Hr assistant jobs in Westminster, greater london

About the Team
The Ministry Development Team (MDT) is a team of 45 people which sits within the Archbishops' Council. We are nationally responsible for ensuring that there is a pipeline of lay and ordained ministers together with their terms of service and the development of future and current senior leaders to meet the missional needs of the church. As such we have a key role to play in the delivery of our national Vision and Strategy in which we aspire to be a church which is Jesus Christ shaped and centred.

Our work requires us to work collaboratively with a wide range of stake holders and partners including the 42 Church of England Dioceses, 20 Church of England Theological Colleges, the House and College of Bishops, the College of Cathedral Deans and the College of Archdeacons together with a range of universities and other external bodies. Our work is overseen by the Ministry Development Board, which is a subcommittee of the Archbishops' Council and is chaired by a Diocesan Bishop.

About the Role

The Ministry Human Resources (HR) Lead will be line managing a colleague (the Ministry HR Policy Officer) and work in collaboration with colleagues across the church, especially in the MDT and HR teams.

The Ministry HR Lead will be supported by the Advisory Group for Terms of service and Wellbeing of Ministers (AGTAWM). AGTAWM is chaired by the lead Bishop for ministerial terms of service and wellbeing, and is a subcommittee of the Ministry Development Board. The Ministry HR Lead is currently a member of the MDT leadership team and reports to the Director of the Ministry.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Lead the collaborative development and implementation of new and revision of existing ministerial HR policies and practice in collaboration with AGTAWM and other key stakeholders especially dioceses including recommendations for changes to church legislation
• Ensure that ministerial HR policy and practice is consistent with the ongoing development of wider legislative and HR developments inside the church and in wider society particularly changes in good employment practice
• Lead ministerial HR projects as required and provide ministerial HR support to projects led by others
• Support the Archbishops' Council in carrying out their responsibilities as the Central Stipends Authority
• Provide advice to dioceses on specific HR matters when appropriate
• Support the induction of Archdeacons and Diocesan HR advisers
• Act as the key NCI contact for organisations including CECA (trade union) and the Retired Clergy Association
• Play an active role in the leadership of the wider MDT

Governance

• Ensure that AGTAWM operates within its terms of reference, including working with the Chair and the Director for Ministry to fill vacancies on the Advisory Group when they arise
• Ensure that AGTAWM meetings happen sufficiently frequently to provide support to the work of the Ministry HR team
• Support the work of the MDB, including reporting as required on Ministry HR work and seeking the Board's support and formal approval where appropriate
• Engage with, and obtain the support and formal approval of other bodies including Archbishops' Council and the College and House of Bishops where appropriate

Teamwork

• Provide healthy line management of the Ministry HR Policy Officer
• Provide briefings to the Director for Ministry on request
• Play a proactive and positive role within the wider MDT and NCIs, including inhabiting the NCI values
• Build and sustain a wide network of collaborative relationships with colleagues across the MDT, NCIs and wider church, especially with diocesan HR colleagues

Key Relationships outside of the MDT

• Inside the NCIs
  • The central HR, Legal, Data Services, Clergy Payroll, and Finance teams and the Pensions Board, Bishoprics and Cathedrals
• Governance
  • AGTAWM and especially its episcopal chair
  • The MDB and Archbishops' Council
  • The House of Bishops
• The Wider Church
  • Diocesan HR teams
  • Network of Diocesan Clergy Wellbeing Leads
  • Archdeacons
  • The Retired Clergy Association
  • Church of England Clergy Association (Faith Workers Branch of Unite)

Closing date for application is 4 March 23:55 pm

Do you have significant HR experience, with an ability to build strong partner relationships, and a track record of resolving key people issues through advice to managers? Can you manage your own workload, taking personal responsibility for progressing people activities?
We are recruiting for an experienced HR Business Partner to partner with managers and heads of department on all people matters in specific areas of the charity.  

What does this job do?
Reporting to the Senior HR Business Partner, the successful candidate will:

• build and maintain strong working relationships with key stakeholders in specific areas within the charity, acting as a trusted partner for HR related advice.  
• develop a thorough understanding of partnered areas including departmental objectives, role and team structures, and key people issues. 
• provide tailored HR advice and guidance, using metrics and data to spot trends and identify risks and areas of opportunity. 
• manage informal and formal employee relations cases to successful resolution
• work closely with specialist teams in HR to improve people practices.

