HR Officer

Job Introduction

Job Purpose

The role holder will provide efficient and effective day-to-day HR support and administration across all stages of the employee lifecycle, from drafting employment contracts and onboarding to handling contract terminations.

This role is vital in supporting the HR function and requires strong administrative, organisational, and time-management skills. In return, you'll be part of a strong HR team where you can make a real impact.

Key Responsibilities

HR Operations

• Manage the HR mailbox and ensure that queries are acknowledged, responded to or re-assigned accordingly.
• Provide clear, concise and timely advice in response to queries (via email and telephone) from employees and line managers and act as first point of contact.
• Advise managers and employees on BPP policies and processes.
• Ensure that data in all HR systems is up to date.
• Archive employee personnel records in accordance with GDPR.
• Maintain HR tracker spreadsheets.
• Undertake filing regularly to maintain up-to-date employee records.
• Complete and maintain HR Operations stats.
• Support the wider HR team on ad hoc projects as required.
• Undertake any other duties as required.

Managing probation, absence and contractual changes

• Manage the probation process by advising managers on key dates and ensuring end-of-probation reviews are held; escalate queries and areas of non-compliance.
• Issue probation extension, pass and termination letters as appropriate and update the HR system accordingly.
• Implement contractual changes in accordance with internal SLAs.
• Notify the payroll department of all salary changes in line with agreed deadlines.
• Manage absence mailbox and escalate any issues.
• Input absence data and liaise closely with the payroll department.

Processing new starters and leavers

• Administer and adhere to the leavers process, ensuring records are closed and all paperwork finalised appropriately.
• Conduct exit interviews and record findings.
• Issue contract and onboarding paperwork for new starters.
• Manage and track all pre-employment checks, e.g. right to work, references, DBS etc.
• Create and populate new employee records on the HR system.
• Liaise with internal teams to ensure onboarded is coordinated effectively.
• Support new starters during onboarding.

Skills, Knowledge and experience REQUIRED FOR ROLE

Essential

• Proven HR administrative and/or recruitment and/or onboarding experience with the ability to carry out operational tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Working knowledge of HR databases and systems.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Experience of working in a methodical way in line with standard processes.

• Demonstrable ability to work to a high degree of accuracy with exceptional attention to detail.
• Demonstrable experience of continuous improvement – improving/streamlining a process, including initial review, recommendations for action, implementation and review.

• Proven ability to build and manage relationships with stakeholders internally and externally.
• Confidence to challenge managers when advising around due process.
• Proven ability to communicate clearly and in a professional manner, both verbally (face-to-face or on the telephone) and in writing.  

• Proven organisation and personal time management skills with the ability to schedule and prioritise work using time effectively, setting and meeting deadlines in accordance with business needs.

• Proven ability to work and collaborate as part of a team, sharing knowledge/advice with colleagues and offer assistance to others where appropriate.  
• Proven ability to work on own initiative with minimal supervision, taking accountability for your workload.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft 365, specifically Word, Excel, and Outlook to include mail merges and detailed spreadsheet work.
• Good understanding of GDPR and its implications, with the ability to maintain the strictest levels of confidentiality at all times.

Desirable

• Good understanding of basic employment legislation.
• Experience of Zellis Resourcelink and Tribepad.
• Knowledge of UK pre-employment checks, especially right-to-work and DBS.
• Previous experience in a financial, educational or healthcare sector.