HR Manager

HR Manager – International College Spain (ICS) Location: Madrid, SpainStart Date: January 2026Package: CompetitiveSchool: International College Spain (ICS) Job Purpose The HR Manager plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth, compliant, and strategic operation of all HR functions at ICS. This includes legal compliance with Spanish labour law, workforce planning, HR analytics, people management, recruitment, payroll oversight, mediation, wellbeing, and strong partnership with the School Leadership Team. This role requires a highly analytical, proactive, and people-focused HR professional, able to combine data-driven decision making with exceptional interpersonal and problem-solving skills. Reporting to Principal HR Manager EU Key Relationships SLT, teachers, support staff, Finance, Admissions, Facilities, Regional HR, Payroll, Legal advisors, Trade unions, external partners. Key Responsibilities1. Strategic HR Leadership Act as a strategic partner to the Principal and SLT. Lead workforce planning, staffing structures, and succession planning. Develop HR strategies to support school culture and operational efficiency. Analyse HR trends and prepare reports for SLT and Regional HR. Align ICS HR with Nord Anglia policies and audit requirements. Advise on change management, restructures, and school improvement plans. 2. HR Operations & Employee Relations Oversee daily HR operations, onboarding, and employee documentation. Manage complex employee relations cases, mediation, investigations, and performance issues. Advise managers on policy application, staff concerns, and conflict resolution. Manage leaves, incapacity processes, and statutory compliance. Promote staff wellbeing and mental health initiatives. 3. Legal Compliance & Due Diligence Act as expert in Spanish employment law, disciplinary processes, and union matters. Draft and update policies and handbooks. Ensure compliance with inspections, audits, and safeguarding requirements. Manage disciplinary cases end-to-end and attend mediations/SMAC. Ensure GDPR compliance in all HR systems. Oversee safeguarding checks (CBC, ICPC) and renewals. 4. Payroll & Compensation Coordinate monthly payroll, salary inputs, and audits. Prepare salary grids, benchmarking, and compensation proposals. Support expatriate staff with payroll and benefits queries. Forecast staffing costs and prepare reports for NAE and Finance. 5. Workforce Planning & HR Analytics Maintain dashboards for headcount, FTE, turnover, and staff costs. Provide HR reporting to SLT and Regional HR. Analyse staffing trends, workforce needs, and risk indicators. Support school structure reviews and optimisation. 6. Talent Acquisition & Recruitment Lead end-to-end recruitment for all roles. Define profiles and competencies with SLT. Manage local and international recruitment pipelines. Conduct safeguarding screening (references, background checks, ICPC). Support onboarding for international hires (visas, NIE/TIE, relocation). Promote ICS as an employer of choice. 7. Learning, Development & Performance Coordinate the performance appraisal cycle. Support managers with KPIs, development plans, and improvement processes. Identify training needs and organise PD sessions. Track CPD participation and compliance. 8. Digital Transformation & HR Systems Manage HRIS, ATS, onboarding, and performance systems. Ensure accurate data entry and reporting. Lead digitalisation projects for personnel files and workflows. Train staff on HR digital tools. 9. Safeguarding & Child Protection Ensure full compliance with safeguarding requirements for all staff. Maintain safeguarding records and support the DSL. Enforce safe recruitment practices and contractor compliance. 10. Culture, Wellbeing & Community Engagement Promote a positive and supportive organisational culture. Develop wellbeing and recognition initiatives. Serve as a trusted advisor to staff. Maintain constructive relationships with unions. Support school-wide events and community engagement. Required Skills & Abilities English (C1–C2) and Spanish (C1) Strong knowledge of Spanish labour law Excellent analytical and numerical skills Conflict resolution and mediation ability Strong interpersonal and communication skills Advanced HRIS/digital tools experience High attention to detail and confidentiality Ability to manage complex workloads and deadlines Education & Experience Bachelor's degree in HR, Law, Business, Psychology, or related field Master's in HR or Labour Law (preferred) 5+ years' HR generalist or HR management experience Experience in the education sector (strongly preferred) Experience with Spanish labour legislation (essential) Payroll, analytics, and mediation experience a plus Experience in multicultural/international environments Personal Attributes Collaborative and team-oriented Proactive and improvement-focused Calm under pressure; emotionally intelligent High integrity and professionalism Strong communication and listening skills Creative problem solver Passionate about education and people development Tipo de puesto: Jornada completa, Contrato indefinido Sueldo: 45.000,00€-52.000,00€ al año Ubicación del trabajo: Empleo presencial