HR Assistant

We are seeking a highly organised, proactive and customer-focused HR Assistant to join our busy team.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone with strong administrative skills and an interest in Human Resources to develop their experience within a supportive university environment. You will play an important role in supporting the smooth running of the Faculty’s HR and payroll operations, providing an efficient and professional service to academic and professional services staff, line managers and visitors.

Working closely with the HR Officer you will provide administrative support across the employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, payroll administration, employee records and compliance. You will also support the administration and induction of academic visitors, ensuring they receive a welcoming and positive experience.

Key Responsibilities

HR and Payroll Administration

• Act as the first point of contact for HR enquiries from employees, line managers and visitors, responding to queries professionally and directing them to the appropriate person where necessary.
• Maintain accurate and confidential electronic and paper personnel records in line with GDPR and University policies.
• Prepare standard letters of appointment, employment contracts and visitor agreements.
• Assist with the monthly processing of casual and variable-hours payroll forms and spreadsheets.
• Carry out right to work checks in accordance with University and Home Office requirements, with full training provided.
• Provide administrative support for recruitment activities, including distributing application materials and assisting with interview arrangements.

HR Administration and Employee Support

• Produce regular and ad hoc HR reports and undertake any necessary follow-up actions.
• Monitor probationary periods and ensure relevant information is accurately recorded on the HR system.
• Support new starter checks and the preparation of appointment documentation.
• Assist with planning and coordinating induction sessions for new employees.
• Monitor working hours and support compliance with payroll procedures and statutory pay requirements.

Academic Visitor Administration

• Support the processing of academic visitor applications and issue letters of invitation.
• Respond to straightforward visa-related enquiries and signpost visitors to appropriate guidance.
• Welcome new academic visitors and coordinate their induction.
• Arrange workspace allocations, University identification cards and relevant right to work checks.
• Provide ongoing administrative support to visitors throughout their stay.

About You

We are looking for someone who is organised, approachable and detail-oriented, with excellent communication and customer service skills. You will be comfortable handling confidential information, following established procedures and managing a varied workload while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines.

You will ideally have experience in an administrative or customer-facing role and be confident using Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word and Excel. Previous HR experience would be beneficial, but is not essential, as training will be provided on University systems and processes.

Essential Skills and Experience

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Proven HR experience
  
• Relevant administrative experience and confidence using Microsoft Office, including spreadsheets, email and diary management.