HR People Site Lead in Saffron Walden

EMBL is entering an exciting new chapter. With new scientific leadership, an ambitious strategic vision and a continued commitment to enabling world-class science, we are strengthening our HR leadership to meet the future needs of our international community. As part of this journey, we are recruiting two site-based HR team leaders to oversee our Human Resources teams: based at our two largest sites in Heidelberg, Germany, and at our European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI) near Cambridge, UK. Together, these roles will play a pivotal part in strengthening local HR leadership alongside our scientific communities.

The local lead roles will be responsible for connecting and collaborating across all sites and specifically with HR colleagues within the headquarters also based in Heidelberg. This is an exciting time to join the team to support the work that EMBL does in a dynamic scientific international organisation. At EMBL, our scientists and professional services teams are tackling some of the most important challenges in the life sciences, using latest technologies such as artificial intelligence, exploring biodiversity and the impacts of climate change to enable discoveries that improve human health. Behind every scientific breakthrough is an organisation that attracts, develops and supports exceptional people.

We are looking for experienced HR leaders who can operate within a matrix organisation as part of the administrative and operational teams.

Your role

• Working closely with the Headquarter HR team and reporting to the local Head of Administration & Operations, you will act as the critical link between institutional strategy and site-level reality, ensuring that EMBL's people practices are practical, effective and aligned with our unique organisational framework.
• You will lead and develop a team of HR professionals in areas such as HR Partnering, People Advisory and Talent Acquisition, while building trusted relationships with senior scientific and operational managers and leaders.
• You will also play a key role in driving organisational change, supporting and contributing to HR transformational initiatives.
• Operating within EMBL's unique matrix environment, you'll balance local priorities with institutional objectives, ensuring that HR solutions are both practical and aligned with the organisation's broader ambitions.

Success in this role comes through delivery, influence, collaboration and sound judgement, helping leaders navigate complexity while enabling exceptional science. Focus areas will also be supporting new and emerging technologies within our HR landscapes.

What you will do

• Lead and develop a team of HR professionals, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Partner with Directors, Heads of Unit and senior leaders within scientific and operation areas to deliver practical people solutions aligned with organisational priorities.
• Oversee the day-to-day delivery of HR operations and recruitment in a unique setting.
• Support continuous improvement of HR services across the employee lifecycle.
• Provide expert guidance on complex employee relations and sensitive people matters.
• Contribute to organisational design, restructures and change programmes specifically at the local level.
• Support HR projects and drive local initiatives to support the evolution of policies and processes.
• Build productive and positive relationships with EMBL's Staff Association and external stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted advisor to the Heads of Administration, Directors and scientific leaders and confidently represent the function across the organisation.
• Work collaboratively as part of the wider site-based Administration and Operations team ensuring that cross-team functions align to support user interfaces and processes.

About you

You'll be an experienced HR leader who enjoys working in complex, international, collaborative environments and building strong partnerships across a wide range of stakeholders.

You have

• Substantial experience as a senior HR generalist or senior HR business partner, with leadership responsibility.
• Strong track record of managing complex employee relations with sound judgement and minimal escalation.
• Ability to build credibility with senior leaders and highly accomplished technical or scientific experts in an intellectually rigorous, evidence-driven environment.
• Exposure to change management or policy development at a function-wide level.
• A passion for continuous improvement and simplifying complex processes to deliver better outcomes for managers and staff.
• A positive, growth mindset with resilience and the confidence to navigate ambiguity and competing priorities.
• Track record of delivery in multicultural and matrix organisations.
• Fluent English language skills.

You may also have

• Familiarity with Workday or comparable HR ERP systems.
• Experience working in higher education, research, academic or international or multi-country environments.
• Experience of working in fast-paced research and development and technical sectors.

Benefits and Contract Information

• Financial incentives: depending on circumstances, monthly family/marriage allowance of £291, monthly child allowance of £351 per child, non-resident allowance up to £750.24 per month, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances.
• Hybrid working arrangements.
• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover).
• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to eight bank holidays.
• Relocation package including installation grant (as applicable).
• Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely).
• Family benefits: On-site nursery, child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances.
• Contract duration: This position is a 5-year contract renewable up to 9 years.
• Salary: Monthly salary starting at £6,251.96 after tax (but excluding pension & insurances) + benefits (Total package will be dependent on family circumstances).
• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions.
• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL-EBI, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ and individuals from all nationalities.
• Job location: This role is based in Hinxton, near Cambridge, UK. You will be required to relocate if you are based overseas and you will receive a generous relocation package to support you.

How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system before the closing date. Applications will close on 30/08/2026.