HR Partner - 15 month absence cover

We are pleased to offer an opportunity for an experienced HR Partner to join our close-knit team at EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute on a 15-month absence cover contract. At EMBL-EBI, we are committed to creating an inclusive research and working culture that values diversity in its broadest sense. We believe this strengthens our ability to deliver world-leading life science research and services across Europe and beyond.

As part of the HR Partnering team, you will support the scientists and professional staff whose work advances biodiversity research, addresses the challenges of climate change, and drives discoveries that improve human health. EMBL’s HR function operates across two core locations, Heidelberg and Hinxton, supporting colleagues across all six EMBL sites. You will provide a proactive, practical and people-focused HR service to UK-based managers and staff, advising on a broad range of operational and strategic HR matters in an international and multicultural environment.

Your role

• Providing HR support on HR policies and practices that ensure fairness and expediency and providing partnership to the organisation to supply/deliver value added services by shaping the design and supporting the delivery of People Plans with a focus on providing/delivering what the organisation needs tactically to sustainably improve for the future.
• Influencing and developing strong relationships with all stakeholders to proactively advise and coach managers on how the people agenda may be ‘worked’ to deliver success achieving high levels of trust, respect and professionalism.
• Challenging people managers to get to the root of people and business issues and supporting them in the effective staffing of their teams ensuring inclusivity in how we develop and who we promote.
• Bringing people expertise to develop solutions to help the organisation to deliver its strategy and being one step ahead in terms of understanding, data and insight (externally and internally) to role model HR skills and professionalism.
• Driving a culture of high performance where talent is recognised, stretched and poor performance managed.
• Collaborating across the HR function to develop integrated solutions and ensure execution for major people-centered projects and processes with a ‘one team’ approach that boost employee morale and satisfaction.
• Acting as change agent to oversee new processes, help drive end-user adoption of HR technology, tools and solutions and to drive other change management across the organisation.

You have

• A degree or apprenticeship in Human Resource Management, Public/Business Administration or a related field.
• Experience engaging with a wide range of audiences with a flexible, customer-focused, and outcome-orientated approach able to excel in high-pressure situations.
• Strong business partnering experience and project management, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data and metrics to drive decision-making and measure program effectiveness.
• A passion for innovation and experience driving employee development and contributing to a positive learning culture.
• A commitment to providing exceptional customer service.
• The ability to effectively communicate and collaborate cross-functionally, building strong partnerships with colleagues of different cultural backgrounds.
• Internal stakeholder management capability as well as coaching skills have supported you when partnering with colleagues to solve problems, seize opportunities and advance the mission across an organisation whilst being skilled at engaging through difference and valuing bringing together multiple perspectives.
• A good knowledge of principles of employment legislation (be it in any national system or in intergovernmental organisations), application and compliance, current issues and thinking in HR best practice.
• Demonstrated experience in navigating conflict and facilitating conversations with previous exposure to the development and implementation of HR initiatives to diverse, dispersed and dynamic teams.

You may also have

• Prior experience in using Workday.
• Knowledge of HR processes and procedures in international organisations.
• Exposure to and work experience in a multicultural environment, ideally in a science organisation.
• Good knowledge of another European language (such as French, German, Italian or Spanish).

Other helpful information

• Hybrid Working - At EMBL-EBI we are pleased to offer hybrid working options for all our employees. A dedicated desk will be available every day, but most of our HR team choose to work three days on site and two from home. We have a team day once a week (on a Wednesday) and you can choose two other days to work on campus to suit you!
• Contract length: 15 months absence cover.
• Salary: Grade 6 - Monthly salary at £3,695.61 after tax, but excluding pension and insurance contributions. Plus generous benefits.
• Interviews: We plan to hold interviews on Thursday 25th June, via Zoom.

Why join us

• Do something meaningful - At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges.
• Join a culture of innovation - We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere.
• Enjoy lots of benefits: Financial incentives, Flexible working arrangements, Private medical insurance, Generous time off, Relocation package, Campus life, Family benefits, Benefits for non-UK residents.

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions.
• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.
• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.

Closing Date: 07/06/2026