At a Glance
- Tasks: Support HR initiatives and manage employee relations for a dynamic life sciences team.
- Company: Avantor, a leader in life sciences, offering remote work flexibility.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, remote work, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Join a purpose-driven organisation and make a real impact in the scientific community.
- Qualifications: 5+ years of HR experience with strong employee relations skills.
- Other info: Fully remote role with travel opportunities across the UK and Ireland.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
HR Business Partner – UK & Ireland Avantor – Powering the Future of Life Sciences. Avantor’s Lab and Production Services (LPS) team is the engine behind our customers’ scientific and manufacturing success. LPS delivers on‑site laboratory, production, and operational support across world‑leading research, biopharma, and advanced technology environments. As our HR Business Partner for UK & Ireland, you’ll support the people who keep these critical scientific operations running. This is a fully remote role, ideally based near Cambridge or Stevenage, with regular UK travel and ad‑hoc travel to Ireland, so full flexibility is essential. You will report directly to the HR Manager UK & Ireland.
The Opportunity: You’ll partner with the UK HRSP and HRBP LPS Europe to deliver HR support across a population of 350 colleagues in the UK and 50 in Ireland. You’ll be the key HR contact for LPS teams, engineers, and Managers in both the UK and Ireland, supporting them with day‑to‑day HR needs and BAU activity. This role blends hands‑on operational HR with the opportunity to grow your strategic capability in a global life sciences organisation.
What You’ll Be Doing:
- Strategic HR Support
- Deliver HR initiatives aligned with business needs across UK & Ireland.
- Partner with global HRBPs and Centres of Excellence to support regional goals.
- Provide guidance on HR processes, policies, and best practices.
- Support engagement, communication, and change initiatives across multiple sites.
- Build strong relationships with Managers in both countries.
- Employee Relations & Compliance
- Act as the primary contact for escalated ER matters across UK & Ireland LPS sites.
- Lead consistent ER processes, investigations, and case management.
- Support conflict resolution, grievances, and disciplinary actions.
- Ensure compliance with UK and Irish employment legislation.
- Rework and align Irish policies using appropriate legal resources.
- Absence, Wellbeing & Occupational Health
- Own absence management across LPS, including long‑term sickness support.
- Partner with Occupational Health and H&S to support wellbeing.
- Implement reasonable adjustments, including mental health and chronic conditions.
- Align Irish absence processes with UK frameworks.
- Onboarding & Compliance
- Conduct Horus screening, RTW checks (via third-party portal), and OH screening.
- Ensure accurate new starter documentation and requisition management.
- Support compliance processes, including those handled by HRSSC.
- Projects & Operational Excellence
- Support HR due diligence for M&A activity.
- Contribute to enterprise-wide HR initiatives and process improvements.
- Help track HR metrics and support data reporting.
- Assist with transitioning work to HRSSC or overseas teams.
What You Bring:
- 5+ years of HR experience, ideally in a generalist or multi‑site role.
- Strong ER capability and confidence handling complex cases.
- Knowledge of UK employment law; Irish employment law highly desirable.
- Strong data and HR systems skills.
- Ability to balance hands‑on admin with strategic support.
- A full driving licence and flexibility to travel weekly in the UK and ad‑hoc to Ireland.
- A proactive, detail‑focused approach and a desire to grow as an HRBP.
Who You Are: You’re organised, people‑focused, and comfortable working independently in a fully remote role. You enjoy variety, build trust quickly, and thrive in environments where science, operations, and service delivery come together. You’re motivated by supporting teams who contribute to meaningful scientific and operational outcomes.
Your First 3–6 Months: Take ownership of absence management across LPS. Build strong relationships with Managers across the UK and Ireland. Integrate H&S into HR processes. Streamline OH and absence processes across both countries. Establish credibility within the LPS Ireland environment.
Ready to Join Avantor? If you want to support teams shaping the future of science — and grow your HR career in a global, purpose‑driven organisation — we’d love to hear from you. Apply today and help us advance science for a better world.
HR Business Partner (M/F/D) in Oxford employer: Avantor
Contact Detail:
Avantor Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Business Partner (M/F/D) in Oxford
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Avantor on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give you insider info and maybe even a referral, which can really boost your chances.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching Avantor’s values and recent projects. Show us that you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in how you can contribute to their mission in life sciences.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your responses to common HR scenarios. We want to see how you handle real-life situations, so think about your past experiences and how they relate to the role of HR Business Partner.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows us that you’re enthusiastic about the opportunity.
We think you need these skills to ace HR Business Partner (M/F/D) in Oxford
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the HR Business Partner role. Highlight your relevant experience, especially in employee relations and compliance, as well as any strategic HR initiatives you've been involved in.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've supported teams in previous roles and how you can contribute to our mission at Avantor.
Showcase Your Flexibility: Since this role requires travel across the UK and Ireland, make sure to mention your flexibility and willingness to adapt. We want to know that you're ready to hit the ground running!
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at Avantor
✨Know Your HR Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of UK and Irish employment law. Being able to discuss specific legislation and how it applies to the role will show that you're not just familiar with HR processes, but that you can navigate complex cases confidently.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
Prepare examples of how you've aligned HR initiatives with business goals in previous roles. This is a strategic position, so demonstrating your ability to think beyond day-to-day operations will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Build Relationships
Since this role involves partnering with managers across multiple sites, be ready to discuss how you've successfully built relationships in the past. Share specific instances where your interpersonal skills made a difference in employee relations or team dynamics.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about handling employee relations issues or absence management. Prepare by thinking through potential scenarios and how you would approach them, showcasing your problem-solving skills and proactive mindset.