DIRECTOR OF HR JOB DESCRIPTION - The Perse School

HR AT THE PERSEThe practice, common in schools, has been for HR responsibilities to be sharedamong a number of senior staff. In the main this has been a consequence ofteaching staff being ultimately responsible to the Head; non-teaching staff beingultimately responsible to the Bursar; the School being split between three sites; theweight of HR work being too much for one person on their own; and tradition.While responsibilities have continued to be shared, HR legislation has increased andthe School has grown, and more and more HR work has had to be handled centrally.The appointment of an experienced HR Director is intended to complete the move toa centralised and professional HR function within the School.It is envisaged that the Director of HR will form close working relationships with theHead of The Perse School, the Head of The Prep School, the Head of The Pelican,and the Upper School Senior Management Team.JOB DESCRIPTIONReporting toAs a member of the non-teaching staff, the Director of HR reports to the Bursar.Principal contactsThere will be regular consultation with senior staff.The Director of HR will be a member of the School’s Management Strategy Group.It is expected that the Director of HR will provide regular briefings to the School’ssenior management teams, and attend SMT meetings for HR related agenda items.It is also expected that the Director of HR will make an at least annual presentation tothe trustees.Job PurposeOver the past fifteen years, the significant growth in the School’s pupil numbers,academic staff, buildings and activities has been matched by growth in its nonteachingprofessional staff with an increasing addition of specialists. The posts, forexample, of Director of ICT, Development Director and Director of Marketing &Admissions have all been created in this period while the Estates Office, FinanceBursary and Domestic Bursary have been expanded so as to bring in-house workthat previously was undertaken by external consultants.The appointment of a Director of HR is regarded as a key part of the School’scontinuing development.It is a senior post. The post-holder will need to have the knowledge, confidence, andskill to lead, influence and advise staff of all levels in matters of HR; develop,introduce and oversee HR strategy, policy and practice; in effect ‘professionalise’ theSchool’s HR function; and, at the same time, be comfortable with the wider, moregeneral responsibilities incumbent on a senior member of staff in a collegiateorganisation.2