Job Title: Sr. HR Generalist - UK
Group/Team: Human Resources
Reports to: Sr. Director, HR Operations
Location: London, UK (Hybrid role)
Employment Type: Fulltime, Salaried
Travel Requirements: 10-15% domestic and international (Passport Required)
WHO WE ARE
The Opus Group represents a shared services model that provides administrative support to our “house of brands.” Our house of brands includes Opus Agency, MAS and Verve. Our structure provides scalable and efficient administrative services and support that adds fuel to the growth of our brands. Operating independently, each brand serves its own clients with purposeful services and solutions. Each brand designs, creates and manages their client’s most important events and experiential campaigns.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
We are seeking a dynamic and detail-oriented Sr. HR Generalist to join our team in London. This role will involve a broad range of HR functions, including employee relations, talent acquisition, and regulatory adherence, supporting the organization's strategic and operational goals.
The ideal candidate will have experience in UK employment laws, recruitment, HR best practices and a deep understanding and ability to design, build and implement compliant HR initiatives. Additionally, we are seeking someone who has experience in managing an expatriate program and related certificate of sponsorship practices. This individual will be part of a larger U.S. based HR team but their primary focus is to build and support the UK Human Resources function. They must be able to self lead and work independently but know when to escalate concerns.
YOU SHOULD HAVE
1. 8+ years of proven experience as an HR Generalist or in a similar role, ideally within a global organisation
2. Proven experience in a HR Advisory role at a Senior level
3. Extensive experience in building and maintaining HR policies and practices that are compliant with applicable law and/or regulation.
4. Strong knowledge of UK employment laws and compliance requirements.
5. Experience with UK Sponsor License and work permit processes.
6. Demonstrated expertise in supporting visa processing and managing expatriate employees.
7. Experience in Talent Acquisition (recruitment, candidate screening, scheduling interviews)
8. Strong persuading and influencing skills and ability to give feedback to all levels of employees/managers
9. High attention to detail and problem-solving skills, with a high level of integrity and ability to drive initiatives and progress
10. Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships across cultures and levels.
11. Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment
12. Excellent time and project management skills
13. Excellent organizational and multitasking abilities.
14. Proficiency in HRIS systems and Google Suite.
15. Preferred Qualifications: CIPD certification or working towards it.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. HR Compliance and Policy Management: 40%
1. Ensure compliance with UK employment laws and regulations, including GDPR, right-to-work checks, and reporting requirements.
2. Responsible for the creation, updating and implementation of all policies and procedures, ensuring they reflect the commercial needs of the business and are legally compliant.
3. Develop, update, and communicate HR policies and procedures in line with best practices and legal standards.
4. Conduct audits and maintain accurate employee records, ensuring compliance with all statutory requirements.
5. Consult and support HR Operations in ensuring consistent policy creation and implementation.
2. Generalist HR Support: 30%
1. Proactively manage and provide guidance for a variety of employee relations cases, ensuring a best practice approach and adherence to legislation and policies.
2. Provide advice and support to managers and employees on HR matters, including employee relations, performance management, annual performance reviews, and benefits administration.
3. Investigate and manage grievance processes as needed.
4. Coordinate training and development programs to enhance employee skills and career progression.
5. Support diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to foster a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
6. Manage employee leave of absence.
7. Submit payroll and benefit changes as needed.
3. Recruitment and Talent Acquisition: 20%
1. Partner with hiring managers and the US Talent Acquisition team to define job requirements and develop recruitment strategies.
2. Source, screen, and interview candidates, ensuring a seamless candidate experience.
3. Manage onboarding for new hires.
4. Expat Management & Immigration Processing: 10%
1. Manage worth authorization process (process visa, renewals, and sponsorships) to ensure compliance with UK immigration laws and Home Office requirements.
2. Maintain accurate records of visa status and expiration dates, proactively managing renewals.
3. Act as the primary point of contact for expatriate employees, providing support for visa-related inquiries, documentation, and compliance.
4. Liaison with 3rd party Expat support service providers as needed.
5. Serve as a liaison between expatriate employees and local teams to ensure a smooth transition and integration.
6. Provide ongoing support to expatriates throughout their assignment.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position does not initially have supervisory responsibility.
COMPETENCIES
1. Employment Law Expertise: Understanding UK employment laws, such as the Equality Act, Working Time Regulations, and GDPR.
2. HR Policies and Procedures: Ability to create, implement, and maintain HR policies that comply with legal and organizational requirements.
3. Recruitment and Selection: Knowledge of sourcing, interviewing, and onboarding processes tailored to UK market needs.
4. Conflict Resolution: Managing grievances, disciplinary procedures, and workplace disputes effectively.
5. Problem-Solving: Identifying root causes of HR issues and implementing practical solutions.
6. Relationship Building: Establishing trust and credibility with employees and management.
7. Diversity Awareness: Ability to recognize, understand, and respect different cultures and perspectives.
8. Communication: Effectively conveying policies, addressing queries, and facilitating training.
9. Coaching and Advising: Providing guidance to managers on people management practices.
10. Critical Thinking: Ability to analyze facts, data, and scenarios to make informed decisions.
11. Organizational Awareness: Understanding the company’s goals, culture, and business strategy.
12. Accuracy: Ability to ensure tasks are completed with precision and minimal errors.
13. Proactiveness: Ability to anticipate challenges and take action before they arise.
14. Self-Motivation: Ability to work independently without needing constant supervision.
15. Adaptability: Responding to changing workplace needs and regulations.
16. Integrity and Confidentiality: Handling sensitive employee data responsibly.
17. Risk Management: Ability to identify potential risks and develop strategies to mitigate them.
18. CIPD Accreditation: Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) qualification is preferred.
19. Ongoing Professional Development: Staying updated on HR best practices and legislative changes.
NOT SURE IF YOU SHOULD APPLY?
Studies show that those identifying as under-represented individuals might have talked themselves out of applying at this point. Don’t worry about checking every single box. At The Opus Group, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic team – so if you’re excited about this role, but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every single qualification in this job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may just be the right candidate for this role or we may have other roles that better align with your skillset.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Individuals will be required to sit for the majority of the day and may be required to stand as needed. May require ability to ambulate primarily on a level surface for periodic periods throughout the day. Individuals may be required to travel via airplane, train, taxi, car and/or other means of transportation, as needed.
The job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.
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