Join the Maritime Academy Trust as an HR Schools Partner

Flexible working. Make an impact. Support schools and staff across the Trust.

Hours: Flexible – Full Time, Part Time, or Job Share considered up to 37 hours per week Mon - Friday
Contract: Fixed Term Contract (covering a period of maternity up to 12 months)
Weeks: 39 weeks (Term Time Only) or 52 weeks (Full Time)
Salary: C2 Medway Grade (£28,598 – £36,363 FTE actual salary depending on hours)
Start Date: 1st June 2026

Are you an experienced HR professional looking to make a difference across multiple schools? Do you thrive on providing proactive, hands-on HR support and building positive relationships with colleagues? If so, the Maritime Academy Trust would love to hear from you.

This role offers the chance to work at the heart of our Central HR team, supporting schools across the Trust while benefiting from flexibility, autonomy, and a genuine opportunity to shape and influence HR practice across a dynamic multi-academy trust.

About the Role

As an HR Schools Partner, you will be a first point of contact for HR-related queries, supporting a designated allocation of schools with both routine and complex HR matters. You will:

• Provide proactive, customer-focused HR advice to schools and colleagues

• Analyse staff absence, support informal and formal absence meetings, and provide clear reporting to school leaders

• Support Employee Relations casework including absence management, disciplinaries, and performance management

• Prepare and issue offer letters, contracts, variations, and leavers’ paperwork in line with HR policies

• Conduct statutory pre-employment checks, maintain the Trust’s SCR Tracker, and ensure safeguarding compliance

• Assist the HR Director and Operations Manager with projects including payroll,, wellbeing initiatives, and workforce data.

This is a varied role that blends hands-on HR administration with strategic support and relationship management, giving you the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the working lives of school staff.

Who You Are

We are looking for someone who:

• Who has great people skills and works well as part of a team

• Has a strong HR background, ideally in education or a multi-site environment

• Is confident managing sensitive employee relations matters with tact and professionalism

• Can work autonomously while building effective partnerships with colleagues and school leaders

• Is organised, solution-focused, and able to manage competing priorities effectively

• Values inclusion, collaboration, and a culture of continuous improvement

What We Offer

• Flexible working patterns: full-time, part-time, or job-share arrangements available

• A supportive, collaborative central HR team across the Trust

• Opportunities to contribute to strategic HR initiatives and shape Trust-wide HR policy

• Access to professional development, wellbeing support, and employee benefits

• Local Government Pension Scheme, comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme, and other staff perks

Ready to Apply?

We warmly encourage applications from professionals who want to make a real difference in a Trust that values its people and invests in their growth.

For further details about the role and a candidate information pack, please contact Nicki Young at recruitment@matoffice.org . Apply via My New Term — early applications are encouraged, and we reserve the right to appoint prior to the closing date.

The Maritime Academy Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. All appointments are subject to an Enhanced DBS check and pre-employment checks in line with safeguarding guidance. We are an inclusive Trust and welcome applications from colleagues of all backgrounds.