HR Policy and Projects Officer

Westcountry Schools Trust, Ivybridge, PL21 0JA

16 days remaining to apply

• Start date details

  As soon as possible

• Closing date

  2 September 2026 at 9am

• Date listed

  5 August 2026

Job details

• Job role:
  • Administration, HR, data and finance
• Visa sponsorship: Visas cannot be sponsored
• Working pattern: Full time
• Contract type: Permanent
• Full time equivalent salary: £33,699.00 - £36,363.00 Annually (Actual) Pay award pending

HR Policy and Projects Officer job summary

Westcountry Schools Trust (WeST) is a family of schools united by a shared ambition: to ensure every child attends a great school and receives the education they deserve.

We are seeking an organised, proactive and professionally curious HR professional to join our growing HR Operations team as an HR Policy and Project Officer.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who enjoys bringing order to complexity, producing clear guidance, supporting organisational improvement and helping colleagues navigate HR policy with confidence.

Working closely with the Director of People, Head of HR Operations, Head of Employee Relations and the wider HR team, you will support the Trust's policy framework by supporting and delivering a range of key transformation projects and coordinating programmes of work that underpin our HR, payroll and workforce systems.

About the Role

The HR Policy and Project Officer plays a key role in ensuring that HR policies, guidance and processes remain current, accessible and easy to follow.

You will:

• Coordinate the review and maintenance of HR policies and supporting documentation.
• Manage policy review schedules, consultation arrangements and version control.
• Undertake policy and project work, maintain project plans, action logs and programme documentation.
• Support governance meetings through agenda management, reporting and action tracking.
• Develop guidance, templates, FAQs and practical resources for managers and employees.
• Coordinate responses to policy enquiries and ensure colleagues are directed to the right advice and support.
• Support consultation activity with trade unions and staff representatives.
• Contribute to the development of modern, efficient and digitally enabled HR services.

About You

You will be a highly organised HR professional with excellent communication skills and a passion for continuous improvement.

You will have:

• CIPD Level 5 qualification or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience supporting HR policy development, review or implementation.
• A good working knowledge of employment law and HR practice.
• Excellent written communication skills and the ability to produce clear guidance for a non-specialist audience.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Confidence managing competing priorities and coordinating multiple workstreams.
• Strong digital skills, including Microsoft 365 applications and collaborative technologies.
• Digitally fluent, confident, using or self-teaching contemporary AI-enabled tools to improve workflow, insight and assurance.

Experience within education is not essential. We welcome applications from candidates with experience gained in education, local government, the NHS or other regulated, complex or public sector environments. Familiarity with education sector terms and conditions, including NJC and School Teachers' Pay and Conditions arrangements, would be advantageous but can be developed through the role.

Why Join WeST?

At WeST, our values are at the heart of everything we do:

Collaboration - Stronger Together
Aspiration - We believe every child can succeed
Integrity - We do the right thing
Compassion - We support one another
Respect - We value every individual

You will join a collaborative and forward-thinking People team at an exciting time of organisational development, with opportunities to contribute to meaningful Trust-wide projects and further develop your professional career.

WeST is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion and welcomes applications from all sections of the community.

Further information about the job

The candidate will be required to undergo a full enhanced DBS check and must be eligible to work in the UK.

Visas cannot be sponsored.

If you're interested in teaching or training to teach in England as an international citizen, we can help you understand your next steps.

Commitment to safeguarding

Our organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. We expect all staff, volunteers and trustees to share this commitment.

Our recruitment process follows the keeping children safe in education guidance.

Offers of employment may be subject to the following checks (where relevant):
childcare disqualification
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)
medical
online and social media
prohibition from teaching
right to work
satisfactory references
suitability to work with children

You must tell us about any unspent conviction, cautions, reprimands or warnings under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975.

Applying for the job

This school accepts applications through their own website, where you may also find more information about this job.

CVs will not be accepted for this application.

About Westcountry Schools Trust

• Type: Multi-academy trust
• See more jobs: teaching-vacancies.service.gov.uk/organisations/westcountry-schools-trust

Head office location

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