HR Operations Manager
| Posting date: | 14 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 01 March 2026 |
| Location: | Bury, Not recorded, BL9 8LY |
| Company: | Teaching Vacancies |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | fd837d5b-700d-4a53-b07b-263a1468bd5f |
Summary
What skills and experience we're looking for
Oak Learning Partnership is an ambitious and values‑driven multi‑academy trust committed to delivering highly inclusive education across all our schools. We are proud of our strong community ethos, collaborative culture and our commitment to transforming lives through exceptional education and support for our staff.
We are now seeking an experienced HR Operations Manager to lead our central payroll and recruitment operations and help us continue to deliver an outstanding people service across the Trust.
About the Role
As HR Operations Manager, you will play a central role in ensuring our staff recruitment, payroll and people processes are delivered efficiently, accurately and with exceptional professionalism. This is a key leadership position within the central HR Team, responsible for the day‑to‑day management of Trust‑wide recruitment and payroll workflows, systems and compliance.
You will oversee two direct reports (HR & Recruitment Officer and HR & Payroll Officer) and work closely with the wider central HR team, school‑based colleagues, senior leaders and external stakeholders to continuously improve the Trust’s HR operations.
This is an exciting opportunity for a highly organised, solutions-focused HR professional who thrives in a busy, varied environment and is motivated by delivering high-quality support to our staff and schools. The ideal candidate will possess excellent attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in all HR and payroll processes, and demonstrate the ability to manage and analyse data effectively to support informed decision-making across the Trust.
About You
We are looking for:
• Strong payroll knowledge and substantial operational HR experience.
• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent (or substantial experience); Level 7 desirable.
• Experience managing integrated HR/payroll systems preferably i-trent.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise a demanding workload.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence and provide expert HR advice.
• A collaborative, flexible and positive approach aligned to the values of the Trust.
What the school offers its staff
Why join Oak Learning Partnership?
Oak Learning Partnership is a highly inclusive, values-led Trust, committed to transforming lives through aspirational education and strong relational practice. Our staff work collaboratively across phases - primary, secondary and special, to deliver high-quality provision that places inclusion at the heart of everything we do.
We would be happy for you to arrange an informal call with Laura Roberts (Head of HR) to discuss the role and the Trust’s vision. Please contact hr@oaklp.co.uk to make arrangements for an initial conversation.
Our Employee Benefits
At Oak Learning Partnership, you’ll find yourself in a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive environment, where everyone can grow, progress, and achieve a fulfilling career. We offer a fantastic range of rewards and benefits, challenging and interesting work, and opportunities to achieve your potential.
In return you will benefit from:
• Enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Excellent Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
• A strong and caring ethos among staff and students
• Networking opportunities across our Trust
• Salary sacrifice Cycle-to-Work Scheme
• Healthcare plan through Medicash, providing cashback towards everyday healthcare bills and access to a range of digital wellbeing tools
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme – emotional, financial and legal support for you and your family
• Health and Wellbeing support through Medicash, including a 24/7 Telephone Support Service and access to face-to-face counselling
Oak Learning Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in their care and expects everybody working for the organisation to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will be subject to safer recruitment checks and clearances.
Our Trust is cross-phase and consists of primary, special, and secondary schools. We have a vision to transform lives through a highly inclusive approach.
‘Inclusion is at the heart of our Trust’.
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.
Oak Learning Partnership is an ambitious and values‑driven multi‑academy trust committed to delivering highly inclusive education across all our schools. We are proud of our strong community ethos, collaborative culture and our commitment to transforming lives through exceptional education and support for our staff.
We are now seeking an experienced HR Operations Manager to lead our central payroll and recruitment operations and help us continue to deliver an outstanding people service across the Trust.
About the Role
As HR Operations Manager, you will play a central role in ensuring our staff recruitment, payroll and people processes are delivered efficiently, accurately and with exceptional professionalism. This is a key leadership position within the central HR Team, responsible for the day‑to‑day management of Trust‑wide recruitment and payroll workflows, systems and compliance.
You will oversee two direct reports (HR & Recruitment Officer and HR & Payroll Officer) and work closely with the wider central HR team, school‑based colleagues, senior leaders and external stakeholders to continuously improve the Trust’s HR operations.
This is an exciting opportunity for a highly organised, solutions-focused HR professional who thrives in a busy, varied environment and is motivated by delivering high-quality support to our staff and schools. The ideal candidate will possess excellent attention to detail, ensuring accuracy in all HR and payroll processes, and demonstrate the ability to manage and analyse data effectively to support informed decision-making across the Trust.
About You
We are looking for:
• Strong payroll knowledge and substantial operational HR experience.
• CIPD Level 5 or equivalent (or substantial experience); Level 7 desirable.
• Experience managing integrated HR/payroll systems preferably i-trent.
• Excellent organisational skills and the ability to prioritise a demanding workload.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence and provide expert HR advice.
• A collaborative, flexible and positive approach aligned to the values of the Trust.
What the school offers its staff
Why join Oak Learning Partnership?
Oak Learning Partnership is a highly inclusive, values-led Trust, committed to transforming lives through aspirational education and strong relational practice. Our staff work collaboratively across phases - primary, secondary and special, to deliver high-quality provision that places inclusion at the heart of everything we do.
We would be happy for you to arrange an informal call with Laura Roberts (Head of HR) to discuss the role and the Trust’s vision. Please contact hr@oaklp.co.uk to make arrangements for an initial conversation.
Our Employee Benefits
At Oak Learning Partnership, you’ll find yourself in a vibrant, inclusive, and supportive environment, where everyone can grow, progress, and achieve a fulfilling career. We offer a fantastic range of rewards and benefits, challenging and interesting work, and opportunities to achieve your potential.
In return you will benefit from:
• Enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Excellent Continuous Professional Development (CPD)
• A strong and caring ethos among staff and students
• Networking opportunities across our Trust
• Salary sacrifice Cycle-to-Work Scheme
• Healthcare plan through Medicash, providing cashback towards everyday healthcare bills and access to a range of digital wellbeing tools
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme – emotional, financial and legal support for you and your family
• Health and Wellbeing support through Medicash, including a 24/7 Telephone Support Service and access to face-to-face counselling
Oak Learning Partnership is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in their care and expects everybody working for the organisation to share this commitment. Any offer of employment will be subject to safer recruitment checks and clearances.
Our Trust is cross-phase and consists of primary, special, and secondary schools. We have a vision to transform lives through a highly inclusive approach.
‘Inclusion is at the heart of our Trust’.
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.