HR Assistant in Essex

Spider is advertising on behalf of our client who is looking for a part-time HR Assistant to join their team on a permanent basis for 3 days per week, at their site just north of Colchester, Essex.

They are a family-owned, independent farm, and since 2006 they’ve been growing their own potatoes and crafting them into award-winning, hand-cooked crisps on site. As they work towards becoming the UK’s first carbon-neutral crisp producer, they’re seeking talented individuals who share their passion for quality, sustainability, and innovation. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants variety, autonomy, and the chance to shape HR in a growing, forward-thinking organisation.

Fantastic company benefits include:

• Salary: Competitive (pro rata for part-time hours, dependent on qualifications and experience).
• Holiday: 5 weeks annual leave plus Bank Holidays (pro rata for part-time hours).
• Pension: Company pension scheme.
• Free Parking: Free onsite parking.
• Employee extras: Employee discounted products, supportive working environment, development opportunities, and involvement in an exciting, expanding food brand.

About the role:

As a part-time HR Assistant, you will provide day-to-day HR administration across the farm and manufacturing operation. Working closely with management and the external HR Partner, you will help maintain accurate employee records, support recruitment and onboarding, assist with payroll administration, and act as a first point of contact for routine HR queries. This part-time role offers variety, autonomy, and the opportunity to grow as the HR function develops. Working hours for this role will be 3 days per week working 8am – 5pm.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain accurate staff records, personnel files, and HR documentation, including Disciplinary and Grievance records.
• Support recruitment activities including shortlisting, interview coordination, onboarding, and age verification documentation and overseeing training including H&S induction records.
• Assist with preparation of contracts, offer letters, and HR documentation for permanent and temporary staff.
• Maintain time and attendance records, absence, holiday, and probation tracking, and update HR systems/databases.
• Being a first point of contact for routine employee queries and supporting managers with training and HR processes.
• Helping coordinate seasonal and agency staffing requirements, including maintaining labour agency compliance documents, contracts and agency pay records, attendance records and rights to work documents.
• Working with the Operations Director to obtain and retain SMETA accreditation.
• Support payroll administration, liaise with HR partner on compliance, and help coordinate training and HR processes.

About you:

As a part-time HR Assistant, you will be a proactive, organised, and confident HR professional, comfortable working in a busy, people-focused environment. Previous experience in HR administration, recruitment, or a similar role is highly desirable. You must be able to handle confidential information with discretion, communicate effectively with staff at all levels, and be proficient in MS Office and HR systems. Experience with Sage Payroll, HR advisory services, understanding of HR processes and employment law, and familiarity with farming, food production, or manufacturing are advantageous. A CIPD Level 3 qualification, or willingness to work towards it, is also desirable.

If you have the relevant skills and experience for this part-time HR Assistant role and would like to be considered, please apply by submitting an up-to-date CV. We look forward to hearing from you.

Please check your email inbox and spam/junk folder for any correspondence regarding this vacancy. If you require any reasonable adjustments or information in an alternative format, please let us know as soon as possible. No recruitment agencies, please.