Head of Human Resources

Head of Human Resources

Job Advert

We are looking for a Head of HR to drive the strategic vision for the Human Resources department at St. Catherine’s British School. This role ensures that the school attracts, supports, and retains exceptional staff, fostering a positive and professional working environment. The successful candidate will lead on HR strategy and best practice, promoting a culture of wellbeing, compliance, and continuous development across all areas of the School. The person appointed will possess excellent interpersonal, communication, collaboration, and organisational skills. The successful candidate will also be proficient in both Greek and English. Finally, a high degree of computer competence is a prerequisite for the role.

Please apply by email, to [email protected], using the School’s application form. Further information regarding the School, the job description, person specification and details of the application procedure can be obtained from the School’s website http://www.stcatherines.gr/about-us/opportunities/. Please note that we do not accept the simple submission of a CV and that we reserve the right to interview candidates before the stated closing date; we would therefore welcome early applications. Please be aware that you must have the rights to work within the EU (i.e., be a Greek or EU citizen, or have a residence permit to work in Greece).

St Catherine’s British School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and a criminal record check. Please include the names and contact details of three referees. Similarly, please note that any personal data collected will be used for recruitment purposes only and for unsuccessful candidates’ personal data will be destroyed on completion of the process.

St Catherine’s is a Registered Charity No. 313909.

Application Deadline: Friday, 13^th February 2026

Interviews will be arranged at the earliest convenience thereafter.

Job Description

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Type of contract: Permanent, full time

Hours: 8.30am – 4.30pm which includes a 30-minute break, Monday – Friday inclusive

Place of Work: Upper School

Holidays: 30 days per calendar year (to be taken outside of term-time)

Leadership group: Senior Leadership Team

Line management of: HR Officer, HR Coordinator, HR Administrator, Payroll Officer

Position Overview:

The Head of HR will drive the strategic vision for the Human Resources department at St. Catherine’s. This role ensures that the school attracts, supports, and retains exceptional staff, fostering a positive and professional working environment. The successful candidate will lead on HR strategy and best practice, promoting a culture of wellbeing, compliance, and continuous development across all areas of the school. The Head of HR is responsible for the administration and management of all areas of human resources for the School, including the effective oversight of the payroll function. They will ensure the accurate and compliant delivery of monthly payroll in accordance with Greek legislation, working closely with the Payroll Officer and relevant authorities. The job holder will deliver HR operational excellence across the School. The position requires a highly organised and detail-oriented individual with excellent interpersonal skills and a high degree of confidentiality, integrity, and discretion.

Key responsibilities:

Strategic HR Leadership

• Takes a proactive role in the strategic management of staffing in collaboration with the Principal, Executive Leadership Team, and Board of Governors.
• Develops and implements HR strategies aligned with the school’s long-term goals and change management priorities.
• Leads on organisational development initiatives, workforce planning, and succession planning.
• Contributes to a culture of continuous improvement, wellbeing, and staff engagement.

Recruitment & Onboarding

• Oversees the end-to-end recruitment process for all roles, ensuring high standards in attraction, selection, and onboarding.
• Supports leadership and hiring managers in recruiting outstanding staff, ensuring diversity and safeguarding best practice.
• Manages employee onboarding, including induction programmes and orientation processes.

Contracts, Compliance & Employment Law

• Drafts, issues, and manages employment contracts and associated documentation.
• Ensures full compliance with Greek labour law, safeguarding legislation, and statutory regulations relevant to an independent school.
• Maintains and updates staff records and personnel files in line with data protection standards.
• Manages employee relations, including formal disciplinaries, grievances, and capability procedures, with appropriate legal and procedural guidance.

Visa, Residency & Relocation

• Oversees all visa processes, tax residency registration, and relocation support for non-citizen staff.
• Acts as the point of contact for liaising with Greek authorities, embassies, and legal advisors in relation to international staff.
• Assists with accommodation.
• Ensures compliance with immigration law and monitors changes affecting school operations.

Compensation and Benefits

• Designs and manages the school’s reward strategy, including salary structures, pay progression, and staff recognition programmes.
• Oversees all compensation and benefits programmes, including pensions, private medical insurance, life insurance, school fee discounts, mobile phone provision, and company vehicles.
• Writes and maintains the school’s pay policy, ensuring transparency, fairness, and internal equity.

Professional Development & Performance Management

• Leads the design, implementation, and management of the annual performance review and appraisal system.
• Consolidates CPD needs analysis and creates the annual INSET and staff development plan.
• Supports a culture of continuous professional learning and leadership development across all staff groups.

Policy Development & Documentation

• Develops and maintains HR policies, the Staff Handbook, job descriptions, and person specifications.
• Reviews and updates policies regularly in response to legislative changes and school needs.
• Ensures clear and up-to-date HR documentation, forms, and protocols are accessible to all staff.

Wellbeing & Staff Engagement

• Promotes and leads staff wellbeing initiatives, recognition schemes, and morale-building programmes including the Wellbeing Committee
• Manages internal staff feedback processes (e.g. surveys, exit interviews) to inform planning and decision-making.

Change Management & Organisational Development

• Provides HR leadership through periods of change, including restructuring, role redesign, or new initiatives.
• Advises the Principal and senior leaders on HR implications of organisational change, including staff consultation and communication strategies.

External Liaison & Budget Management

• Manages the HR budget, including recruitment, relocation, legal support, and training.
• Manages the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources to support staff training, compliance requirements, and strategic development priorities.
• Liaises with legal advisors, the Ministry of Education, payroll providers, insurers, and other external contractors or statutory bodies.
• Ensures accurate reporting and data management for internal and external audits and inspections.

Payroll

• Provide strategic oversight of the payroll function, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and alignment with school policy.
• Manage and support the Payroll Officer, including workload prioritisation and performance.
• Ensure compliance with Greek labour, tax, and social security regulations; remain up to date with legislative changes.
• Approve final payroll runs, severance calculations, and contract amendments.
• Oversee payroll-related reporting, audits, and reconciliations in collaboration with Finance.
• Ensure clear staff communication on payroll matters, including pensions, maternity/paternity, and statutory entitlements.
• Liaise with external authorities (e.g. EFKA, ERGANI, MyAADE) and the Ministry of Education as needed.
• Oversee payroll system use and continuous process improvement.

Person Specifications

Essential Criteria

• A Bachelor’s degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in a senior HR leadership role, including management of an HR team, ideally within an international or multicultural environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in Greek and English.
• Strong working knowledge of Greek employment law, with the ability to apply it effectively within an international school context.
• Proven ability to handle sensitive and confidential matters with professionalism, integrity, and discretion.
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective working relationships across all levels of the organisation and demonstrate cultural sensitivity.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills, with strong attention to detail and the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and confidence in using HR systems and data.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach, with the ability to identify issues, assess risk, and escalate appropriately.
• Flexibility and resilience to adapt effectively in a fast-paced, evolving school environment.

Desirable Criteria

• Experience working in an international school or educational setting.
• Professional HR qualification (e.g. CIPD or equivalent).
• Experience supporting inspection, audit, or compliance processes (e.g. ISI).
• Knowledge of GDPR and data protection requirements.
• A clear understanding of safeguarding and safer recruitment in line with UK DfE requirements, including Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSIE), and experience maintaining compliant recruitment and vetting records.