At a Glance
- Tasks: Shape and support a people-focused culture in a growing charity.
- Company: Join Wonderseekers, a vibrant charity engaging children with science.
- Benefits: Flexible hours, competitive salary, and a range of employee perks.
- Other info: Dynamic team environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on how we support and empower our people.
- Qualifications: Experience in HR and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 25600 - 25600 € per year.
Join Wonderseekers at a pivotal moment in our journey and play a defining role in shaping how we support, engage and empower our people. This is a rare opportunity to step into a brand-new role where you’ll have the scope to make a real and lasting impact - helping to build a high-quality, inclusive and forward-thinking People & Culture function.
Working as part of a small, collaborative team, you’ll play a key role in building strong, trusted relationships across the organisation, ensuring a connected and responsive people-focused approach. As a values-led charity, we believe that compassionate, inclusive and supportive people practices are critical to achieving our mission. In this role, you’ll play a central role in shaping HR processes, embedding approaches that reflect our ambition, our culture and our commitment to making a difference.
If you’re motivated by purpose, enjoy working closely with others, and are excited by the chance to influence how a growing organisation supports its people, we’d love to hear from you and explore how your skills and experience could make a difference in this role.
We are committed to making our recruitment process as accessible and supportive as possible. If you need this application pack in an alternative format, or would prefer to apply in a different way, we’re here to help. Please contact Laura on 07483 371391 or 01962 863791, or email to discuss your needs.
Job Details
- Working Hours: Up to 30 hours per week (4 full days, or 5 shorter days)
- Work Pattern: Flexible, with hours to be worked across either 4 or 5 days per week (weekdays, office hours). Work pattern to be discussed at interview.
- Location: Working between both sites – Winchester Science Centre and The Point, Eastleigh, working 1 day from home per week.
- Salary: £32,000 per annum (pro-rata). Actual salary based on 0.8 FTE: £25,600 per annum.
- Contract: Permanent
- Start date: ASAP
- Line Manager: Director of People and Culture
- Holiday: 25 days per annum plus bank holidays (full time, pro-rata for part-time hours). Option to buy/sell some leave and gain additional days for continuous service after four years.
- Benefits: Cash health scheme, life assurance, buy/sell annual leave, long service holiday bonus, café and shop discount, electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme, free tickets to WSC and partner attractions, family friendly leave, wellbeing policy, mental health first aiders, cycle to work scheme, financial loans, flexible IT, casual dress, staff events, enhanced pension contribution, inflationary pay rise subject to charity performance and more.
Closing Date: 22nd June 9am
Please note, we’ll accept applications until the closing date, but we may start interviewing earlier - so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
About our Charity
Wonderseekers (the Charity behind Winchester Science Centre) strives to engage all children with science so they can live happier, healthier and more sustainable lives and contribute to improving life on Earth. The Charity runs Winchester Science Centre - a vibrant, hands-on experience for young children. Promising an exciting day out for families, with curriculum-linked trips for schools and an evening events programme, the Science Centre welcomes over 170,000 visitors every year. The Charity also delivers a free and impactful community programme for our priority audiences who may not have the opportunity to come to the Science Centre reaching over 10,000 people every year. Through our magnificent planetarium and live science experiences, as well as our out in communities work, science is brought to life in imaginative, fun and accessible ways that means everyone is included.
The Role
This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing charity in a newly created role, supporting the Director of People and Culture at a pivotal point in Wonderseekers’ development. The HR Officer will play a central role in shaping and embedding a people‑focused function that reflects and strengthens our mission, culture, and values.
You will be responsible for delivering a comprehensive, high‑quality HR service across the organisation, ensuring our people practices are inclusive, accessible, and aligned with our charitable purpose values. Acting as a trusted advisor, you will support managers and colleagues across the full employee lifecycle, providing pragmatic, thoughtful advice and guidance while ensuring alignment with our values. Championing wellbeing, engagement, and collaboration will be core to this role.
