People/HR Advisor – Maternity Cover (Full Time)

Location: Astrea Academy Trust (with regular travel to allocated schools)
Contract: 7-8-month maternity cover starting in either February or March 2026
Salary: £34,211 per annum
Hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm, Monday to Friday
Closing Date: 8th February 2026

About Astrea Academy Trust

Astrea Academy Trust is a family of academies committed to providing an exceptional education that inspires every child to reach their full potential. With a strong focus on collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement, we aim to create learning environments where both students and staff thrive. Our values of responsibility, resilience, and aspiration underpin everything we do, ensuring that we deliver excellence across all our schools.

Role Overview

We are seeking a proactive and experienced People/HR Advisor to join our team on a fixed term maternity cover contract. This is a fantastic opportunity to play a key role in delivering our People Strategy and supporting academies across the Trust. The successful candidate will provide expert advice and guidance on all aspects of employee relations, People policy, and people management, while contributing to the continuous improvement of HR systems and practices.

The role requires regular travel to our schools throughout South Yorkshire, so flexibility and the ability to build strong relationships on-site are essential.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Support delivery of the HR People Strategy and People Advisory Service.
• Work with academies on all aspects of employee relations.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of HR systems, practices, and SLAs.
• Support development and implementation of People policies and processes.
• Deliver practical advice, training, and coaching to line managers on people management, policy launches, system initiatives, and employment legislation changes.
• Develop and maintain practical toolkits for management teams.
• Embed a continuous learning and performance management culture within client areas.
• Identify learning and development needs and feed back to shape strategic L&D offers.
• Support and implement HR project initiatives across the Trust.
• Attend regular meetings with Principals and Business Managers to provide support.
• Actively manage and use People dashboards and management information to drive engagement.
• Provide guidance on workforce planning and reorganisations.
• Ensure consistency and compliance in all areas of people policy and process.
• Gather client feedback to assist with ongoing improvement of the People Advisory Service.

Requirements

• Ability to travel regularly to allocated schools.
• Strong knowledge of People/HR practices and employment legislation.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Proven experience in People/HR advisory roles.

Interested in Applying?

If you are passionate about education, looking for a fresh opportunity, or simply want to make a positive impact, we would love to hear from you. Take a look at the job description and candidate pack to find out more about the role and how to apply or contact our recruitment team at recruitment@astreaacademytrust.org.

Apply by 8th February 2026 to join a dynamic team making a real difference across our academies.

Commitment to Safeguarding and EDI:

Astrea Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. All posts are subject to satisfactory background checks, including references and enhanced DBS checks. We value diversity and encourage applications from candidates who are underrepresented in our workforce. As a Disability Confident employer, we are committed to promoting a culture that ensures there are no barriers to the recruitment, development, and progression of disabled staff across the trust. We provide reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process to ensure disabled job applicants have the best opportunity to demonstrate their abilities.

In line with Part 7 of the Immigration Act 2016 and the statutory Code of Practice, the Trust requires all public-facing post holders to demonstrate fluent English. Within a school setting, this applies to all roles that involve direct or indirect interaction with pupils, parents, or members of the public. 

Flexible Interview Dates:

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, so don't miss out on this exciting opportunity. Please note that interview dates are flexible, and we reserve the right to interview shortlisted candidates during the application window. Apply today to avoid disappointment and become a part of our mission to create a positive impact!

Ready to Make a Difference?

If you're ready to take the next step in your career and contribute to our dynamic and forward-thinking team, apply today and be a part of our mission to create a positive impact!