HR Business Partner

About the School - Hastings School, Lorenzo Solano Tendero:

1415 students | 56 nationalities | 6 sites | 1 school

Hastings School, founded in 1971, serves students aged 2-18, from a diverse community and is nestled in the heart of Madrid, Spain. We are a prestigious, premium international school, within the Cognita family of schools.  Our holistic educational approach delivers outstanding academic results. Whilst in the last two years our graduates leave to attend many of the best universities around the world including; University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, UCL, Duke University, University of Edinburgh, King's College London, KU Leuven, LSE, University of St Andrews & Delft University of Technology to but name a few.

We want students of all ages to enjoy their educational journey at Hastings starting from their first day at school. We want them to fulfil their academic potential and develop the knowledge, understanding, skills and attributes they will need in the future.

We utilize a series of learning habits as part of our learner power approach. These habits are Collaboration, Creativity, Curiosity, Empathy, Reflection, Resilience, Responsibility and Thinking.

At Hastings, as part of the Cognita group of schools, we explicitly design our approach to education to help students develop these attributes and emerge ready to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.

This is a remarkable time to join a remarkable school.

The school now has an exciting opportunity for an experienced HR Business Partner to join our fantastic team.

About Cognita:

Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 100+ schools in 21 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East - serving more than 100,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, "Thrive in a rapidly evolving world".

About the Role:

As HRBP at Hastings School, you will play a key role in delivering a high-quality, compliant, and people-focused HR service. Reporting to the Business Manager, you will provide first-line HR support to the School Leadership Team (SLT) and staff across all aspects of the employee lifecycle — including recruitment, onboarding, payroll coordination, performance, and employee relations.

You will oversee day-to-day HR operations, ensuring alignment with Spanish labour legislation and Cognita policies, while maintaining accurate records and promoting best practice across the school. Supervising the HR Assistant, you will coordinate HR processes to ensure consistency, efficiency, and a positive experience for all colleagues.

With around 210 employees across our 6 sites, this is a hands-on and varied role requiring strong organisation, clear communication, and the confidence to support colleagues at all levels. You will also collaborate closely with the wider Cognita HR network, contributing to projects and initiatives that enhance our shared culture and operational excellence.

This is a permanent, full-time role based in Madrid, offering an exciting opportunity to make a meaningful contribution within a vibrant international school community.

To view our full Role Profile, please copy and paste this link into your browser:

Who We Are Looking For:

We are seeking a skilled HR professional who takes pride in delivering efficient and accurate HR support. You'll be someone who enjoys keeping things running smoothly, supporting colleagues with confidence, and maintaining a high standard of professionalism in everything you do.

The ideal person will:

- Have solid experience in a generalist HR role, ideally within an educational or multinational environment.

- Bring a sound understanding of Spanish labour law and HR best practices, providing clear and practical guidance.

- Be highly organised and detail-oriented, with excellent time management skills and the ability to handle multiple priorities.

- Be an effective communicator who builds trust and positive relationships across all levels.

- Demonstrate integrity, discretion, and a proactive approach to resolving day-to-day issues.

- Have experience supervising or mentoring HR support staff and coordinating daily HR activities.

- Be approachable, adaptable, and collaborative, with a genuine interest in creating a positive working environment.

- Ideally, have experience using HRIS systems and supporting payroll or benefits administration in Spain.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, values teamwork, and takes satisfaction in providing exceptional HR support within a welcoming and professional school community.

Benefits at Cognita:

- Competitive salary depending upon qualifications and experience

- Free breakfast and lunch provided during Term Time

- School holidays and public holidays

- Free parking on site (subject to availability)

- School discounts

- Exclusive third-party discounts

- Ongoing professional development

How to Apply:

Complete this application before the closing date. The Closing Date for Applications is: 17th November 2025

Cognita Schools are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff, volunteers and other third parties to share this commitment. Safer recruitment practice and pre-employment background checks will be undertaken before any appointment is confirmed.

We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background.

Early applications are encouraged, we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to closing date for the right applicant.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Work Location: In person

Application Deadline: 17/11/2025