Trust HR Officer

Greater Manchester Academies Trust (GMAT) is seeking a friendly, organised, and dedicated HR Officer to support the smooth running of our HR operations. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a welcoming team at an exciting point in our journey, as we continue to build an efficient and supportive central function for our growing Trust.

We are looking for someone who is passionate about helping others, enjoys working with people, and takes pride in delivering excellent administrative and HR support. Your role will play an important part in making sure our schools are great places to work and learn.

About Us

Greater Manchester Academies Trust includes:

• Manchester Communication Academy
• Manchester Communication Primary Academy
• Manchester Communication Research School

We are committed to providing high-quality education for children and young people in Manchester. Our work is guided by five core values: trustworthy, helpful, inspiring, straightforward, and heart.

About the Role

We are seeking a dedicated HR Officer to join our team. In this pivotal role, you will provide comprehensive, high-quality administrative and operational support across the full employee lifecycle - from recruitment and onboarding to payroll administration, attendance monitoring, and compliance.

Working closely with senior leadership, you will serve as a key point of contact for day-to-day HR queries, ensuring our policies and processes run smoothly, efficiently, and in full alignment with employment law and safer recruitment standards.

Key Responsibilities

Safer Recruitment & Onboarding: Coordinate end-to-end recruitment campaigns, conduct pre-employment vetting (DBS, references, qualifications, right to work, and online due diligence searches), and issue offer documentation.

Statutory Compliance: Maintain an accurate and up-to-date Single Central Record (SCR) in strict adherence to Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE).

Absence & Payroll Support: Record staff absences, support return-to-work procedures, coordinate occupational health referrals, and prepare monthly payroll variations.

Employee Relations & Advice: Provide initial guidance to staff and line managers on standard HR queries, policies, and conditions of service.

HR Information Systems: Maintain accurate staff files and workforce records on our HR database in compliance with GDPR.

About You

The ideal candidate will hold a CIPD Level 3 qualification (or equivalent experience) and demonstrate solid administrative experience within a generalist HR environment. You will possess excellent communication skills, outstanding attention to detail, and the confidence to handle sensitive and confidential matters with discretion.

Prior experience working within an education setting or Multi-Academy Trust, along with familiarity with safer recruitment regulations, is highly desirable.

Why Join GMAT?

At GMAT, you’ll be part of a team that genuinely cares about people. You’ll work in a supportive environment where you can develop your skills and contribute to the success of our schools and communities.

If you’re looking to grow your career in HR and make a difference behind the scenes, we’d love to hear from you.

Interested in finding out more?

We believe recruitment is a two-way process — we want the right person for the role, and we want this to be the right place for you. If you're curious or have questions, we’d be delighted to speak with you before you apply.

Please contact hr@gmatrust.co.uk to arrange a conversation or visit.

The closing date for applications is 11 November 2026.

Please note: We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high volume of strong applications. Early applications are encouraged.