Job Details 

Role: Director of Human Resources

Hours of Work:  22.5 hours per week (a flexible term-time plus arrangement will be considered)

Salary Grade: Grade SM1 SCP 45-49 (FTE £58,239 - £67,029)

Position Type:  Permanent  

Line Manager:  CEO/CFOO 

Travel Required:  Yes 

Location: Stokesley (with flexible working across Trust sites and home working options)

Areté Learning Trust is seeking an exceptional HR leader to join our Executive Leadership Team as Director of Human Resources. This is a pivotal strategic role, shaping the culture, capability and wellbeing of our workforce so that every colleague can contribute to outstanding outcomes for our pupils.

As Director of HR, you will provide visionary leadership for all people functions across the Trust. You will drive the development and delivery of our People Strategy, ensuring our policies, systems and practices reflect our values and support a high‑quality, inclusive and resilient workforce. You will lead the HR team, oversee all operational HR activity, and act as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, Headteachers and Trustees.

Your remit will span the full breadth of HR leadership, including employee relations, organisational development, safeguarding‑related HR processes, pay and reward, workforce planning, equality and inclusion, wellbeing, and the effective management of change. You will ensure compliance with employment legislation and sector‑specific requirements, strengthen HR systems and data, and support leaders to build strong, engaged and high‑performing teams.

We are looking for a highly credible HR professional with substantial experience in education HR, excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to influence and lead across a diverse organisation. You will bring a strong understanding of employment law, experience of managing complex casework, and a proven ability to deliver strategic HR improvements. A commitment to safeguarding, equality and the Trust’s values is essential.

In return, we offer the opportunity to shape the future of a growing Trust, work alongside a committed and supportive leadership team, and make a meaningful impact on the working lives of colleagues across our schools.

What We Can Offer: 

• Recognition of previous service with other schools, academies and local government
• Generous holiday entitlement of 28 days rising to 34 after 5 years' service (pro rata)
• Enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Comprehensive training package with The National College
• Expenses and travel costs
• Comprehensive suite of employee benefits

For an informal chat about the role with our CEO/CFOO or to visit the Trust please contact Beth Reilly, Exec PA, via email breilly@arete.uk

Closing date: Friday 22^nd May 2026

About the Trust

Areté Learning Trust currently has 11 schools and educates over 7,000 young people in and around North Yorkshire from ages 2-18.  Our learners are at the heart of everything we do.

At Areté Learning Trust we work together and collaborate to ensure that all of our learners and our staff team have the chance to reach their potential.

Our Trust is committed to promoting:

• Health, happiness and wellbeing
• A safe, disciplined and supportive environment
• A love of learning through a passionate and committed approach
• High standards and expectations, Integrity, kindness and good manners
• Respect for individuality and difference
• Collaborative working to secure excellence

To realise our aspiration for every child to be the best they can be, we need to ensure that as a Trust we are ‘Striving for Excellence’.

Why work for us?

We want everyone who works within ALT to feel valued and see how their work fits into the bigger picture.

We seek employees who are prepared to take personal responsibility and constantly challenge the norm to improve performance.

In return, we are committed to providing an empowering and supportive learning environment for all staff.

 Areté Learning Trust is committed to being the ‘Employer of Choice’.

Essentially this means that we want our schools and our central team to be great places to work. We want our staff development opportunities to be first class and we want to enable staff who are ambitious to grow their careers with us. To give our learners the best education and opportunities we are committed to recruiting and retaining the very best people in all areas of our organisation.

Regardless of role, we seek staff who:

• Have high expectations of themselves and the people they work with
• Are committed to our Trust values.Show initiative and are responsive to change
• Have strong interpersonal skills with the ability to inspire and motivate others
• Are creative in their approach to problem solving
• Are able to influence effectively, whatever their role
• Are team players

We welcome applications from all backgrounds; for more information, please refer to our careers page (https://www.arete.uk/careers/working-for-arete-learning-trust).  

If you are ready for the next step in your career and you feel that your skill set makes you a good fit for this very exciting opportunity, then we look forward to receiving your application.

Application Process

Please complete the online application form to apply for this role. All candidates are advised to refer to the job description and person specification before making an application.  You should use the information supplied with in the Job Description & Person Specification to make the best of your application by identifying some specific pieces of work you may have undertaken in any of these areas. Your application may be viewed in regard to some or all of the skill specific areas over the course of the selection process.  Applications via agencies will not be considered.

Interviews will take place as soon as possible after the closing date.

The Areté Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting our children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.  All posts are subject to a safer recruitment process which includes enhanced criminal records and barring checks, scrutiny of employment history, robust referencing and other vetting checks.  Online searches may be done as part of due diligence checks.

Our safeguarding system is underpinned by a range of policies and procedures which encourage and promote safe working practice across the Trust. On joining you will be required to undergo continuous professional development to maintain safe working practice and to safeguard our children and young people.