HR Business Partner

THE DEAN TRUST CENTRAL
C/O ASHTON ON MERSEY SCHOOL
Cecil Avenue
Sale
M33 5BP
Telephone: 0161 973 1179
Website: https://thedeantrust.co.uk/

HR BUSINESS PARTNER - Start Date: As soon as possible
Band 8 Scale Points 30-32
£40,777 - £42,839 per annum (FTE)
Full time, all year round, 36.25 hours per week, Monday-Friday
Contract: 1 x Permanent
1 x Fixed Term Contract for 1 year (Maternity Cover from 1 October 2026)
Location: Office-based at Ashton on Mersey School with regular travel between all current and future Trust sites.

Join Our People Team
The Dean Trust is seeking an experienced and proactive HR Business Partner to play a key role in providing and professional HR support to school leaders and senior stakeholders across the Trust.

The HR Business Partner will support the Senior HR Business Partner with leading on complex employee relations and supporting organisational change and workforce planning.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled HR professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is passionate about promoting a positive and consistent experience for all employees across the Trust.

About the Role
As HR Business Partner, you will:
Provide expert advice and hands-on support for complex or high risk casework, ensuring consistency and compliance with policy and legislation
Support headteachers and senior leaders to understand HR challenges and co-create workable, forward-looking solutions aligned to the Trust’s People Strategy
Advise and support schools with employee relations matters, including disciplinary, grievance, performance management and absence, ensuring consistency, fairness and compliance with employment law across all Trust schools
Partner with the Senior HR Business Partner and Chief People Officer to drive delivery of the People Strategy, actively contributing to Trust-wide HR initiatives and continuous improvement

You will be part of a wider HR team who are distributed across different sites across the Trust and regular travel between all Trust sites will be a prerequisite of the role

About You
We are looking for someone who has:
CIPD Level 5 qualification (or equivalent).
Significant experience in a HR generalist role
Strong knowledge of employment law, recruitment, payroll processes and HR systems.
Experience of working in HR within an educational environment
Experience of working with Trade Union representatives

Why Join The Dean Trust?
The Dean Trust is an educational charity established in April 2012, that currently comprises of 11 academies, 6 secondary, 4 primaries and 1 through school, operating in 3 hubs covering Trafford, Manchester, Knowsley and Wigan local authority areas, including some of the most deprived areas of the country. The Trust has seen steady growth since incorporation and aspires to grow further in the future.

At The Dean Trust, our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to creating a positive and supportive working environment where colleagues can thrive professionally and personally. You'll join a collaborative team dedicated to delivering excellent outcomes for our schools, staff and students.

To apply for this vacancy please visit our recruitment page careers.thedeantrust.co.uk.

If you have any questions about the role please contact us on 0161 973 1179 or email katiehurst@thedeantrust.co.uk

Thank you again for your interest in working for The Dean Trust. We look forward to hearing from you.

We are an Equal Opportunities employer committed to ensuring inclusion, diversity and equality of opportunity. We welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates including those from underrepresented groups, and/or with protected characteristics.
The Dean Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All post holders are subject to pre-employment safeguarding checks, including an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check.

Application Closing Date - Monday 27 July 2026 at 8.00 am
Interview Date - Wednesday 29 July 2026