HR Officer

Salary : Grade 5 (£31,015 to £33,673) Contract term: Full time, permanent Start date: As soon as possible Closing date: 8am Monday 11 May 2026 Mercia Learning Trust

Mercia Learning Trust is a successful partnership of four primary and three secondary schools located in the south-west of Sheffield. Established in 2012, with one secondary school, our trust has grown to serving over 5000 pupils, with 650 staff.

Why do we exist?

To empower everyone in our communities, especially the most disadvantaged, to succeed.

How do we behave?

We are kind - showing care and supporting each other.

We have integrity - doing the right thing and always putting children first.

We work with diligence - overcoming obstacles and having no excuses.

What do we do?

We run schools that focus on academic excellence, cultural capital and the development of character.

How will we succeed?

A culture of excellence – high standards shaped by clarity, not control.

Academic focus – empowering all children through an exceptional curriculum.

Purposeful collaboration – relationships built on trust, reducing sub-optimisation and driving collective success.

Our staff are a crucial part of our trust, just like our pupils. We are devoted to recruiting, training, retaining and taking good care of our highly skilled and dedicated team.

The role

Due to upcoming growth of our trust, with an additional secondary school joining in September 2026, we are looking to expand our HR team.

This is an excellent opportunity for an enthusiastic individual to develop their career in Human Resources within a growing and supportive organisation. As HR Officer, you will play a key role in delivering an effective and responsive HR service across our Trust and its schools.

You will be responsible for managing day-to-day HR administration, supporting the HR Advisor and HR Director, and contributing to the ongoing development of our HR systems and processes. You will also provide guidance and support to senior leaders and stakeholders on a range of HR matters. You will develop experience in employee relations casework, initially supporting and attending meetings such as absence reviews, with the expectation of taking on greater responsibility as your experience grows.

We are looking for someone who is approachable, organised, and an effective communicator, with the ability to build strong working relationships at all levels. You will be confident handling sensitive and confidential information and ensuring HR policies and procedures are consistently applied.

You will be joining a small, friendly, and supportive central team, working closely with colleagues across our Trust.

Applicants are welcome to discuss the role further with Emma Staley, Director of HR.