We currently have two opportunities available in the team:

• a full time, permanent position based at a rehoming centre in the South of England with frequent travel across the region (Basildon, Cardiff/Bridgend, Canterbury, Evesham, Harefield, Ilfracombe, Newbury, Salisbury, Shoreham-by-Sea, Shrewsbury, Snetterton),
• a fixed term contract until February 2027 (both part-time and full-time applications considered) based in the London office, predominantly London based teams, but with some travel.

First stage interviews for this role are provisionally scheduled for 5th and 6th March 2026 on Teams, with second stage interviews taking place the following week at our London office.

Could this be you?
Ideally qualified to CIPD level 7 (or with equivalent experience), you will have previously worked in a similar role and will have a proven track record of resolving key people issues through a thorough understanding of departmental activities, and tailoring advice to managers.  You will have significant experience in successfully resolving a wide variety of complex ER issues with the ability to build and maintain strong partner relationships, as well as also the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information to diverse audiences.

About Dogs Trust
We love dogs. That’s why we do whatever we can to make sure every four-legged friend gets the love they deserve. We’ll never put a healthy dog down, so our work is focused on helping dogs in need, supporting owners every step of the walk, and creating a better world for dogs in the future. It’s what we’ve been doing since 1891 and how we’ve grown to become the UK’s leading dog charity, helping 12,000 loyal friends find their forever homes every year.

To apply for this position please click the APPLY NOW button. Our application process requires you submit a personal statement explaining your interest and suitability for the role.
 
Dogs are incredibly diverse, much like the humans that love them! At Dogs Trust we value diversity, and we're committed to fostering an inclusive culture. We actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, abilities, and cultures and believe that a diverse workforce helps us to achieve our mission. Our colleague networks give our people a voice, acting as vehicles for real and meaningful change within Dogs Trust. We truly want to see every candidate shine throughout the entire job application process, interview stages, and during their time with us. If there's anything on your mind or any adjustments you may need, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to support you every step of the way.

This is full-time, fixed term 12 month contract, beginning in April 2026, with the opportunity to potentially extend.

The People and Operations Coordinator is central to the internal operations of The Theatres Trust and The Theatres Trust Charitable Fund. You will provide operational support that underpins both the work of both entities and enables our people to thrive in a dynamic and supported wok culture.

You will primarily work with the Head of People, Operations and Finance to coordinate day-to-day activities within our office location, support delivery of effective governance, and support key HR procedures. The People and Operations Coordinator will be responsible for providing administration of systems, records and scheduling, as well as coordinating trustee and board activity. You will be pivotal in delivering clear and consistent internal operations and communication of policy and process to the staff team.

Deadline for applications: 10am Monday 9 March 2026

About us

We’re Breast Cancer Now, the research and support charity. We’re the place to turn to for anything and everything to do with breast cancer. However you’re experiencing breast cancer, we’re here. 

The brightest minds in breast cancer research are here. Making life-saving research happen in labs across the UK and Ireland. Support services, trustworthy breast cancer information and specialist nurses are here. Ready to support you whenever you need it. Dedicated campaigners are here. Fighting for the best possible treatment, services and care for anyone affected by breast cancer.

About the role

Sitting within our people and organisational development team and reporting into the senior learning & organisational development manager, you’ll support us with a wide range of administrative duties across the learning & development; people; equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) and internal communications & engagement functions.

As the first point of contact for all learning management system (LMS) user and administrative queries you’ll maintain and housekeep our LMS as well as help coordinate and administer internal and external training programmes, workshops and learning events. You’ll also provide administrative support across our core people activities, including invoicing, onboarding, offboarding, and the employee lifecycle processes.

You’ll use our HR management systems to develop and maintain regular people management reports and liaise with the people and EDI teams to ensure employee and training records are updated.

About you

You’ll have experience of working with information systems ideally within a HR function and be able to use an administrative system or database. You’ll have the ability to work as part of a small hybrid team and possess strong organisational skills and excellent written and verbal communications skills allowing you to always work together when in the office or when working from home. You’ll understand the importance of working accurately and with attention to detail within a confidential framework and can plan and organise your own workload.

Job description and benefits

Please download the job description and our attractive benefits package.

