People Generalist

Join to apply for the People Generalist role at Useful Simple Trust

Location: London (hybrid working 3 days in the office)

Hours: 37.5

Contract Type: 15 month Fixed term Contract (Maternity Cover)

What we are looking for

We’re looking for an experienced, proactive People Generalist to join our small, friendly team and play a central role in creating a positive employee experience. This is a hands‑on role in an SME environment, ideal for someone who enjoys variety, takes ownership, and can confidently manage both day‑to‑day HR operations and the delivery of longer term people related projects.

You’ll be the first point of contact for all People‑related queries, providing practical guidance to employees and managers, ensuring our processes run smoothly, and supporting the full employee lifecycle from onboarding to offboarding. Alongside business‑as‑usual activity, you’ll also lead and support key People projects that improve how we work, strengthen our culture.

If you enjoy building strong relationships, solving problems collaboratively, and creating simple, effective people practices that make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities

Day‑to‑Day People Operations

• Provide first-line support and advice to employees and managers on all people matters.
• Manage core people processes including onboarding, probation, annual pay review, employee relations and offboarding.
• Maintain accurate and compliant employee records, HR systems and documentation.
• Support payroll and benefits administration, ensuring timely and accurate processing.

Policy & Process Management

• Maintain and update People policies and procedures in line with legislation and best practice.
• Ensure compliance across all people processes, providing clear guidance to managers.
• Streamline and improve workflows to enhance efficiency and employee experience.

Employee Relations & Manager Support

• Provide guidance and hands‑on support for employee relations issues.
• Coach managers on people practices, helping build confidence in handling day‑to‑day people matters.
• Foster a supportive, open culture where issues are addressed early and constructively.

People Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Lead or support People initiatives such as policy updates, employee engagement, wellbeing, reward or process redesign.
• Contribute to shaping people‑focused improvements that support organisational priorities.
• Use data, insight and employee feedback to strengthen our approach and inform decision‑making.

Culture, Engagement & Communication

• Support internal communications relating to People initiatives.
• Help promote a positive, inclusive and collaborative culture.
• Coordinate engagement activities, recognition schemes and wellbeing initiatives.

Experience & Qualifications

• Solid experience in a generalist people role.
• Confident delivering hands‑on HR support across the full employee lifecycle.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Excellent organisational and project‑management skills.
• Ability to build trust and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Comfortable using people systems and data to inform actions and decisions.
• CIPD Level 5 or working towards it (or equivalent HR qualification).
• Experience within engineering, design, consultancy or similar professional services.
• Experience in an SME environment.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, people‑centred or purpose‑driven organisation.

What we offer

• An entrepreneurial environment; we’re open to new ideas.
• Flexible and hybrid working, including the possibility to work a compressed 9‑day fortnight.
• 25 days annual leave + bank holidays.
• Private medical insurance for you and your family.
• Company Pension Scheme 7%.
• Free access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for you and your family.
• Thriving Trust‑wide social scene, including charitable activities.

Who We Are

The Useful Simple Trust (UST) is a family of professional design and consultancy practices. Our 90+ talented and committed engineers, architects, designers and strategists work side‑by‑side creating positive outcomes for our changing built environment.

Useful Studio, Expedition Engineering and Useful Projects share space, ideas and experience, and regularly collaborate on a range of high‑profile projects in the UK and internationally. Our breadth of experience gives us a depth of inter‑disciplinary thinking rarely found in the industry.

As a Social Enterprise, B Corp™ and Employee Benefit Organisation we do things differently. Our people are highly motivated and committed because our structure and values mean that our combined success is shared equitably. We share part of our profit and re‑invest the rest in research, social and environmental projects.

Diversity Statement

UST strives to be a diverse and inclusive place where we can all be ourselves. We are working to change the lack of representation of minority groups and are particularly keen to hear from anyone with relevant skills and experience who feels they are underrepresented in the industry.

We encourage people from culturally diverse backgrounds, women, people with different abilities, LGBTIQ+ community, gender, all age groups, and those with intersectional or multiple diverse characteristics to apply. We know that diversity makes us stronger, and we are committed to creating a working environment that is inclusive and ensures everyone can be heard and valued for their contributions.