About the team This is an important role based in a busy Operations team which covers office management, information technology, finance and human resources. The team play a key role in supporting the organisation to achieve its mission of supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed. The Operations team comprises the Director of Finance and Operations, HR and Learning Manager, Head of Finance, the Finance and Operations Assistant and a part time Administrator. Payroll and IT support are outsourced. About this role This is an exciting opportunity for an HR Officer with an interest in the charity sector to develop their career and play a key role in supporting and developing Impetus’ HR function. The HR Officer is a new role which will work closely with the HR and Learning Manager to provide a high quality, compliant and responsive HR service. A key focus will be to support colleagues, promote a positive organisational culture and make Impetus a great place to work. As well as being responsible for the smooth running and management of day-to-day HR operations and administration, you will collaborate with employees across the organisation and support them with planning and managing HR activities throughout the employee lifecycle (recruitment and selection, performance management, learning and development etc.). Additionally, you will have the opportunity to support the HR and Learning Manager with the development and implementation of HR initiatives and projects aligned with organisational needs and priorities. This will include maximising the effectiveness of our HR system and contributing to key organisational projects on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and competency frameworks. We are looking for an enthusiastic HR professional with experience of working in an HR Administrator/Assistant/Officer role and a good understanding of HR best practice, employment law and compliance. You will be able to demonstrate an interest in Impetus’ work and commitment to EDI, alongside excellent communication and people skills, strong organisational and IT skills and a high level of attention to detail. Key responsibilities Recruitment and Selection: Support recruitment campaigns, including working with hiring managers to draft job descriptions, create and post advertisements, managing candidate communications and liaise with recruitment agencies where required. Oversee the planning and administration of recruitment processes, including devising timelines, coordinating and arranging interviews, facilitating selection assessments, managing candidate records. Participate in selection processes where required including shortlisting and interviews, providing appropriate advice and guidance to recruiting managers. Conduct pre-employment checks, including right-to-work verifications and references. Maintain accurate recruitment and equal opportunities monitoring data. HR Administration and Support: Maintain and update the HR system (PeopleHR) and other HR records, ensuring employee records are accurate and compliant with GDPR. Support with the onboarding of new employees; preparing and issuing employment offers and contracts ensuring compliance with employment law and organisational policies, gathering new starter documentation, setting up on the HR system (PeopleHR) and overseeing induction planning and activities. Support with the offboarding of leavers including calculating final annual leave entitlements, updating HR and payroll records and issuing leaving letters. Support with the processing of contractual and other changes, ensuring that systems and records are accurately updated, and relevant letters are issued (change in working hours, contract extensions, salary updates, absence management etc.) Support the monthly payroll process by preparing and checking accurate HR data for submission. Support the administration of the organisation’s pension scheme, ensuring records are accurate and compliant with Pension Regulations liaising with the HR and Learning Manager, pension and payroll providers as needed. Ensure accurate and timely submission of statutory reports, and other national reporting requirements. Support with the administration of Impetus benefits, liaising with providers, updating information, communicating with staff Ensure all HR documentation, including contracts and policies, is up-to-date and accessible. Employee Relations and Engagement: Be the first point of contact for HR queries, escalating more complex queries to the HR and Learning Manager. Respond to employee queries in line with Impetus policies and procedures and employment legislation. Support the HR and Learning Manager with effective internal HR communications through updating and maintaining content on our PeopleHR system and providing regular updates through internal staff forums such as newsletters, staff meetings. Coordinate the quarterly and annual staff survey, ensuring timely distribution and response tracking. Analyse survey results and prepare reports to identify trends and areas for improvement. Work with the HR and Learning Manager to develop and implement action plans based on survey findings. Promote, support and input to the planning on staff engagement initiatives that align with Impetus’ values and priorities (town hall, away days and events). Performance Management and Learning and Development Support: Support the HR and Learning management with the administration of Impetus’ performance management processes, including monitoring employee probation periods, facilitating the annual appraisal processes, collating reviews, maintaining records and communicating with managers regarding upcoming reviews. Assist in coordinating learning and development activities, including booking training sessions, maintaining training records, providing logistical support for in-house training sessions and workshops. Support the HR and Learning Manager in implementing the organisational learning plan. Monitor and evaluate training effectiveness through feedback and reporting. HR project and initiatives: Support the HR and Learning Manager with the administration and delivery of specific HR projects and initiatives when required: HR System improvements Equality, diversity and inclusion Pay/Reward/Competencies Policy and procedure reviews This is a new role with the opportunity to work closely with the HR and Learning Manager to develop and contribute to projects/work aligned with organisational needs and priorities. Person specification Essential skills and experience: Previous experience in an HR administration or officer role, with knowledge of core HR practices and processes such as recruitment and employee records management. Knowledge and understanding of HR best practice, employment law and compliance requirements, including GDPR. Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively. High level of accuracy and attention to detail. Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to confidently communicate policies and procedures to staff and managers and to produce formal letters, reports etc. Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across teams building strong working relationships. Ability to and deal with sensitive matters with empathy, tact, diplomacy and discretion Proficiency in using HR systems (e.g., PeopleHR) and Microsoft Office applications. A commitment to Impetus’ mission. A commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion. Desirable: CIPD qualification Level 3 or above or working towards one. Knowledge of the charity or non-profit sector. How to apply You will need to: Complete the online form (including the equal opportunities monitoring form). Upload a comprehensive CV and supporting statement. The supporting statement should be no more than two sides of A4 and should address the criteria in the person specification. You should also include the contact details of two referees, one of whom must be your current or most recent employer. Referees will only be approached with your express permission. As part of our commitment to flexible working we will consider a range of options for the successful applicant. All options can be discussed at interview stage. The deadline for applications is 9am Monday 24 February 2025. Interviews First round interviews will take place: Wednesday 5 March 2025. Second round interviews will take place: Wednesday 12 March 2025. You will also be required to provide proof of your eligibility to work in the UK. Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion We believe that a diverse workforce leads to an organisation that is more open, creative and gets better results. We want our team at Impetus to represent the diversity of the people and communities we serve. We also want our team to be one where different experiences, expertise and perspectives are valued, and where everyone is encouraged to grow and develop. We want to reach a diverse pool of candidates. We are happy to consider any reasonable adjustments that potential employees may need in order to be successful. We recognise the importance of a good work / life balance. We do everything we can to accommodate flexible working, including working from home, working part-time, job shares and other arrangements. Please just let us know in your application or at any stage throughout the process (and beyond) if these are options you’d like to explore. Impetus is an equal opportunity employer and is determined to ensure that no applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of gender, race, age, disability, religion, belief, sexual orientation or marital status. We value diversity and welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Personal Data Your personal data will be shared for the purposes of the recruitment exercise. This includes our HR team, interviewers (who may include other partners in the project and independent advisors), relevant team managers and our IT service provider if access to the data is necessary for performance of their roles. We do not share your data with other third parties, unless your application for employment is successful and we make you an offer of employment. We will then share your data with former employers to obtain references for you. We do not transfer your data outside the European Economic Area.