Primary location of role and hybrid working

This role is primarily based in our London office. Our hybrid working model allows you to work up to 3 days per week at home with a minimum 2 days in the office which will be Tuesday and Wednesday.

When applying

We hope you choose to apply for this role. To support your application, you’ll be asked to submit your anonymised CV and a supporting statement. Please refer to the essential criteria on the person specification and clearly provide as much information as you can with examples, to demonstrate how and where you meet the criteria. If you’ve any immediate questions please contact the Breast Cancer Now recruitment team

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We’re committed to promoting equity, valuing diversity and creating an inclusive environment – for everyone who works for us, works with us, supports us and who we support.

Closing date Monday, 9 March 2026 9 am

Interview date week commencing 16 March 2026

We reserve the right to close this advert early subject to volume of applicants.  Therefore, to avoid disappointment please submit your application as soon as possible, if you’re interested in this opportunity.

Worldwide, the pace of Bible translation has never been quicker – a full Bible or New Testament translation is being completed at a rate of 2 a week and a record number of translation programmes are in progress! To help enable this fast-paced mission, we are seeking an organised and approachable HR Administrator to support our People team at Wycliffe.

Your role will give you exposure to a wide range of HR activities, including recruitment, onboarding, maintaining employee records, and supporting internal communications. You will help ensure that staff feel welcomed, supported, and well informed, and that our HR processes allow people to thrive at work. 

• Salary: £25,350-£27,350 (FTE) + benefits
• Location: Home based or the option of a desk at our office in Oxford.
• Hours: Part-time (0.6 FTE – 22.5 hours per week).  Fixed-term contract ending 30 September 2026. Please note that while this post is offered on a fixed-term contract basis, there is the potential for the role to become permanent.
• Closing date: Tuesday 17 March at 9am
• Interview date: Interviews will be held in Oxford on Monday 23 March

Key responsibilities:

• Recruitment and Onboarding Administration;
• Employee Records and Documentation;
• Internal Communications;

*More detail can be found in the job pack.

Benefits include:

• 33 days’ annual leave, including bank holidays
• Employer pension contributions up to 7.5%
• Fully employer-funded life assurance
• 24/7 employee assistance programme for emotional and practical support
• Family-friendly employer
• Monthly in-person team days in Oxfordshire or the Chilterns (expenses covered)
• Hot-desking facility at Oxford office
• Fully paid-for professional development opportunities.

​It is an occupational requirement of this role that you have a clear, personal commitment to the beliefs set out in our Statement of Faith and Doctrinal Position Statement.

For more details and to apply, visit our Careers site.

Do you want to join an organisation committed to addressing low literacy and numeracy levels amongst people in the criminal justice system?

We’ve made substantial progress in recent years, with improvements and expansions to our delivery model and significant growth in our staff team. In Spring 2026, we will launch our refreshed organisational strategy, which will shape our work over the next three years and beyond. To support this growth, we are recruiting for a full time Director of People to help provide strategic people leadership to our growing team of staff and volunteers.

In this pivotal leadership role, you will shape and deliver our People and Culture strategy, ensuring an inclusive, values‑driven and high‑performing environment for our people. You will lead organisation‑wide strategic workforce planning, oversee the full employee lifecycle, and champion initiatives that strengthen engagement, wellbeing and belonging. As a core member of the Senior Leadership Team, you will advise on all workforce matters, drive leadership development, and support our managers to build capability and confidence. You will ensure our HR, volunteering and people operations run smoothly and efficiently, modernising processes and maintaining compliance with employment law, safeguarding requirements and best practice. You will also provide strategic oversight of EDIB work, reward and recognition frameworks, and organisational risk, while leading a dedicated team covering HR, learning and development, and volunteering.

The role requires excellent communication and organisational skills, strong knowledge of employment law, the ability to coach and influence senior leaders, and the capacity to work autonomously while managing multiple priorities effectively. You must be IT literate, with a good working knowledge of the commonly used Microsoft business tools, and be able to work independently. The role calls for a hands-on, collaborative, people‑centred leader with strong emotional intelligence, an inclusive and values‑driven mindset, and the ability to think strategically while remaining performance‑focused and learner‑centred.

We want to hear from applicants who are as committed to the cause as we are.

