Job Description
Area Senior People Partner
Competitive salary, depending on experience
Permanent, full-time
Hybrid – working across ILG settings, Head Office and home
Inspired Learning Group (ILG) is seeking an experienced Area Senior People Partner to join our People Team at a pivotal stage of organisational growth and transformation.
Inspired Learning Group currently owns and operates 32 independent schools and nurseries across the UK, supporting around 2,000 colleagues. We are proud of the individuality of our schools and nurseries and work closely with them to provide safe, inspiring environments where staff and pupils can thrive.
The Role
The Area Senior People Partner is a senior leadership role within the People Team, with responsibility for both strategic people partnering and leading others.
In this role, you will act as the lead People Partner for a defined group of schools, nurseries, and central functions, providing high-level advice and challenge to Heads, Nursery Managers, and senior leaders. In addition, you will line manage and develop an Area People Partner, taking accountability for the quality, consistency, and impact of People support delivered across your area.
This role plays a key leadership role in setting standards, modelling best practice, and ensuring a consistent approach across the Group. You will work closely with other Senior People Partners and senior People colleagues to drive alignment, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities
• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of People partnering across a defined area
• Line manage, coach, and develop an Area People Partner, including quality assurance of casework and advice
• Act as escalation point for complex and high-risk employee relations matters
• Influence, challenge, and support Heads and senior leaders to strengthen leadership capability and accountability
• Lead area-level workforce planning, talent and succession strategies
• Drive consistency of People practice across settings, working collaboratively with peer Senior People Partners
• Lead and support organisational change, including restructures, TUPE, and system implementation
• Use people data and insight to inform leadership decisions and recommendations
About You
You will be a senior People / HR professional who is ready to operate as a leader of others, not just an individual contributor.
You will bring:
• Proven experience line managing and developing People / HR professionals
• Strong leadership presence with the confidence to challenge senior leaders constructively
• Extensive experience managing complex employee relations and employment law matters
• A collaborative leadership style, comfortable with shared accountability and cross-area working
• Strong analytical capability, using people data to inform decisions and drive improvement
• Sound judgement and resilience in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• A CIPD Level 5 qualification (or equivalent experience) is essential, with CIPD Level 7 or working towards desirable.
• Experience in a multi-site or group organisation and a full UK driving licence is highly advantageous.
What We Offer
As part of ILG, you will benefit from:
• School / nursery fee discount
• Annual leave inclusive of bank holidays, increasing with service
• Pension scheme
• Refer-a-friend scheme (up to £750)
• Health cash plan covering a range of healthcare benefits and services
• Cycle to work scheme
• Season ticket loan scheme
• Ongoing professional development and career progression opportunities
How to Apply
For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Tom Havard, Head of Recruitment and Resourcing, on 07706 323847 or via email at tom@inspiredlearninggroup.co.uk
To apply, please visit: https://applicant.website/i/65A755/vacancy-info/0000001057
We encourage early applications and reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised closing date. Interviews will be held on a rolling basis.
Safeguarding Commitment
Inspired Learning Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to enhanced DBS clearance, identity checks, qualification checks, employment history checks, and satisfactory references.