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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Support HR operations and provide timely advice to colleagues.
- Company: Join the ICO, the independent regulator of information rights in a data-driven world.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, 25 days holiday, and a generous pension scheme.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team making a positive impact on people's careers.
- Qualifications: No specific experience required; just bring your enthusiasm and communication skills!
- Other info: This role offers hybrid working and is relocating to central Manchester soon.
The predicted salary is between 20200 - 21200 £ per year.
Wilmslow
Job Summary
HR Assistant – Fixed term contract up to March 2026
Full time / Part time
Salary: £24,275 – £25,681 with potential for further progression to £27,324 with our pay progression scheme.
Location: Flexible
Contracted to our Wilmslow office, however, through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.
Please note that our Head Office will be relocating from Wilmslow to central Manchester in the near future. This move marks an exciting step forward, offering enhanced opportunities for collaboration, both within our internal teams and with external partners, through a more flexible, connected, and dynamic working environment.
Why work for the ICO?
- Pay progression scheme.
- Hybrid and flexible working options.
- 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
- Flexi leave (up to 24 additional days leave per year).
- Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
- Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
- Health Cash Plan.
- Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.
Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website.
About Us
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.
As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.
Job Description
The HR Shared Services Team is the first point of contact for ICO employee and manager HR enquiries and operational HR Services.
The HR Assistant is embedded within the team and is responsible for the provision or administrative HR support and accurate and timely response to enquiries from colleagues.
Key Responsibilities
- Provision of timely and accurate advice to colleagues in response to HR policy and process enquiries. Escalation of any complex queries or complaints via line management chain.
- Administration of learning and development activities.
- Timely and accurate processing of basic HR transactions, ensuring any supporting documents are correctly completed and filed.
- Creation of Purchase Orders as requested to enable supplier payments in relation to People Services contracts.
- Provision of administrative support to the People Services team as required.
- Provision of good customer service to all colleagues, managing expectations sensitively and communicating clearly, regularly and at an appropriate level, in writing and verbally.
- Develop and maintain relationships with relevant external stakeholders as required; providing information and ensuring processes are completed within stipulated timeframes and compliant with the ICO’s policies.
- To perform local record management duties and ensure compliance with retention schedules by weeding records.
- To monitor, sift and respond where appropriate to enquiries and service requests
- To maintain relevant management information using spreadsheets, logs and databases as required
- Undertake such other duties that are required and are commensurate with the role.
The HR Shared Services Team is the first point of contact for ICO employee and manager HR enquiries and operational HR Services.
The HR Assistant is embedded within the team and is responsible for the provision or administrative HR support and accurate and timely response to enquiries from colleagues.
Key Responsibilities
- Provision of timely and accurate advice to colleagues in response to HR policy and process enquiries. Escalation of any complex queries or complaints via line management chain.
- Administration of learning and development activities.
- Timely and accurate processing of basic HR transactions, ensuring any supporting documents are correctly completed and filed.
- Creation of Purchase Orders as requested to enable supplier payments in relation to People Services contracts.
- Provision of administrative support to the People Services team as required.
- Provision of good customer service to all colleagues, managing expectations sensitively and communicating clearly, regularly and at an appropriate level, in writing and verbally.
- Develop and maintain relationships with relevant external stakeholders as required; providing information and ensuring processes are completed within stipulated timeframes and compliant with the ICO’s policies.
- To perform local record management duties and ensure compliance with retention schedules by weeding records.
- To monitor, sift and respond where appropriate to enquiries and service requests
- To maintain relevant management information using spreadsheets, logs and databases as required
- Undertake such other duties that are required and are commensurate with the role.
Person specification
Essential Criteria Assessed At Application Stage
- Experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
- Good standard of literacy and effective written communication skills .
- Ability to deal with a demanding workload and prioritise accordingly.
- Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a team.
- Accurate data inputting skills and attention to detail
- Ability to use standard office IT packages.
Essential Criteria Assessed At Interview Stage
- Effective verbal communication skills in particular the ability to provide clear advice and guidance
- Ability to ensure that the highest standards of quality and customer care are achieved.
- Ability to adhere to clear instructions/ procedures in order to deliver appropriate and consistent outcomes.
- Effective organisational skills
- Accurate data inputting skills and attention to detail
Alongside your salary of £24,275, Information Commissioner\’s Office contributes £7,032 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Please visit ico.jobs for full details, including salary and benefits.
Selection process details
locationsWilmslow, Cheshiretime typeFull timeposted onPosted Todaytime left to applyEnd Date: July 21, 2025 (16 days left to apply)job requisition idJR556
HR Assistant – Fixed term contract up to March 2026
Full time / Part time
Salary: £24,275 – £25,681 with potential for further progression to £27,324 with our pay progression scheme.
Location: Flexible
Contracted to our Wilmslow office, however, through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.