This is a home-based role but may require occasional travel around the UK including overnight stays. This role is 5 days per week (35 hours) with working days/hours to be mutually agreed in line with business needs.

Employee benefits include a company contribution to pension scheme of up to 5%, 30 days holiday plus bank holidays, life insurance, paid volunteering days, discounts via Reward Gateway and an Employee Assistance Programme. The biggest benefit though is our culture – our people really want to work for the organisation.

We welcome job applications from people with lived experience of the criminal justice system and do not routinely ask for details of any criminal convictions.

Interviews, which will be held online, will take place on 31st March and 1st April 2026

Head of People & Culture

Permanent, Full Time, Hybrid working (2 days per week in the office)

Location: London or Warrington

Salary: £76,432 per annum for Warrington, £81,314 per annum for London (inclusive of London allowance)

About us

Christian Aid exists to create a world where everyone can live a full life, free from poverty. We are a global movement of people, churches and local organisations who passionately champion dignity, equality and justice worldwide. We are the changemakers, the peacemakers, the mighty of heart.

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace, and recognise the value this brings in forming strong, creative and high performing teams. We welcome applications from all sections of the community, and from those with experience from outside of the voluntary sector. And no, you don’t have to be Christian to work here – we encourage people of all faiths and none to apply. We just ask that everyone lives out our values of dignity, equality, justice and love. We value a good work-life balance, so we’re open to part-time and flexible working. We also offer hybrid working for our office-based colleagues. 

About the role

Reporting in to the Director of Organisational Effectiveness, the Head of People & Culture will drive culture and embed practices in relation to retention, talent management and employee well-being, ensuring engagement across all regions.

The successful candidate will Identify strategic opportunities in Human Resource and Organisational Development, offering technical input into the CA People Plan, whilst inspiring and empowering the CA People Team fostering continuous improvement to achieve outstanding results as a team.

The post-holder will champion a culture of innovation in relation to People initiatives, ensuring they are aligned to the organisation's growth and culture.

Some of the main responsibilities of the Head of People & Culture include:

• Foster a culture of inclusivity and engagement embedding a strong people and organisational development culture, ensuring staff motivated and aligned with Christian Aid’s vision.
• Inspiring the People team to think and act courageously to achieve its goals.
• Create opportunities for succession planning and talent development to build leadership capacity.
• Identify strategic opportunities in relation to people initiatives that champion a culture of innovation.
• Inspire and empower continuous improvement in employee relations, ensuring fair and just processes for conflict resolution, grievance handling, and disciplinary matters.
• Champion employee well-being and mental health initiatives and achieve outstanding results as a team.
• Foster a learning culture, ensuring staff have access to training and career progression.
• Identify and embed strategic performance management processes that are fair, constructive, and growth focused.
• Champion DEI initiatives, ensuring Christian Aid remains an equitable and inclusive employer.
• Challenge People BP's to think critically in MCC locations, ensuring global People practices align with local contexts.
• Foster a mindset of connection and collaboration with internal and external networks, ensuring Christian Aid is at the forefront of progressive People practices in the humanitarian sector.

About you

Who we are looking for:

Essential:

• Extensive experience in HR management at a senior level, ideally in non-profit or international development sectors.
• Extensive experience of leading HR teams and managing strategic initiatives such as talent acquisition, leadership development, employee engagement, and performance management.
• Extensive UK employment law knowledge either through experience or CIPD/SHRM elevated qualifications.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and implement programs that focus on employee wellbeing, mental health, and building a supportive work environment.
• Highly developed problem solving skills to resolve complex situations.
• Experience of working in or with organisations in the humanitarian sector, such as international NGOs, development agencies, or charitable organisations.
• Understanding of the unique challenges faced by organisations like Christian Aid, including working in crisis environments and managing international, multi-location teams.
• A highly detailed understanding of the cultural nuances in HR practices across diverse environments.

Further information

At Christian Aid we strive to be an inclusive and diverse employer and recognise the value that this brings in helping to build strong, creative and high performing teams.

We are actively encouraging racialised minorities, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, returning parents or carers who are re-entering work after a career break, people with caring responsibilities, people from low socioeconomic backgrounds, women, and older workers to apply. This is because these groups are under-represented within our teams, especially at senior level, and we recognise and value the contributions members of these groups make to strong, creative and high performing teams. 

