Overall Job Purpose

This role is pivotal in making sure the HR & Culture team is a credible, approachable and proactive department and supports staff and volunteers to achieve DENS’ organisational aims. As the first point of contact for advice and support on all aspects of the employee life cycle, from recruitment to exit, you’ll keep on top of tasks and take ownership of supporting staff and managers with their HR queries. Supported by the Head of HR & Culture, you will deliver a service that is timely, accurate, consistent and compliant.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Respond to all HR and training queries, support staff with their HR needs such as recruitment, induction, absence, pay and benefits, escalating to the Head of HR & Culture where needed.

• Support the Head of HR & Culture to review, develop and maintain standard frameworks and documents for all HR processes, to ensure consistency of approach and best practice across all teams at DENS.

• Take ownership for managing compliance within the employee life cycle, including onboarding, offboarding, ensuring letters are produced, spreadsheets/databases are updated and associated paperwork collected.

• Lead on recruitment of all posts, including preparing and posting job advertisements. Liaise with hiring managers to offer guidance on screening applications and interview questions, ensuring timely communication with candidates. Draft and issue offer letters, contracts of employment and other onboarding documentation

• Carry out pre-employment checks including references, Right to Work and Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks

• Deliver the HR Induction for new starters and regularly review the induction process to ensure it is kept up to date and is accessible.

• Ensure payroll administration is accurately completed for the monthly cut-off date, in liaison with the Finance team and payroll provider.

• Maintain and monitor staff records, including training, appraisals, annual leave, sickness absence, ensuring that pay is adjusted accordingly in line with DENS’ policies.

• Run reports and review data on the HR system (Breathe), highlighting issues or concerns and working collaboratively to come up with ideas and solutions.

• Pension administration, ensure all our legal obligations are met and all eligible staff are signed up to the scheme, in liaison with the pension provider.

• Chair and coordinate the Mental Health Working Group

• Update the staff handbook, phone lists and support key workforce projects e.g. wellbeing, mental health first aid, policy development, creating guidance tools and training – working with the Head of HR & Culture to communicate and promote to staff.

• Support the training and empowerment of line managers and act as their first point of contact for support with HR policies and processes and the informal stage of employee relations issues, under the guidance of the Head of HR & Culture.

• Responsible for some elements of estate management, including coordinating fire safety checks.

• You may be asked to undertake any other duties that are commensurate with the post as requested by your manager and you must carry out the duties of the post in accordance with DENS’

For an informal chat call Jacky Stafford on 014 42 412 340