Please note that our Head Office will be relocating from Wilmslow to central Manchester in the near future. This move marks an exciting step forward, offering enhanced opportunities for collaboration, both within our internal teams and with external partners, through a more flexible, connected, and dynamic working environment.
Why work for the ICO?
- Pay progression scheme.
- Hybrid and flexible working options.
- 25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
- Flexi leave (up to 24 additional days leave per year).
- Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
- Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
- Health Cash Plan.
- Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.
Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website.
Job Description
The HR Shared Services Team is the first point of contact for ICO employee and manager HR enquiries and operational HR Services.
The HR Assistant is embedded within the team and is responsible for the provision or administrative HR support and accurate and timely response to enquiries from colleagues.
Key Responsibilities
- Provision of timely and accurate advice to colleagues in response to HR policy and process enquiries. Escalation of any complex queries or complaints via line management chain.
- Administration of learning and development activities.
- Timely and accurate processing of basic HR transactions, ensuring any supporting documents are correctly completed and filed.
- Creation of Purchase Orders as requested to enable supplier payments in relation to People Services contracts.
- Provision of administrative support to the People Services team as required.
- Provision of good customer service to all colleagues, managing expectations sensitively and communicating clearly, regularly and at an appropriate level, in writing and verbally.
- Develop and maintain relationships with relevant external stakeholders as required; providing information and ensuring processes are completed within stipulated timeframes and compliant with the ICO’s policies.
- To perform local record management duties and ensure compliance with retention schedules by weeding records.
- To monitor, sift and respond where appropriate to enquiries and service requests
- To maintain relevant management information using spreadsheets, logs and databases as required
- Undertake such other duties that are required and are commensurate with the role.
About You
Essential criteria assessed at interview stage
- Effective verbal communication skills in particular the ability to provide clear advice and guidance
- Ability to ensure that the highest standards of quality and customer care are achieved.
- Ability to adhere to clear instructions/ procedures in order to deliver appropriate and consistent outcomes.
- Effective organisational skills
- Accurate data inputting skills and attention to detail
Equality, diversity, and inclusion
The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.
If you have a disability or impairment and have difficulty using our online application system, please email the HR team at recruitment@ico.org.uk who can arrange for you to submit an application via an alternative method.
Closing Date
Please submit your CV by 23:59 on Sunday 20th July 2025
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.
Nationality requirements
This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)
Working for the Civil Service
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
- Name : recruitment@ico.org.uk
- Email : recruitment@ico.org.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : recruitment@ico.org.uk
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HR Assistant employer: Information Commissioner's Office
Contact Detail:
Information Commissioner's Office Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Assistant
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the ICO's values and mission. Understanding their commitment to information rights and how they support organisations can help you align your responses during interviews, showcasing your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 2
Brush up on your HR knowledge, particularly around policies and procedures. Being able to discuss specific HR practices and demonstrate your understanding of compliance will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 3
Network with current or former employees of the ICO if possible. They can provide insights into the company culture and expectations, which can be invaluable when preparing for your interview.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare examples of how you've provided excellent customer service in previous roles. The HR Assistant position requires strong communication skills, so being ready to share relevant experiences will demonstrate your suitability for the role.
We think you need these skills to ace HR Assistant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience and skills that align with the HR Assistant role. Focus on your administrative support experience, customer service skills, and any HR-related tasks you've handled.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that clearly explains why you're interested in the HR Assistant position at the ICO. Mention specific responsibilities from the job description and how your background makes you a great fit for those tasks.
Highlight Communication Skills: Since effective communication is key for this role, provide examples in your application of how you've successfully communicated with colleagues or managed expectations in previous positions.
Showcase Attention to Detail: In your application, emphasise your attention to detail and data inputting skills. You could mention specific instances where your accuracy made a difference in your previous roles.
How to prepare for a job interview at Information Commissioner's Office
✨Know the Role Inside Out
Make sure you thoroughly understand the responsibilities of the HR Assistant position. Familiarise yourself with the key tasks such as providing HR policy advice, processing transactions, and maintaining records. This will help you answer questions confidently and demonstrate your suitability for the role.
✨Showcase Your Communication Skills
Effective verbal communication is crucial for this role. Prepare examples of how you've successfully communicated complex information in the past, whether in writing or verbally. This will highlight your ability to provide clear guidance and maintain good customer service.
✨Demonstrate Organisational Skills
The HR Assistant role requires strong organisational abilities. Be ready to discuss how you manage your workload, prioritise tasks, and ensure accuracy in data inputting. Providing specific examples from previous experiences can illustrate your capability in this area.
✨Emphasise Your Teamwork Experience
Since the role involves collaboration with colleagues and external stakeholders, be prepared to share instances where you've worked effectively as part of a team. Highlight your ability to build relationships and contribute positively to group dynamics.