We have a strong Christian ethos and we encourage applications from all faiths. Applicants will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of and sympathy with Christian Aid’s faith identity. 

All successful candidates will require a DBS/police check appropriate to the role and location and a Counter Terrorism Sanction check as part of your clearance for commencing your role with us. We also participate in the Inter Agency Misconduct Disclosure Scheme.  In line with this Scheme, we will request information as part of the referencing process from job applicants’ previous employers about any findings of sexual exploitation, sexual abuse and/or sexual harassment during employment, or incidents under investigation when the applicant left employment. By submitting an application, the job applicant confirms their understanding of these recruitment procedures.

This role requires applicants to have the right to live and work in the country where this position is based and undertake the role that you have been offered. If you are successful and we make you an offer for the role, we will be required to conduct a right to work check on your immigration status in the UK. We will contact you regarding the documentation you will need to provide to evidence this. 

Are you passionate about education?
Do you believe in improving children’s chances through education?
We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Head of People & Culture to join a senior leadership team and shape a high-performing, values-driven organisation during a pivotal period of growth and transformation.
With over 40 years of impact, this organisation is responding to the growing school attendance crisis, where 1 in 5 children now miss more than 10% of their education each year.
 
The Opportunity
Job title: Head of People & Culture (Interim)
Location: Flexible Working | Hybrid – London (Stratford, E15)
Hours: 37.5 hours per week | Monday–Friday
Salary: £60,847 – £62,459 per annum
Contract: Interim contract
Reporting directly to the CEO, you will lead the People & Culture function and line manage the People Operations and Systems Manager. You will play a central role in strengthening leadership capability, embedding a high-performance culture, and ensuring the organisation has the talent, systems, and environment it needs to deliver on its strategic goals.
This is a hands-on and strategic leadership role, requiring both operational HR excellence and the ability to drive cultural change.
 
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Culture

• Develop and embed transformational leadership and management capability.
• Foster a high-performance, inclusive, and values-based culture.
• Lead the organisation’s EDI and wellbeing strategies and associated working groups.
• Use HR metrics and data insights to inform senior leadership decision-making.
• Drive employee engagement initiatives that enhance belonging and staff experience.

Operational HR Excellence
Oversee and lead a comprehensive HR service, including:

• Recruitment, onboarding and offboarding
• Performance management frameworks
• Learning and development
• Compensation and benefits
• Payroll oversight
• Employment law compliance
• Employee relations, including complex casework

You will also:

• Review and strengthen HR policies and procedures.
• Advise managers on disciplinaries, grievances, redundancies, absence management, and dispute resolution.
• Ensure robust systems are in place for data collection, analysis and reporting.

Governance & Stakeholder Engagement

• Attend Trustee Board and governance meetings as required.
• Promote safeguarding best practice and maintain up-to-date compliance (DBS required).

 
About You
We are seeking a confident and values-driven HR leader with:

• Proven senior HR leadership experience at Head of or equivalent level.
• Strong expertise managing complex employee relations matters.
• Demonstrable experience leading EDI strategy and initiatives (including knowledge of the Equality Act 2010).
• A track record of building high-performance cultures and driving employee engagement.
• Experience designing and implementing performance management frameworks.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across all organisational levels.
• Strong project management capability with the ability to deliver multiple initiatives end-to-end.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach with the resilience to operate in a dynamic environment.

Desirable:

• Familiarity with HR systems such as BrightHR or Talos ATS.
• Experience developing leadership capability through coaching and mentoring.
• Strong professional networks within education or the charity sector.

 
How to apply
If you are interested in applying for the position of Head of People & Culture through TPP Recruitment please do so by sending your CV to [email protected]

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential; please contact us if you require any assistance or adjustment so that we can help with making the application process work for you.

Interim Senior People & Culture Officer
Location: Farringdon (2days/week, hybrid working pattern)
Contract: Temporary, 3months (full time hours)
Salary: £230/day (through umbrella)

An established national charity is seeking an experienced Senior People & Culture Officer to join their People, Culture & Governance team during a period of significant organisational change.

This is a hands-on, project-focused role supporting organisational change, policy development, and core People operations. You will work closely with the Head of People & Culture to coordinate change initiatives, review and update policies, and ensure smooth operational delivery across the employee lifecycle.

