Senior HR Officer in London

Are you ready to take your HR career to the next level? As a Senior HR Officer, you will play a vital role supporting a vibrant and dynamic department. This is an excellent opportunity to apply your expertise, influence HR strategy, and make a real impact within a prestigious academic environment. If you enjoy working in a busy, collaborative team and thrive on delivering high-quality results, this role offers considerable scope for professional growth and satisfaction.

Responsibilities

• Managing a broad range of operational HR duties, including recruitment, onboarding, contracts, and employee relations to support the department's strategic goals.
• Advising line managers on HR policies, employment law, and best practices to ensure compliance and positive staff relations.
• Overseeing visa and immigration processes in line with Home Office regulations to facilitate overseas engagement and international collaboration.
• Supervising and developing 1-2 HR Officers, conducting performance appraisals, and supporting their professional growth.
• Leading on HR projects, process improvements, and providing accurate data analysis to inform decision-making.
• Supporting payroll activities, leave management, and benefits administration to enhance staff experience and streamline operations.

Rewards

• Competitive salary depending on experience.
• Permanent, full-time contract offering stability and career progression.
• Flexible working hours to support your work-life balance, with a minimum of 3 days onsite per week.
• 38 days' paid holiday, generous pension plans, and access to a variety of employee discounts and wellbeing programmes.
• Paid parking options via an eligibility parking scheme or accessible alternative transport solutions such as bus, train, cycling, or park and ride.
• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities to help you expand your skills and qualifications.
• Access to clubs, sports facilities, and a wide range of social activities to promote wellbeing and community.

Experience Essentials

• Proven experience working within a busy operational HR team, delivering end-to-end operational HR services and policy advice.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law, visa regulations, and HR best practices in a complex environment such as academia or higher education.
• Experience managing and developing HR staff, including performance reviews and coaching.
• Proficiency using HR systems such as PeopleXD, SharePoint, and MS Excel for reporting and data analysis.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to explain HR processes clearly to stakeholders at all levels.
• Ability to prioritise workloads, handle sensitive information with discretion, and work proactively to resolve issues.
• A CIPD qualification or working towards Level 5, or equivalent experience, is highly desirable.

Location

This role is based in an environment accessible via various transport links in central Oxfordshire, with options for cycling or public transport. A minimum onsite presence of three days per week is expected to facilitate collaboration and stakeholder engagement. You must live in or near Oxfordshire, with easy commute to the office.

If you are keen to join a forward-thinking HR team and contribute to a world-leading scientific community, and have the required experience, please apply online today! We will review all submissions promptly and respond to suitable candidates swiftly.