HR Generalist in Norwich

We’re looking for an experienced, hands‑on HR Generalist to join our small, friendly HR team in a fast‑paced growing organisation of 150 employees. This is an exciting time to join the people function as we scale up and commercialise our exciting innovative gene‑edited crop varieties to those people who need it most. This role offers a great balance of day‑to‑day HR operations and employee and manager support, alongside the opportunity to own and lead meaningful and high‑impact HR projects.

Apart from large strategic projects, you’ll be a proactive doer who is happy to roll your sleeves up and ensure the smooth running of core HR operations, including payroll, while continually spotting opportunities to improve processes and employee experience. You’ll play a key role across the entire employee lifecycle, supporting managers and employees day to day, refining HR processes, delivering training on core HR principles, and ensuring ongoing compliance as regulations change.

• HR Operations & Employee Lifecycle: Manage the full employee lifecycle from onboarding through to offboarding, including ownership of payroll inputs and people data, ensuring employees are paid accurately and on time. Maintain accurate and reliable employee data, reporting and records across HR systems. Lead and manage onboarding processes, including right‑to‑work checks, pre‑employment screening and contract issuance, including for senior (VP‑level) hires. Track, monitor and report on employee absence, including holiday, sickness, parental leave and other time off (currently in BambooHR).
• Employee Relations & Manager Support: Act as a first point of contact for employee relations matters, including absence management, performance management, disciplinary issues and employee queries. Support and coach managers on HR matters, escalating to Senior HR Business Partners where appropriate.
• Policy, Compliance & Training: Maintain and implement HR policies, processes and the employee handbook, ensuring alignment with company values and legal requirements. Ensure ongoing compliance with employment law and regulatory requirements, including data protection, discrimination and health & safety. Design and deliver training to managers and employees on new or updated HR policies and processes.
• People Programmes: Administer employee benefits and pension schemes, liaising with internal stakeholders and external providers. Support learning and development across the business, including maintaining the L&D curriculum and supporting Personal Development Plans (PDPs). Support delivery of the employee engagement survey and follow‑up actions. Provide support to DEI initiatives led by the business, working closely with the DEI lead.
• HR Systems & Process Improvement: Source, implement and transition to a new international HRIS, including configuration, data migration, testing, training and go‑live. Manage and maintain the current HR system and associated databases during transition. Identify and drive improvements to HR processes, systems and ways of working.
• General: Support ad hoc HR projects and activity as needed to ensure a high‑quality, responsive HR service.

• Essential: You will have experience working in a similar role for 3+ years. You will have experience in working with payroll providers and accountability for payroll. You have detailed knowledge of standard UK HR policies, practices and law, and keep an interest in updates, ensuring that this is reflected in policies and processes. You will be proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and competent with HR systems. Experienced in training delivery of new policies and processes to our managers and employees. Strong interpersonal communication skills.
• Desirable: CIPD level 5. You’ve played a key role in sourcing and implementing a new HRIS, taking it through configuration, data migration, training and go‑live. BambooHR and/or payfit experience a benefit. Knowledge of international data administration and of international payroll (France particularly). Line management experience.

• Competitive compensation and benefits including Private Health Care, Medical Cash Plan, 25 days annual leave and Life Assurance.
• Excellent learning and career development opportunities.
• Diverse workforce operating in a dynamic working environment.

• Job Location – Norwich UK.
• Time Requirement – Full Time.
• Contract – Permanent.
• Closing date – 4th May.