Job Description

HR MANAGER (People Operations & Compliance)

Reporting to: Group Finance & Operations Director

Location: Hybrid with Bournemouth office

Type: Full-time

PERSON SPECIFICATION

This role would suit and highly experienced HR professional with strong understanding of UK employment law.

The successful candidate will be adept at both strategic project management and hands-on detailed day to day HR administration.

A strong, efficient administrator with keen eye for detail and excellent communication skills with stakeholders at all levels.

Reporting directly to the Group Finance & Operations Director this is initially a stand-alone HR position within the Group, which we expect to expand to a wider team over time. As such it requires a high degree of hands-on management of employee issues combined with administration.

It is an exciting time to join Forfar Education as we grow our family of schools, UK and Europe-wide.

We are focussed on process and policy development expect significant software systems projects over the next 12-18 months. Enthusiasm for and experience of HR system implementations would be advantageous.

The role will have the opportunity for travel to UK school sites and occasional travel overseas but will be based in our Central Team offices in Bournemouth.

PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To deliver all aspects of the HR function, ensuring operational excellence, legal compliance & alignment with Forfar's growth ambitions. The HR Manager acts as a hands-on practitioner supporting leaders, safer recruitment, and driving workforce capability across international settings. The role holder should hold a CIPD qualification or be qualified by experience and actively working towards accreditation. This is a hands-on role in a small, fast-paced organisation where the HR function is currently led by a single individual, requiring confidence across both strategic and operational domains.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational HR Delivery

Manage end-to-end employee lifecycle processes; recruitment, onboarding, contracts, payroll coordination, off-boarding Maintain databases &personnel records with accuracy and confidentiality. Administer policies, procedures & compliance frameworks (including safeguarding & right-to-work, migrant sponsor schemes) Develop & maintain standardised templates for contracts, policies & HR documents that are simple to use, scalable across functions, and aligned with organisational tone &structure. Shape role briefs, sourcing strategies & interview processes. Conduct periodic HR compliance audits across all schools & nurseries, primarily via desktop review, with occasional on-site visits where necessary to verify documentation, practices, & safeguarding compliance. Lead the annual review of all HR policies & procedures to ensure they remain legally compliant, reflect current regulatory requirements, and align with organisational tone and operational realities.

Employee Relations & Compliance

Provide initial advice & guidance to People Managers on Forfar policies as they relate to performance, conduct, absence, and grievance matters. Ensure compliance with UK employment law & international employment standards. Partner with the Group Finance & Operations Director to oversee the use of external Employment lawyers ensuring value-for-money decisions while balancing risk, responsiveness & regulatory confidence.

HQ Recruitment Ownership

Lead recruitment for HQ & business-critical roles across the Group. Support the development of job descriptions, sourcing strategies & interview processes aligned with safeguarding & Fofar culture. Partner with hiring managers & external recruiters to ensure timely, high-quality hires. Maintain candidate pipelines and deliver a positive candidate experience. Ensure value-for-money recruitment by selecting cost-effective sourcing channels & maintaining high-quality candidate pipelines.

Culture & Capability Development

Coordinate Mandatory training, development & performance review cycles for HQ and Country teams. Coordinate the administration of the annual Group-wide Engagement Survey, ensuring consistent rollout, clear communication & actionable reporting across the Group.

Support & Reporting

Prepare HR data & insights as required for board and investor reporting. Collaborate with Finance to develop meaningful HR management information ensuring workforce data supports strategic reporting & budgeting.

International Coordination

Liaise with Country Directors & local HR contacts to ensure consistency & compliance with HR practices, policy adoption and local compliance. Support cross-border hiring, mobility, and cultural alignment Navigate local employment nuances with external advisors as needed

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

End-to-End HR: Confident delivery across recruitment, on-boarding, contracts, payroll, and policy implementation. UK Employment Law & Safeguarding framework: Strong grasp of legal obligations, right-to-work & sector-specific compliance. Stakeholder Engagement: Builds trust &influence with Operational teams, Finance & Executive teams Written Communication: Crafts clear, brand-aligned documents, JD's & candidate-facing materials Compliance & Audit Capability: Able to conduct desktop and occasional on-site HR audits across schools and nurseries Project & Time Management: Juggles strategic priorities and operational tasks with precision and pace Discretion & Integrity: Handles sensitive data and legal matters with professionalism and confidentiality
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: 45,000.00-55,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Company pension On-site parking Work from home
Work Location: In person