HR Administrator in Kidlington

At Essentra we are constantly growing, evolving and trying to better ourselves. As such we are looking for a proactive and detail-oriented HR Administrator to join our team and support the day-to-day delivery of HR activities. In this role you will provide administrative and coordination support across the HR function, helping to ensure people processes are delivered accurately, consistently and on time for the UK workforce and wider HR function. This role would suit someone early in their HR career who is organised, curious, comfortable working with data and systems, and keen to develop broad HR experience within a supportive team environment. The role plays a key part in enabling the HR team to operate effectively, support business priorities, maintain reliable HR data, and contribute to a positive employee experience.

Responsibilities

• Support and coordinate the end-to-end onboarding process for all new starters, helping to ensure a smooth and positive experience.
• Prepare contracts, offer letters and onboarding documentation, including supporting the processing of contractual changes.
• Update HR systems to track new starters and keep managers informed throughout the onboarding journey.
• Support induction activity and help ensure compliance and documentation requirements are met.
• Coordinate probation administration, including tracking reviews, prompting managers and issuing outcome letters.
• Maintain accurate records of employee changes such as sabbaticals, parental leave and contractual amendments, helping to ensure HRIS and payroll data are aligned.
• Monitor shared inboxes, triage incoming queries and provide timely, professional responses, escalating where appropriate.
• Support the right-to-work checking process, ensuring documentation is recorded and maintained in line with legal requirements.
• Support the administration of global reward processes, including annual salary review, bonus cycles, and benefit renewals.
• Support the administration of global mobility policies, processes, and documentation.
• Ensure the HR Information System is consistently updated with accurate employee data, including new starters, leavers, contractual changes, personal details, annual leave, sickness, and other types of absence.
• Produce HRIS reports as required to support business and HR team needs.
• Provide administrative support for HR projects and initiatives.
• With guidance, review existing administrative processes to identify inefficiencies, duplication, or manual workarounds.
• Support process improvement activity by identifying opportunities to improve forms, templates, workflow triggers, self-service enhancements, or system processes.
• Help create and maintain standard operating procedures and guidance documents.
• Build positive working relationships with HR colleagues, employees, managers and other stakeholders.
• Support cross-functional projects and HR initiatives such as engagement activities, policy updates and employee communications.
• Support HR processes in line with legal, regulatory, audit, and GDPR requirements.
• Support internal and external audit activity by preparing required documentation.

Skills and Experience

• Excellent administrative and organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks and priorities.
• High attention to detail and accuracy in data entry, documentation, and record keeping.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the confidence to engage with colleagues at all levels.
• Ability to manage a varied workload, prioritise effectively, and work to deadlines.
• Prior experience of working in an HR administration role is preferable but not essential.
• Confident using Microsoft Office, particularly Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Good knowledge of HR Management systems and Microsoft Office packages (Desirable).
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.
• A proactive, solution-focused approach with a willingness to learn and take initiative.
• Strong teamwork skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments.
• Awareness of HR policies, employment legislation, or HR best practice is desirable but not essential.

What we offer

• Discretionary Annual Bonus
• Up to 5% matched pension contribution
• 4x annual salary life assurance
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Employee discounts through MyDiscounts
• Salary Sacrifice Car Scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme

This is a hybrid role with expectation of working in our Kidlington office 2/3 days per week.