We are looking for an experienced HR professional to join our central HR and Payroll team as a HR Business Partner to provide a timely and professional HR service to our schools. Initially a 2 year fixed term contract, this is a new role within our growing Multi Academy Trust to support the delivery of the RLT People Strategy.
The role will be working in our well established and friendly HR team alongside our HR Director, 3 existing experienced HR Business Partners, 2 x HR Officers (and the payroll team!) reporting into the Senior HR Business Partner.
You will work in partnership with schools in Oxfordshire across our Trust (including primary and secondary schools) to support them with a range of people matters and timely strategic advice, you will also have trust wide objectives and lead on project delivery in your area of focus. This is a busy, varied role where you will be working in our culture of continuous improvement and will have a real opportunity to make a difference to our schools and their communities.
If you have previous experience as an education focused HR professional and would like to work with an amazing team, we would love to hear from you. Extra credit for: A good sense of humour, a love for dogs, and a high appreciation for cake and frequent team buffets.
Please see the attached Job Description for more information. Interviews Tuesday 14th July 2026
This is a hybrid role with 1 day per week (Tuesday) spent at our central team office working alongside the HR and payroll team; and the remainder of your working time spent visiting schools or working from home.
Hours of work: * FLEXIBLE* Full time and part time options are available for this role including term-time + working or all year round (52 weeks). We are looking for a minimum of 4 full days per week that must include a Tuesday or 30 hours across the week
The River Learning Trust
The River Learning Trust is a successful and growing Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) based in Oxfordshire. We are currently responsible for 30 schools including 10 secondary schools, 20 primary schools, an Alternative Provision and a SCITT (School Centred Initial Teacher Training)
What we can offer
Education has the power to change lives, communities and society for the better. At RLT we believe that we can achieve more for our pupils, trainees, staff and communities by working together rather than alone. Schools in RLT are united by a common belief in the benefits of working together, and by our commitment to shared principles.
OUR VISION is for our schools and SCITT to improve rapidly, continuously and sustainably: to be better faster together.
OUR ‘WHY?’ is that children and young people ‘only get one go’ in school and therefore as part of RLT we aim to ensure the best possible ‘go’ for our pupils.
OUR ‘HOW?’ is through the highest support and challenge for our schools and each other, underpinned by our principles.
Our employees benefit from a wide variety of support including extensive continuing professional learning and development opportunities, wellbeing and staff networks and access to Defined Benefit Pension Schemes (TPS and LGPS) for all staff. For more information on what it is like to work for the Trust, and the benefits you could access, please see our ““Working in RLT” guide.
This role includes regulated activity relevant to children.
Applications
Online applications are through MyNewTerm (please click apply). If you would like to have an informal chat about the role before making an application please contact Jo Holohan, HR Director via email on [email protected]
River Learning Trust reserves the right to close the advert early or to consider and interview candidates ahead of the closing date if appropriate. An offer may be made to an exceptional candidate in this instance.
The River Learning Trust are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children and preventing extremism. The Trust is required to conduct a variety of checks and online searches about you as part of their recruitment process in accordance with Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance. It is an offence to apply for certain roles within schools if you are barred from engaging in regulated activity relevant to children.
For all RLT Safer Recruitment Documentation candidates should click on the following link RLT Safer Recruitment Documents for Candidates. Please see our website for up to date policies including our Child Protection and Behaviour Policies.
This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and the amendments to the Exceptions Order 1975, 2013 and 2020. For further guidance for applicants click on this link List of offences that are not filtered