HR Operations Coordinator (FTC 12 Months)

Do you want to be a valued part of the critical infrastructure that serves communities across Europe and beyond? Are you looking for a position in which you can set direction and help shape our company? If so, then you could be the newest addition to our team as a HR Operations Coordinator. Be part of the movement – and play your part.

About the role

As part of the HR Operations team, you will play a key role in delivering efficient, accurate, and timely support across the full colleague lifecycle. Working within a collaborative team environment, you'll manage a range of transactional HR tasks using our HRIS system (Workday) and ticketing platform (TopDesk), ensuring compliance and high service standards. You'll be a key point of contact for managers and colleagues, handling queries on a variety of HR topics, while also supporting the wider HR function with data integrity and continuous improvement initiatives. This role is a Fixed Term Contract for an initial 12 months, with the possibility of temp to perm.

You will be responsible for:

• Processing and validating colleague lifecycle transactions in Workday, including new starters, contract changes, leavers, and absence records.
• Responding to HR-related queries from colleagues and managers via email, phone, and MS Teams, ensuring adherence to agreed SLAs.
• Drafting and issuing HR documentation such as contracts, variation letters, and benefit scheme communications.
• Supporting cyclical HR activities such as holiday purchase schemes and benefit enrolment processes, ensuring data accuracy and deadlines are met.
• Collaborating with HR Advisors and Business Partners, including occasional support for casework activities such as note-taking during meetings.

About you

You are a confident and proactive candidate with excellent written and verbal communication skills, capable of engaging effectively with a wide range of stakeholders including colleagues, managers, and senior leaders. You take pride in delivering high-quality work, managing your own workload with minimal supervision while meeting deadlines and maintaining attention to detail. A strong team player, you are always willing to share knowledge, support your colleagues, and contribute to shared goals—particularly during busy periods or operational changes. You bring a positive attitude and a continuous improvement mindset, always looking for ways to make processes more efficient and effective. You are comfortable using Microsoft Office tools, especially Outlook, Word, Excel and MS Teams, and ideally have some experience with HR systems such as Workday. Experience in a customer-facing or internal HR role—particularly in the UK or Ireland—is beneficial, though not essential. Above all, you're someone who thrives in a collaborative, supportive environment, embraces change, and isn’t afraid to pick up the phone to resolve queries quickly and keep things moving. You’re driven by data and KPIs and are motivated to make a real difference in the way HR operations support the wider business.

We think the strongest teams are built on diversity and inclusivity. Contrasting opinions, varied skills and strong characters bring out the best in us all. And we cannot wait for you to join.

Working at DFDS

Join the movement and grow with us. Be a valued member of a diverse team at DFDS and help drive change together. While you’re with us, we want you to develop. At DFDS, we believe that development happens first and foremost through activities in the workplace. We will also offer training courses that can support you in your role, if needed.

Now about what we can give you. You’ll be able to access some fantastic benefits such as:

• Life assurance cover
• Contributory company pension scheme
• Holiday Purchase Scheme
• Free ferry travel for up to 4 guests between Dover and Calais / Newcastle and Amsterdam with no limit on trips
• Full employee assistance programme including: Proactive financial, emotional, mental, and physical health care support including face to face counselling, fast 24/7 access to a GP, a second medical opinion and legal support for colleagues and their family.
• Huge range of retail discounts from high street and online retailers
• Cashback on health care including dental, optical, physiotherapy, prescriptions, specialist consultations and much more.
• Access to Breeze, our award-winning Wellbeing platform.
• Access to mental health first aid and opportunity to join support webinars with a focus on all areas of positive wellbeing.

Are we a match? Then what are you waiting for? Apply now. If you think your personality, skills, experience, and desire match this role, we’d love to hear from you. Please send us your CV as soon as possible, as we’re keen to meet potential candidates on an ongoing basis. We look forward to hearing from you.