People and Culture Business Partner

Job Description

Join a Community Where Everyone Feels They Belong at The Sigma Trust

Are you a passionate individual who holds high expectations and aims for excellence? Are you ready to use your skills to ensure that across our Trust, every colleague feels they truly belong? As a People and Culture Business Partner, you won't just join the community - you will help define it.

At The Sigma Trust, we are a forward-thinking family of 12 academies across North East Essex, serving over 11,500 pupils. Our founding philosophy - that we are "Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts" - is the principle that guides every decision we make. We believe that we are stronger and more successful working together, ensuring that no child is left behind.

We're looking for a People and Culture Business Partner to join our fantastic team and become a vital link between our central vision and our schools. This is a role for a practitioner who thrives on variety. You will provide high-level operational support to our schools, leading on complex employee relations and casework with integrity and empathy, while working directly with Trust Leaders and the Director of People and Culture to design and implement the strategies that define our future.

• This is a full-time position, offering a 37-hour working week across the full calendar year (52 weeks).

• The successful candidate will be based at the Trust's head office at Tendring Education Centre in Clacton, with regular travel to our schools to provide on-site partnership and support.

A Day in the Life:

You'll be responsible for bringing your passion and expertise to the following areas:

• Act as the principal advisor on all matters relating to people management, calling on and using the Director of People and Culture as a point of escalation when required.
• Build strong relationships with senior leaders, Headteachers and Deputy Headteachers to support, coach and guide them in the effective management of all people matters.
• Work with the Director of People and Culture, Trust senior leaders and the People & Culture team in supporting the implementation of the Trust's People Strategy.
• Work with the Director of People and Culture in designing and delivering innovative organisational development solutions in response to workforce needs, such as improving employee engagement, diversity and equality initiatives, wellbeing initiatives, recruitment and retention solutions and succession planning.
• Support the Director of People and Culture to ensure that the Trust's People & Culture policies and procedures are up to date and fit for purpose.
• Support the People & Culture team in ensuring safer recruitment practices are robust and in place.
• Provide expert support and advice to managers in relation to casework in line with Trust policies and procedures, while ensuring adherence to relevant employment law.
• Be the People & Culture representative to disciplinary panels up to and including the level of dismissal and appeal.
• In liaison with the Director of People and Culture, oversee settlement agreements and responses to Employment Tribunal applications, ensuring timely appropriate action and the provision of expert support and advice to managers, and senior staff.
• Monitor sickness absence statistics, identify patterns and trends and highlight these to management. Use this data to consider appropriate absence management and health improvement initiatives.

Please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details.

What We're Looking For:
You are the perfect fit for our team if you have:

• Professional Human Resources Qualification CIPD Level 5 or above, or equivalent by experience.
• Experience of supporting on significant employment issues.
• Experience of dealing with complex casework, including disciplinaries and grievances.
• Experience of delivering a comprehensive HR service across all areas of the employee life-cycle.
• Knowledge and experience of introducing employment related policies within an organisation.
• Experience with supporting organisational change projects.
• Excellent communication skills, including high standards of written communication, grammar and spelling.

If you are a dynamic HR Professional with experience, who would like to work in a supportive and collaborative environment and you feel that you have the enthusiasm and commitment required to join our Trust, please do apply.

Please note that an integration period applies to all new staff joining the Trust, to support introduction into the organisation.

Why Choose The Sigma Trust?
We believe in investing in our staff and fostering a culture of collaboration. We offer a competitive salary and a comprehensive package designed to support your professional and personal life.

Professional Development:

• A robust CPD training program that empowers you to flourish.
• Unrivalled opportunities to collaborate with colleagues across the Trust, sharing ideas and building strong professional relationships.

Employee Benefits:

• A competitive salary and excellent pension scheme.
• A Health Cash Plan and Employee Assistance Programme for your well-being.
• Exclusive perks like the Cycle to Work scheme, discounted gym memberships, cinema tickets, and eligibility for a Blue Light Card.

Commitment to Safeguarding & Diversity

The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment processes, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.

The Sigma Trust is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunities regardless of any protected characteristics. This is embedded in our vision 'To Be Greater Than The Sum Of Its Parts', where we believe we are strong and more successful working together, creating a workplace which celebrates diversity.

To Apply:

Ready to take the next step? Find out more about the role and apply by Midnight, Sunday 31st May via MyNewTerm or copy and paste the following link to your browser: https://mynewterm.com/jobs/16257/EDV-2026-ST-96852

• Interviews will take place on: Date to be confirmed

Please note that we reserve the right to close this advert early should we receive an overwhelming response. Candidates may be invited to interview prior to the closing date, so an early application is advised.

• We are unable to provide sponsorship for this position, so please ensure you have the right to work in the UK before you apply.
• We are managing all current recruitment directly and kindly request that agencies do not contact us regarding open positions.

Information about the School

Safeguarding The Sigma Trust is committed to safeguarding and protecting the children and young people that we work with. As such, all posts are subject to safer recruitment process, including the disclosure of criminal records, online checks and other vetting checks. We ensure that we have a range of policies in place which promote safeguarding and safer working practice across our schools.