HR Assistant in Sheffield

Location: Sheffield

Working Pattern: Hybrid, includes 3 days each week in the office

Contract Type: Full time, permanent

Salary: £28,000 – £30,000 depending on experience

Reporting to: Head of HR / HRBP

Role overview

We are looking for a talented and experienced Human Resources Assistant to join our HR team. This is a busy and varied role responsible for providing advice, support, and administration to ensure the HR function delivers a great service to our stakeholders in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.

You will be responsible for producing HR-related documentation across the employee lifecycle and maintaining the HR system, ensuring all employee data is accurately recorded and kept up to date.

To succeed in this role, you’ll bring flexibility, initiative, and strong organisational skills to effectively meet the needs of internal and external customers.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide effective administration across the employee lifecycle including new starters, leavers, contractual changes, benefits administration and basic reporting.
• Ensure the HR system and employee files are accurate and well maintained.
• Manage the HR inbox daily, responding to first and second line queries and resolving issues relating to the full employee lifecycle.
• Manage benefits administration through our online portal.
• Take notes in formal HR meetings.
• Issue contracts of employment, process new starter paperwork, manage onboarding, meet new joiners on their first day, and process references and right-to-work checks.
• Support managers in employee relations matters including sickness absence, flexible working, family leave, grievances, disciplinaries, and performance improvement.
• Support offboarding processes including calculating outstanding holiday, issuing resignation receipt letters, and conducting exit interviews.
• Support data collation, analysis and preparation for HR reporting.
• Assist with organising training and development programmes, including scheduling sessions, tracking attendance, and preparing materials.
• Suggest improvements to HR processes to ensure the function remains fit for the future.
• Complete ad-hoc HR project work as required.

What will you need to succeed?

Experience

• Proven experience as an HR Assistant or in a similar HR/administrative role.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities and organise workload effectively.
• Experience handling sensitive and confidential information discreetly.
• Ability to work collaboratively with HR colleagues and stakeholders.
• Proactive and passionate about delivering excellent service to the business.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing business needs.

Knowledge

• Experience using HRIS systems (Dayforce experience advantageous).
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (including mail merge, pivot tables, formulas).
• Understanding of current employment legislation.

Skills

• Excellent communication (written and verbal), interpersonal and administrative skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• High attention to detail.
• A proactive self-starter who anticipates issues and develops practical solutions collaboratively.

Values and ways of working

To build the best possible working environment for all, it is essential that every team member embodies our values:

• We work together: You help build a trusting, open culture. You welcome feedback, support development, and approach learning positively.
• We include everyone: You naturally collaborate, embrace cognitive diversity, and support others’ growth with empathy and honesty.
• We take ownership: You push back against complacency, take responsibility, and keep work moving forward without passing issues to others.
• We never stand still: You think “how can we” not “why can’t we”, showing tenacity, innovation, and a commitment to continual improvement.
• We do it for them: You create an environment where others are empowered to perform at their best — enabling teachers, students, and families to thrive.

What do you get in return?

• 25 days annual leave rising to 30
• Access to a range of benefits via My Benefits World
• Free eye care cover
• Life Assurance
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
• Monthly Tes Socials
• Access to extensive learning and development resources