Interim Head of HR
Athena Learning Trust, Launceston, PL15 9FB35 days remaining to apply
Start date details
As soon as possible
Closing date
30 June 2026 at 9am
Date listed
26 May 2026
Job details
Job role
- Administration, HR, data and finance
Visa sponsorship
- Visas cannot be sponsored
Working pattern
- Full time
Contract type
- Fixed term
Full-time equivalent salary
- Competitive, commensurate with experience ; Fixed term, with the possibility of extension depending on the trust’s needs
Additional allowances
Competitive, commensurate with experience ; Fixed term, with the possibility of extension depending on the trust’s needs
Interim Head of HR job summary
Join Athena - Inspiring World-Class Education together!
At Athena, we are a passionate and forward-looking educational organisation committed to providing world-class education and helping individuals lead great lives. Our core values of "Dream Big, Take Responsibility, and Be Kind" guide our mission to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment where everyone can excel and grow.
How to apply:
If you are passionate about our values and dedicated to making a meaningful impact on education, we invite you to apply. Please complete the application form on My New Term and tell us about how you connect with our values of "Dream Big, Take Responsibility, and Be Kind" and what you feel you can contribute to our team and our goal to deliver world class education.
To find out more, please contact Shirley Si Ahmed, chief finance and operations officer, at people@athenalearningtrust.uk
Further information about Athena Learning Trust can be found at www.athenalearningtrust.uk.
Who we are:
Athena Learning Trust is a multi-academy trust with nine schools across Cornwall and Devon: three primary schools and six secondary schools, educating thousands of young people across two counties. Our shared service team sits at the heart of the trust, supporting schools to focus on what matters most: brilliant education.
We are proud of what we have built and honest about the challenges we face. Right now, we are navigating a period of leadership transition and we need experienced, steady hands to help us keep the people function running well.
The Opportunity:
This is a fixed-term role, with the possibility of extension. We are not looking for someone to transform everything overnight. We are looking for an experienced HR leader who can step in, quickly get to grips with a complex multi-site organisation, and provide the kind of calm, confident leadership that keeps a team and a function running well under pressure.
You will lead a small, committed people and HR team covering HR advisory support, casework, and payroll across all nine schools. You will manage a live portfolio of casework, support school principals on day-to-day HR matters, and work closely with the CFOO and interim trust leader. You will also oversee a payroll transition as a returning member of staff moves back into the team on a phased basis.
The role is primarily remote, but this is not a desk job. You will need to travel regularly to our schools in Cornwall and Devon, and you will need to be the kind of person who builds relationships easily and quickly, because trust is everything in HR.
What we are looking for:
A senior HR professional with strong experience in employee relations, casework, and people leadership.
CIPD level 5 or above, or equivalent professional experience.
Experience working across multiple sites or in a complex organisation.
Someone who is calm, organised, and trusted by the people they work with.
Comfortable working independently and managing your own priorities without close supervision.
Experience working alongside or overseeing a payroll function.
Experience in education is desirable but not essential. What matters more is that you can learn quickly, adapt to a busy and sometimes unpredictable environment, and bring genuine expertise to a team that needs it.
What we offer:
A competitive salary commensurate with your experience.
A hybrid working pattern with flexibility in how and where you work.
A committed and capable team around you.
The chance to make a real difference to a trust that cares deeply about its staff and its schools.
Mileage and expenses for travel to sites
Safeguarding:
Athena Learning Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check and satisfactory references. We are an equal opportunities employer.
Please see the attached Applicant Pack for more information about this role.
Please note: This role is essential and as such we will be interviewing as suitable applicants apply. We reserve the right to close this role early should vacancies be filled before the closing date.
Further information about the job
Commitment to safeguarding
Please refer to our safeguarding policy on the Athena Learning Trust website at:
https://www.athenalearningtrust.uk/policies
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.
View advert on external website (opens in new tab)About Athena Learning Trust
- Type
- Multi-academy trust
Athena Learning Trust consists of Atlantic Academy, Altarnun Primary, Bideford College, Egloskerry Primary, Launceston College and Launceston Primary School.
Our Trust is vibrant, energetic and has exceptional people across our Schools. You will be joining an existing high quality school team who give an exceptional level of learning assistant support to our schools. We focus on the happiness and healthiness of our employees, with a practical focus on wellbeing, from ‘light touch’ marking to addressing behaviour centrally to ensure disruption free learning. We have a comprehensive employee assistance programme and a scheme offering rewards and savings at a large range of shops and supermarkets.
Our vision is to develop adventurous and ambitious students, who have the character, resilience and self-awareness required to be successful, whatever their background or circumstances. We seek to teach and support them to be responsible as well as happy and successful young people by learning the knowledge, skills and values that are essential for society.
Our pupils are amazing! We have exceptionally high aspirations for them and seek to support all our students no matter what their background or circumstances. We offer a distinctively broad, personalised, and academically rigorous curriculum across our primary and secondary schools, and aspire to the highest standards of teaching and learning. As a Trust we share information and best practices to ensure we focus on an excellent and sustainable 0-19 learning journey for children, with a strong focus on our school and Trust community.
The Trust offers expert guidance and advice to students to help them shape and achieve their future goals without limitation. We want to equip every student with the knowledge, skills and values they need to achieve the very best that they can.
We seek applicants who are aligned to our vision and ethos and have the talent and passion to deliver that vision successfully. We support all our schools with an extensive range of shared services, including: trust-wide leadership and management, tailored and supportive CPD, safeguarding activity, external network opportunities and high quality expertise in teaching and learning, school improvement, financial, administrative, estates and HR.
If you want to spend your time being part of a team supporting the delivery of high quality teaching and have real influence and impact on the outcomes of young people whilst taking advantage of the lifestyle that miles of beautiful coastline, beaches and scenery that our settings can provide - we want to hear from you.
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