Key Responsibilities:

• Support the planning and coordination of organisational change activities
• Provide project support, including tracking progress, preparing documentation, and drafting communications
• Contribute to the review and development of People policies, ensuring alignment with legislation and best practice
• Provide professional first-line People advice to managers and employees
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and wider employee lifecycle administration
• Maintain accurate HR systems, records, and reporting
• Assist with employee relations case coordination and documentation
• Contribute to improvements in systems, processes, and ways of working

About You:

• Proven HR/People experience, including involvement in organisational change projects
• Strong understanding of employment law and best practice
• Confident supporting employee relations matters
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Discreet, professional, and comfortable handling confidential information
• Proactive and able to work independently while supporting senior stakeholders

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced People professional who thrives in change environments and enjoys balancing operational delivery with project work.

For a confidential discussion, please reach out to Annabelle at MLC Partners.

We are recruiting for a People Data and Reward Manager to join our team in London; the scope on this job involves….

Job Title: People Data and Reward Manager

Location: Homeworking with a requirement to occasionally work at our Head Office (Vauxhall)
Salary: £57,590 per annum (Inclusive of £3,000 London Weighting, which may not be applicable depending on your home location and any agreed permanent homeworking arrangement)
Contract type: Full-time, Fixed term (12 months)

Hours: 37.5

We’re looking for a People Data & Reward Manager to lead on managing the provision of and effective and customer focused payroll, pensions and employee benefits, ensuring high standards of service and compliance. In this role, you’ll shape how we use data to make good decisions and ensure our pay, pensions and benefits support our mission and the people who deliver it.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the development of our pay and reward approach, ensuring it’s fair, evidence based and aligned with our values.‑based and aligned with our values.
• Provide clear and insightful people data and reporting to support leaders across Refuge.
• Oversee the delivery of an accurate and compliant payroll and pensions service.
• Lead the development of our HR and payroll system (CIPHR), ensuring it drives efficiency and a positive employee experience.
• Champion data accuracy, system improvements and streamlined processes across People & Culture.

What You’ll Bring

• Demonstrable experience in reward, payroll or people data
• Strong analytical skills and confidence working with complex data.
• Knowledge of HR systems (CIPHR desirable) and an interest in improving digital processes.
• A collaborative approach and a commitment to supporting colleagues with high quality, people centred services.

Why Join Us?

You’ll be part of a supportive team dedicated to making a difference, with opportunities to grow your skills while helping ensure our people are valued, supported and rewarded fairly.

Closing date: 9.00am on 27 February 2026

Interview date: 6 March 2026

Benefits

Refuge offers a variety of exciting opportunities to learn, develop and grow in your career. We recognise the value everyone brings to the organisation to achieve our aims and are dedicated to developing and rewarding our staff. More details of our benefits can be found in Job Information Pack.

About the Role

A leading university in South East London is seeking an experienced HR Business Partner to join their People & Culture team on an interim basis. This is a broad and impactful role, ideal for someone who thrives in a dynamic environment and can build strong, credible relationships across academic and professional services.

The focus of the position will centre around workforce planning, supporting senior leaders to shape future capability, optimise organisational design, and ensure people strategies align with long-term institutional priorities. Leading redundancy processes, including settlement agreements.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders to deliver proactive, strategic workforce planning across designated faculties and departments.
• Provide trusted HR advice on organisational design, resourcing models, talent planning and capability frameworks.
• Support change initiatives, including restructures and service redesign, ensuring effective consultation and communication.
• Analyse workforce data and trends to inform decision-making and future workforce requirements.
• Build strong, influential relationships with stakeholders, including managers, trade unions and internal HR teams.
• Coach and support managers on complex employee relations matters, performance management and people development.
• Contribute to wider People & Culture projects as needed to support institutional priorities.

About You

• Proven experience as an HR Business Partner, ideally within Higher Education.
• Strong background in leading redundancy processes, including settlement agreements.
• Strong background in workforce planning, organisational change, or strategic transformation work.
• Confident working with senior stakeholders and able to influence at all levels.
• Sound understanding of employee relations and UK employment legislation.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment with the ability to hit the ground running.
• CIPD qualified (or equivalent experience).

Why Join?This is an excellent opportunity to play a key role within a respected university, shaping how the organisation supports its people now and in the future. You'll work alongside a collaborative HR leadership team with the autonomy to make a meaningful impact.
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV.

