People Business Partner, Central (Maternity Cover)

Reports to:              Director of People and Projects 

Location:                  London

Contract:                  FTC / Maternity Cover

Pattern:                    Full Time

Closing date:           10am on 22 October 2021

Salary:                       £50,000 – £55,000

About the role:

In this role, you will be expected to be a contributing member of the wider People Team, bringing your professional knowledge and personal creativity to continuously improve the quality of the People service to the Central team.

You will gain exposure to many different aspects of the charity’s strategy and operations and be accountable for the successful management of the full employee life cycle, including systems and processes as well as leading excellent client relationships across the organisation. Through Ark Ventures you’ll also have the chance to support the growth and development of some of the most exciting start-ups in the education sector.  

Key Responsibilities and Duties:  

• Line manage the Central People Advisor
• Partner with Ark’s Central team to support all key people processes, providing guidance, coaching and constructive challenge when appropriate
• Work closely with the wider People Operations team to ensure a smooth and effective end to end HR service is provided to the Centre and Ventures.
• Collaborate with the HR Operations Manager to identifying gaps in efficiency and find ways for continuous improvement.
• Work closely with the central recruitment lead to ensure the effective attraction and recruitment of exceptional candidates to the central teams
• Work closely with the central finance team and schools business partner team to manage the annual central pay review process
• Build strong, influential relationships with key stakeholders, meeting them regularly to discuss and advise on people challenges
• Provide guidance on people practices such as restructures and succession planning
• Bring people expertise and develop solutions to help the business area to deliver its strategy
• Act as a local point of people expertise providing input across a full range of HR areas delivering high impact solutions that meet the needs of the business
• Coach and build the capability of senior managers to anticipate and pre-empt organizational issues.  
• Build and revise polices and procedures for the Centre as necessary
• Work alongside the Head of Talent to support the development of an internal talent pool and internal mobility both within the centre and between the centre and schools
• Support and/or lead project work in support of Ark’s plans and priorities (e.g. apprenticeships, flexible working and diversity and inclusion)

We expect you will already be operating in a similar role and be comfortable and confident in working directly with senior leaders.   

Key Requirements:

Qualification Criteria

• CIPD qualified (or equivalent)
• Right to work in the UK

Knowledge, Skills & Experience 

• A strong track record as a Business Partner, including demonstrating strong experience of relationship management at a range of levels
• Be able to inspire confidence through quality of technical HR skills and excellent stakeholder engagement;
• Be skilled in achieving results through influence and personal credibility;
• Be comfortable in a fast-moving, dynamic and challenging environment, with a focus on outcomes;
• Be an effective planner, well organized, and consistently deliver on promises
• Be calm and organised under pressure;
• Be a quick learner who can navigate the Ark organisation, and ensure work is processed fast and efficiently;
• Have outstanding communication skills, both written and oral;
• Have strong analytical skills, able to process and present data with confidence and clarity, ensuring key messages are clear and well communicated to teams and team leaders;
• Be a committed team-player who enjoys contributing to debates in a constructive way;
• Be comfortable operating as a role model to colleagues, embodying the Ark values.

Benefits

• 27 days annual leave plus bank holidays, rising with each year of service
• We are committed to providing high-quality professional learning throughout your career with us and offer a variety of training sessions and experiences designed to meet your needs
• Access to Ark Rewards scheme offering savings from over 3,000 major retailers, interest-free loans available for season tickets or a bicycle and gym discounts offering up to 40% off your local gym

About Ark

Ark is an international charity, transforming lives through education. We exist to give every young person, regardless of their background, a great education and real choices in life. In the UK, we are a network of 38 schools, educating around 28,500 pupils in areas where we can make the biggest difference. We also incubate start-up programmes (Ark Ventures) that improve the education system.  

How to Apply:

Apply with a CV and cover letter on our online recruitment portal. Applications to be submitted by 10am on 22 October 2021 but please note: we will be reviewing applications on an on-going basis and this advert may close earlier than advertised depending on the level of response.

For a full job description click here.

Ark is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people; all successful candidates will be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check.

Ark Schools are committed to attracting, developing and retaining a diverse workforce, with a broad range of backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.