As a proudly family‑friendly and flexible employer, Wonderseekers is committed to supporting wellbeing, work–life balance, and a culture where people can thrive. The HR Officer will help embed this approach in everything we do - from policy and practice to everyday behaviours - ensuring our people feel supported, valued, and empowered to do their best work.
This role requires a practical, hands‑on HR professional who understands the realities of working within a mission‑driven, resource‑conscious organisation. You will help us balance robust people practices with compassion, flexibility and proportionality, ensuring our approach always reflects our charitable values.
The People & Culture function at Wonderseekers is made up of the Director of People & Culture and this newly created HR Officer role, with some additional administrative support. As such, excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship‑building skills are essential. The post holder will work closely with the Director on a daily basis, sharing information, priorities, and insights to ensure a seamless, effective, and responsive People & Culture service for the organisation.
Job & Person Specification
Visit our website for a full job description and person spec: https://www.wonderseekers.charity/vacancies
Ready to Apply?
https://www.wonderseekers.charity/vacancies
We’re always happy to chat about the role before you apply - just reach out using the details below.
Please contact us if you’d like to arrange an informal chat, have any questions about the role before applying or would like to discuss support during the application process – contact details below.
Contact us: Laura Ollis, Director of People and Culture Email: Telephone: 07483 371391 (No recruitment agencies, thank you.)
Human Resources Officer in Southampton employer: Wonderseekers
Wonderseekers is an exceptional employer that prioritises a compassionate and inclusive work culture, making it an ideal place for those passionate about supporting others. With flexible working hours, a commitment to employee wellbeing, and numerous benefits including a cash health scheme and enhanced pension contributions, employees are empowered to thrive both personally and professionally. This role offers the unique opportunity to shape HR practices within a values-driven charity, contributing to meaningful community engagement and making a lasting impact on the lives of children and families in the region.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Human Resources Officer in Southampton
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the organisation before your interview. Check out their website, social media, and any recent news. This will help you understand their mission and values, which is super important for a role like HR Officer at Wonderseekers.
✨Tip Number 2
Practice your responses to common interview questions, but keep it natural. Think about how your experience aligns with their focus on inclusivity and support. We want to see your personality shine through!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare some thoughtful questions to ask during the interview. This shows you're genuinely interested in the role and the organisation. Ask about their approach to employee wellbeing or how they foster a collaborative culture.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the position. Plus, it keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Human Resources Officer in Southampton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself:When writing your application, let your personality shine through! We want to get to know the real you, so don’t be afraid to share your passion for HR and how it aligns with our mission at Wonderseekers.
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific skills and experiences that match the Human Resources Officer role. Highlight how your background can help us build a supportive and inclusive culture.
Showcase Your Values:Since we’re a values-led charity, it’s important to demonstrate how your personal values align with ours. Share examples of how you’ve championed inclusivity and wellbeing in your previous roles.
Apply Early:Don’t wait until the last minute! We might start interviewing before the closing date, so get your application in as soon as you can. Head over to our website to submit your application and take the first step towards joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wonderseekers
✨Understand the Mission
Before your interview, take some time to really understand Wonderseekers' mission and values. Think about how your own values align with theirs and be ready to discuss specific examples of how you can contribute to their goals in supporting and empowering people.
✨Showcase Your People Skills
As a Human Resources Officer, strong communication and relationship-building skills are key. Prepare to share examples from your past experiences where you've successfully built trust and collaboration within a team or organisation. This will demonstrate your ability to fit into their people-focused culture.
✨Be Ready for Practical Scenarios
Expect to encounter practical scenarios during the interview that reflect real-life HR challenges. Think through how you would approach these situations, keeping in mind the importance of compassion and flexibility in a charity setting. This will show your understanding of the unique dynamics at play.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. This could include inquiries about their current HR processes or how they measure the success of their people practices. Asking thoughtful questions shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you assess if it's the right fit for you.