Hays Specialist Recruitment Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at hays.co.uk

The purpose of this role is to deliver a high quality, flexible Human Resources service, responsive to the needs of the organisation, and in line with legislative requirements and good practice, to our Clinic and Animal Behaviour teams in London and to our Battersea Old Windsor and Battersea Brands Hatch sites. The postholder will provide expert HR advice and support to line managers and staff, coaching and empowering managers to lead on people matters with support and guidance where required.

What we can offer you:
In return for your commitment to our cause and to recognise the value of our employees, Battersea offers a range of benefits to support the wellbeing of our employees. These include:

• 28 days of annual leave (plus 8 days paid public holidays) per year.
• Discounted gym memberships and cycle to work schemes.
• Employee Assistance Programme and access to Wellbeing Resources.
• Generous pension contributions - up to 10% employer contribution.
• Free healthcare cash plan, where you can claim for a range of treatment including dental, optical, physiotherapy, chiropody and acupuncture every year.
• Annual interest-free season ticket loans.

We are also committed to providing learning and development to our employees. During your time with us, we provide support for your professional and career development, including access to digital and in-person training programmes, leadership and management training, mentoring and much more.

Our hybrid working model:
We operate a 50% onsite hybrid working model, with our office-based staff splitting their time between site based and home working. This enables our office-based staff to balance the benefits of home working with onsite collaboration and maintaining a connection to our cause.

Diversity and inclusion:
We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive experience for all staff, volunteers and trustees and those hoping to join us. We operate an anonymised shortlisting process and actively seek to ensure our process is fair and equitable for all.

We understand the value of diverse voices, perspectives, and experiences to help us deliver even more for our dogs and cats, and we welcome applicants from all sections of the community.

As a Disability Confident Committed Employer we will ask about any adjustments you may need at application and/or interview stage, and if you are offered a role with us, we’ll talk to you about any workplace adjustments you may need to help you perform at your best. 

More about us:
At Battersea, we aim to never turn away a dog or cat in need of help. We give each one lots of love, expert care and get to know their characters and quirks so we can find them a new home that’s just right for them. Join us and help us be here for every dog and cat, wherever they are, for as long as they need us.

Acceptable use of AI:
At Battersea, we value expertise. We recognise each candidate that applies to us will have a range of expertise they can offer us, so we want to hear about this in your own words. We understand the support that generative artificial intelligence (AI) software can offer but it can also lead to numerous applications presenting as generic and impersonal. This makes it difficult to gain understanding of your unique experience.

To best showcase yourself, we encourage you to write your responses without the assistance of AI. If you require the use of AI software to aid in completing your application, we ask you use the generative responses as a prompt for writing your answers and avoid copying and pasting. You must also ensure the information presented in your application accurately reflects your experience.

Closing date: 26th February 2026
All applications must be submitted before the closing date advertised. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early if a high volume of applications is received.

Interview date(s):
First interview (online, via Teams): To be confirmed
Second interview (if necessary, in person): To be confirmed

For full details on the role, please download the recruitment pack.

HR / People Manager

Fixed Term initial  12-months | Maternity Cover
Circa £45,000 FTE | Hybrid working (3 days in office, 2 remote)
Essex / Kent (multi-site)

I am excited to be working with a respected not-for-profit organisation seeking an experienced HR / People Manager for a 12-month maternity cover contract.

This is a senior generalist role with real influence. You’ll lead the people agenda, manage a small HR team, and partner closely with senior leaders to deliver change, manage risk, and drive performance through people.

What you’ll be doing

• Leading the delivery of the People strategy

• Acting as a trusted advisor on complex ER matters, including ETs

• Managing TUPE transfers and organisational change

• Using people data to inform decisions and business cases

• Coaching managers and embedding best practice

• Working with Trade Unions and external partners

What we’re looking for

• Strong senior/generalist HR experience

• Proven background in complex ER and employment law

• TUPE and change management experience

• Confident stakeholder manager with commercial insight

• CIPD qualified (or equivalent experience)

Why apply?
High-impact role, flexible/hybrid working, and the chance to make a real difference in a values-led organisation.

If you have the above skills and experience and are immediately available, please apply online today, I would love to have a conversation with you!