Full job description?
WORKING WITH USThe 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.
To discover more about our culture, ethos and what it is like to work here, visit the page.


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ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITYAt Harris Federation, we are committed to excellence in everything we do. As we continue to modernise and strengthen our HR function, we are looking for an exceptional Head of HR Operations to lead improvement across our network and help shape the future of HR at Harris.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR professional who thrives on challenge, enjoys solving complex problems and is motivated by the opportunity to make a lasting impact. You’ll play a pivotal role in ensuring our HR operations are efficient, effective and fit for the future, supporting nearly 60 academies and the colleagues who work within them.
As Head of HR Operations, you will lead the delivery of high-quality HR services while driving continuous improvement across key processes and systems. From embedding HR administration within our ERP platform and improving data quality, to strengthening relationships with external providers and enhancing the reporting relied upon by our academies, you will identify opportunities, deliver practical solutions and raise standards across the function.
Alongside this operational leadership, you will help define what a modern HR service looks like at Harris. Working closely with senior leaders and HR colleagues across the Federation, you will contribute to the development of a proactive, high-performing HR function that delivers excellent service, supports organisational priorities and enables operational excellence.
We are looking for a strong people leader with deep technical HR expertise and experience of working within large, complex organisations. You will be equally comfortable managing operational detail, leading change and building strong relationships with stakeholders at every level. Most importantly, you will bring the energy, resilience and commitment needed to drive improvement and deliver results.
If you are passionate about creating better ways of working, developing high-performing teams and delivering exceptional HR services that support our mission of transforming lives through education, we would be delighted to hear from you.


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MAIN AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITYYour responsibilities will include:
HR Leadership and Strategy
*Build Harris Federation’s ability to make timely, data-led people decisions through accurate production and interpretation of people data.
*Develop line managers’ HR capability, and ensure HR strategies, policies and processes align with the Federation’s wider strategic objectives.
*Lead the central HR operations team and provide direction to academy-based HR Officers and Primary Office Managers, embedding a culture of continuous improvement and excellence.
*Bring fresh thinking and innovation to HR practice across the organisation.
*Collaborate with senior stakeholders to identify HR operational needs and trends, responding quickly with effective solutions.
*Act as the link between HR and other departments, ensuring alignment on HR-related matters.
Payroll, Systems and Compliance
*Oversee the payroll function, ensuring pay is accurate and timely, with continuous month-on-month improvement.
*Fully embed Oracle across the HR network, identifying opportunities for improved business processes and reduced manual input.
Service, Data and Reporting
*Oversee day-to-day HR operations, ensuring seamless processes and high-quality service delivery to all internal stakeholders.
*Manage and improve the reports produced for academies (e.g. sickness absence), underpinned by strong data quality.
Team Development
*Working closely with HRBPs and our talent team, manage training and induction provision for HR across academies, and work with colleagues to create clearer development paths for HR Officers to become fully fledged and self-sufficient in role.
*Mentor and coach HR team members, including academy-based HR Officers, supporting their professional growth.
Change and Culture
*Lead HR change initiatives with clear, transparent communication across the organisation.
For a full list of responsibilities, please download the Job Pack.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FORWe would like to hear from you if you have:
*A Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
*HR experience ideally at senior level with a compliance and operational focus, with experience in a people leadership role.
*Proven track ...