not just for our schools, but for every person who makes them thrive – we'd love to hear from you.

Become part of our journey, by completing our Leadership Application Form and returning it to .education if you would like to apply. See our Head of HR Job Description for further details on the role.

(Click apply to be taken to our website, where links to the application form and job description can be found)

Closing date: 11th January 2026

Interview date: 20th January 2026

The Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, this role involves directly working with children and significant contact with children, and therefore we expect all staff and volunteers to share the same commitment. Please ensure a full work history is completed in your application form including any gaps of employment. Applicants will be required to complete satisfactory enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check for this post prior to commencement. The Trust is an equal opportunities employer.

If successfully shortlisted the HR Department will also be conducting an individual online search including social media platforms of your 'name, education and employment', to demonstrate due diligence following 'Keeping Children Safe in Education' guidance. The search will not form part of the actual shortlisting process and any concerns arising from the search will be discussed directly with you.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £68,000.00-£80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Enhanced maternity leave
• Enhanced paternity leave
• Referral programme
• Sick pay

Work Location: On the road