Schools HR Lead

Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic, and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We've got ambitious targets to meet and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our communities. Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents a real opportunity to make a difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of everything we do.

Working at Liverpool City Council provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services.

We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, as well as affordable housing, good schools, beautiful green spaces – there’s really something for everyone!

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and highly specialised HR professional to join Liverpool City Council as Schools HR Lead.

This is a pivotal role, acting as the Council’s statutory HR adviser for maintained schools, providing expert advice on complex, sensitive and high‑risk employment matters. You will be the key HR interface between the Council, Headteachers, governing bodies and senior education leaders, ensuring statutory compliance while promoting high standards of professional practice, inclusivity and integrity.

A key aspect of the role is leading and representing the Council in statutory consultation and joint consultative processes, including participation in Joint Consultation Committees (JCCs). You will play a central role in the development, review and consultation of school workforce policies, ensuring they are legally compliant, aligned with national conditions of service, and consistently applied across maintained schools.

As Schools HR Lead, you will also:

• Represent the Council at complex dismissal and appeal hearings
• Provide expert advise on cases where employment and safeguarding considerations intersect, and support statutory school organisation processes. This includes contributing HR expertise to formal consultations on school reorganisations, disputes and change proposals, and ensuring appropriate Council oversight and governance
• You will work closely with colleagues across HR, Education, Legal and Safeguarding, as well as external bodies such as the LADO, DBS and Teaching Regulation Agency, to manage risk, ensure statutory obligations are met, and support defensible decision‑making.

We are looking for a professionally qualified HR leader with:

• Significant experience of advising within schools, education or the public sector
• In-depth and strong knowledge of statutory education employment frameworks
• A proven ability to influence senior leaders and trade union representatives in complex and sensitive environments

You will bring sound judgement, political awareness and a commitment to championing equality, diversity, inclusion and employee wellbeing.

In order to be considered, you must be motivated by operating at the intersection of HR practice, statutory guidance and consultation, and want to play a key role in shaping policy and workforce outcomes for maintained schools.

Our offer to you:

• At least 31 days holiday, plus bank holidays rising to 32 after 5 years’ service (pro rata if part time) – option to purchase further days
• Agile working (role dependent) – a “Flexibility First” approach to agile working, where flexibility is the norm rather than the exception
• Part of the Local Government Pension Scheme – option to join the AVC Scheme
• Progression – opportunities and training through a wide range of high quality learning
• Health and Wellbeing – offer including Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work and Travel Pass Schemes
• Drive Time – a salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Family friendly policies with enhanced leave
• Discounted Gym Memberships
• Employee Volunteering Scheme

Next steps:

Closing date: midnight on Monday 4th May 2026

Shortlisting date: Tuesday 5th and Wednesday 6th May 2026

Interview date: w/c Monday 11th May 2026

Interview type: Face to face competency based interview

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