Senior HR Officer (Maternity Cover)

Location: Bracknell, Head Office (willingness to travel - UK&I) Role Overview As a Senior HR Officer at NEP UK & Ireland, you will deliver a proactive, high-quality HR service across the full employee lifecycle, with a focus on HR advisory, employee relations, manager capability and development initiatives. You will act as a trusted advisor to line managers, providing practical, risk‑aware guidance while ensuring a consistent and compliant approach to people practices. Alongside this, you will take ownership of key HR processes and contribute to a positive employee experience across the organisation. A key aspect of the role is maintaining a strong, visible HR presence across NEP UK & Ireland. This includes regular face‑to‑face engagement with teams through visits to regional offices and periodic on‑site time at operational locations, building relationships, strengthening commercial understanding and ensuring HR remains closely aligned to business needs. Employee Lifecycle Ownership Take ownership of the end‑to‑end employee lifecycle, ensuring a seamless and high‑quality experience from recruitment through to offboarding Oversee onboarding processes to ensure effective integration and engagement of new hires Manage probation processes, providing guidance to managers and ensuring timely reviews Manage leavers and exit processes Recruitment & Talent Support Own end‑to‑end recruitment activity, including ClearCompany workflow management, ensuring a consistent and high‑quality hiring process Partner with hiring managers to define requirements and support effective selection decisions Own recruitment performance, actively managing key KPIs including time to hire and process efficiency, in line with NEP’s 2026 focus areas Support the HRBP by providing recruitment reporting and workforce metrics, using data to identify trends and opportunities for improvement Ensure compliance with right to work requirements and onboarding processes Policy, Compliance & Data Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures and employment legislation, promoting best practice across the business Support the implementation, review and communication of HR policies and procedures Identify opportunities to improve HR processes, driving efficiency and consistency across the function Take ownership of the Employment Hero (EH) system and HERO, ensuring accurate, up‑to‑date and compliant HR records are maintained across all systems Lead the month‑end data validation process, carrying out thorough checks within EH and HERO to ensure accuracy of employee data, payroll inputs and reporting outputs Take responsibility for the ongoing maintenance and integrity of HR data, including managing updates, audits and system accuracy Own the management of holiday balances, ensuring accuracy, resolving discrepancies and supporting managers and employees with queries Leverage Visir (data analytics tool) to produce meaningful HR data insights and reporting to support decision‑making Ensure that individual employee files are accurately maintained HR Advisory & Employee Relations Act as a first‑line HR advisor, providing guidance on disciplinary, grievance, absence, performance and family leave matters Manage low to medium risk ER cases end‑to‑end, escalating complex issues to the HRBP where appropriate Ensure consistent application of HR policies and employment legislation Coach and support line managers to build confidence and capability in people management Performance management Absence management Ensure all payroll changes are captured, validated and communicated accurately and in line with monthly deadlines Develop knowledge and capability in Sage payroll processes, supporting with inputting changes including new starters, freelancers/temporary workers, and contractual updates Take ownership of monthly benefits administration processes, including pension contributions and benefit updates (e.g. PMI, dental, life assurance, income protection), ensuring accuracy and timely submission Manage benefit enrolments and lifecycle changes, liaising with providers and internal stakeholders (including Finance) to support accurate reporting and reconciliation Maintain and regularly update NEP UK & Ireland benefit information on NEP Anywhere, ensuring clear and timely communication of any changes Training & Development Support the design and implementation of learning and development initiatives Continue to coordinate training sessions and development programs for employees Monitor and maintain training records and ensure that refresher training is arranged proactively Track and report on employee training and development activities Support managers in identifying training opportunities for their teams Employee Engagement & Culture Support engagement initiatives and recognition programmes Contribute to building a positive and inclusive workplace culture Act as a visible and approachable HR presence across the business What we’re looking for Experience & Qualifications Proven experience in an HR generalist or HR Advisor‑level role, with increasing ownership of HR processes Good experience managing employee relations cases Experience supporting and advising line managers on people‑related matters Exposure to HR systems (e.g. Employment Hero or similar HRIS) and payroll processes CIPD Level 5 (or working towards) preferred Skills, Capabilities & Behaviours Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice Ability to coach, influence and support managers effectively Strong organisational skills and attention to detail, particularly with HR data and systems Confidence handling sensitive and complex situations with sound judgement Developing capability in HR systems, Microsoft tools and data analysis, with an ability to interpret workforce metrics Strong communication and relationship‑building skills Proactive, adaptable and solutions‑focused, with a willingness to learn and grow High level of professionalism, discretion and accountability Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team What's in it for you? A great opportunity to step into a more advisory HR role, gaining hands‑on experience across the full employee lifecycle and building confidence in supporting managers. You’ll develop your employee relations and coaching skills while working closely with an experienced HR Business Partner within a fast‑paced, collaborative environment. Development & Training You’ll benefit from a blend of on‑the‑job learning and structured development, including hands‑on experience managing employee relations cases and supporting managers. You’ll have access to a multitude of learning opportunities via NEP’s internal learning platforms. In addition, you’ll receive ongoing coaching and mentoring from the HR Business Partner, with opportunities to support and deliver in‑house training to further build your capability. More Details Location: Gemini House, Bracknell with requirement to travel to other NEP UK&I sites as needed Working Hours: 9am – 5.30pm, Monday – Friday #J-18808-Ljbffr