Location: Hybrid working with 2 days in the office at 1 Angel Square, Manchester, M60 0AG

Salary: £38,220 – £41,771 per annum, NJC scale column points 27 to 31

Hours per week: 37 hours

About the role

We are looking for an HR advisor with a strong Employee Relations background to join our HR Operations team at Co-op Academies Trust.

This role is centred on resolving workplace issues early and well. You will provide first line, practical advice to leaders, coaching them to manage confidently while ensuring outcomes are fair, consistent, and legally sound. You will actively support and guide casework including conduct, capability, and attendance, helping managers reach proportionate decision. Alongside advisory work, you will administer the employee lifecycle through SAM People, ensuring processes run smoothly and colleagues experience a clear and supportive service from appointment through to any changes in employment.

We are particularly interested in applicants who are comfortable handling complex ER matters, exercising judgement, and balancing risk with pragmatism in a unionised multi-site environment.

This is a fixed term role until 28 August 2026.

Closing date: Monday 16 March 2026 at noon.

Benefits

31 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Local government pension scheme

Co-op staff discount - 30% off most Co-op branded products

For more information about the Trust, please visit www.coopacademies.co.uk 

Co-op Academies Trust as an aware employer is committed to safeguarding and protecting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults as its number one priority. This commitment to robust recruitment, selection and induction procedures extends to organisations and services linked to the Trust on its behalf. This post is subject to an enhanced DBS check, with appropriate children and/or adults barred list check if necessary. A person who is included in the children or adults barred list commits an offence if they engage in regulated activity from which they are barred.

We value variety and individual differences, and aim to create a culture, environment and practices at all levels which encompass acceptance, respect and inclusion. Co-op Academies Trust is committed to equality of opportunity for all staff and applications from individuals are encouraged regardless of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief and marriage or civil partnerships. All our colleagues are expected to demonstrate a commitment to co-operative values and principles.