Please apply for this position via our Trust website: www.theyestrust.org/vacancies/
About us
The Youth Engagement Schools Trust (YES Trust) is on an exciting and ambitious journey of growth and transformation, and we are seeking an outstanding Senior People Business Partner to join our team.
As a growing specialist MAT, The YES Trust brings together a diverse family of alternative provision, SEMH, and specialist settings, united by a shared commitment to transforming the lives of children and vulnerable young people. Our schools are home to highly skilled professionals with expertise in trauma-informed practice, relational approaches, SEND, behaviour support, inclusion, and personalised learning. As a Senior People Business Partner, you will be instrumental in helping us attract exceptional talent who share our values, nurture their development, create conditions for them to thrive, and retain the specialist expertise that enables our children, colleagues, and communities to flourish.
We believe that every young person deserves the chance to succeed, regardless of their starting point or the challenges they face. Through exceptional teaching, outstanding pastoral care, and an unwavering commitment to inclusion, we are transforming lives and creating brighter futures for some of the region's most vulnerable learners. We know that to achieve this mission, our greatest asset is our people.
As we continue to expand our national footprint, we are shaping our regional hub model that brings together schools with shared expertise, strong local partnerships, and a collective ambition to transform lives. Our expert central leadership team will work alongside school and hub leaders, creating the capacity, capability, and strategic support that enables them to focus on what matters most – delivering exceptional education. You will be at the heart of this journey, influencing workforce strategy, developing outstanding leaders, and fostering inclusive, high-performing cultures where colleagues can grow, innovate, and excel.
While aligned to a regional hub, your influence will extend far beyond it. As a senior member of the People Team, you will help to shape Trust-wide strategy, lead cross-organisational initiatives, and deputise for the Director of People. This is a role for someone who wants to make an impact – not only on the colleagues and leaders they support directly, but on success of the Trust as a whole. By helping to build and shape an exceptional workforce, you will play a vital part in ensuring every child and young person has access to the specialist education and future opportunities that they deserve.
Job Description
Salary: Leadership scale L4 – L10
Holiday: 32 days + bank holidays
Location: Flexible across The YES Trust North-West Region. Regular travel to schools and working from home
Contract: Full Time | Permanent / Flexible working available
About the Role
As Senior People Business Partner, you will be a trusted advisor to Headteachers and senior leaders, supporting them to navigate complex people challenges while delivering innovative solutions that enable schools to thrive.
Working in partnership with the Director of People, you will support the delivery of the Trust's People Strategy, Trust and hub-wide development priorities, and high-quality People and HR services across the Trust.
This is a highly visible role that will allow you to influence decision-making at every level of the organisation and make a tangible contribution to our continued growth and success.
Purpose of the Role
To act as an operational and strategic partner to school and Trust leaders, supporting the Director of People in delivering the People Strategy, workforce development priorities, and effective people solutions that support our schools to achieve excellent outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
You will lead and support a broad portfolio of strategic and operational priorities including:
- Workforce planning and organisational development.
- Talent management, succession planning and leadership development.
- Recruitment and retention strategies.
- Employee relations and complex case management, including performance, attendance, capability, disciplinary and grievance matters.
- Wellbeing, employee engagement, reward and recognition, and EDI initiatives.
- Change management, restructuring, consultation and TUPE projects.
- Trust growth, HR due diligence and school integration projects.
- HR analytics, reporting, workforce insights and Trustee reporting.
- Continuous improvement of people systems, data quality, processes and automation.
In addition, you will:
- Provide expert HR advice and guidance to leaders across the Trust.
- Lead complex casework and coach leaders in the application of Trust policies and employment law.
- Support implementation of Integrated Curriculum Financial Planning (ICFP) and workforce planning activities across Trust schools.
- Identify trends in absence, turnover, retention and employee relations, recommending improvement actions.
- Review, develop and implement HR policies, procedures and manager toolkits.
- Build productive relationships with trade unions and support consultation and negotiation processes.
- Support leadership recruitment, induction, probation and talent development programmes.
- Coordinate apprenticeship levy opportunities, CPD initiatives and career pathway development.
- Work with payroll, occupational health, legal and wellbeing providers to deliver effective people services.
- Prepare reports, business cases and project plans for strategic people initiatives.
- Deputise for the Director of People in meetings, projects and committees as required.
- Undertake other duties as required, commensurate with the responsibilities of the role.
Benefits
In addition to a rewarding and meaningful career, we offer:
- Access to high-quality CPD and professional qualifications
- Flexible and supportive working arrangements
- Local Government Pension Scheme
- Employee wellbeing support and counselling services
- Perkbox benefits platform
- Car salary sacrifice scheme
- Electric car charging points
- Cycle to work scheme
- Free parking
- The opportunity to work alongside exceptional leaders in a growing Trust with a genuine focus on people development and culture
Flexible Working
We recognise that attracting and retaining the highest quality candidates means offering a flexible working environment. We consider a variety of flexible arrangements, including part-time roles, job-sharing, flexible start and finish times, and hybrid opportunities where appropriate. By adopting a flexible approach, we empower our staff to bring their best selves to work every day, fostering creativity, commitment, and resilience. Our teams remain diverse, motivated, and aligned with our vision of transforming children's lives through world-changing education. We believe that by investing in the wellbeing and professional fulfilment of our staff, we are also investing in the futures of the communities we serve.
Candidates are encouraged to discuss flexible working from recruitment onwards, in line with the statutory "day one right" principle, and ensuring equal opportunities for all groups of prospective employees
Contact
We are proud of our Trust. We encourage all applicants to view our website or contact us informally. Opportunities for an informal discussion with the Director of People are available. To arrange this please contact [email protected].
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive sufficient applications. Therefore, if you are interested, we encourage you to submit your application as early as possible.
Pay: £55,746.00-£64,690.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Employee mentoring programme
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Work Location: In person
