Human Resources & Operations Manager

OUR VISION: A society where everyone, regardless of background has equal opportunity to achieve long-term professional and personal success 
OUR MISSION:  To prepare talented students from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds for career success. 
OUR VALUES:  We value teamwork and champion diversity in all its forms, including diversity of thought. We demonstrate empathy and passion in everything we do. We act with integrity; communicating openly and provide a collaborative and rewarding environment with continuous personal and professional development opportunities for all.

There are talented young people from ethnic minority or low socioeconomic backgrounds with the potential to thrive in top industries. And firms are looking for them. 
We identify, inspire, and train our candidates to connect them with our sponsor firms where they can launch successful careers. 

At the start of their careers, our candidates join our professional network of alumni both tapping into and contributing to this community of knowledge, experience, and contacts. 
SEO London was launched in 2000 and has subsequently delivered two decades of transformative leadership in the UK workplace diversity and inclusion segment. Today, over 14,000 diverse students and professionals are registered with SEO London, benefiting from sponsorship and engagement opportunities with over 120 blue chip firms across financial services, corporate law, consulting, technology, engineering, and corporates. 

Overview

Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO London) is looking to hire an HR and Operations Manager, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer.  

Team:  Operations 
Location:  41 Great Guildford Street, London SE1 0ES

We offer flexible and hybrid working but office-based work is required from all staff on a regular basis. For this role we require the post-holder to be in the office min. 3 days per week, at least at the outset.   

Reports to:  Chief Operating Officer  
Line Management: Senior HR and Operations Officer 
Term:  Permanent Role 
Ideal start date:  ASAP 
Salary: £38k - £46k depending on experience

This is a full-time role but we are open to flexible arrangements.  

 

Role Description

The HR & Operations function at SEO London has grown significantly in recent years, with a strong foundation now in place. This is an exciting opportunity for a new HR & Operations Manager to build on this progress and shape the next phase of our development. With recent growth and a focus on nurturing a positive culture, this role offers the chance to make a real impact and drive continued success within a dynamic and purpose-driven organisation.
 
The role is to oversee and continuously improve the delivery of HR Strategy and operations in line with SEO London's mission, values and strategic objectives. In addition, this role will oversee organisation-wide operations.   
The post-holder will: 

• Further develop and execute a People plan that supports the achievement of the charity’s strategic objectives and an engaging and inclusive work environment
• Ensure that all policies and procedures align to SEO London’s vision and mission and the necessary regulatory and legal standards 
• Support a culture that is focused on employee engagement and continuous improvement including giving and receiving feedback 
• Support managers in attracting and retaining staff who have the necessary motivation, values, skills and tools to deliver
• Provide line managers and staff with HR advice in confidence 
• Be focussed on efficient and cost effective operational and service delivery across SEO London
• Execute ‘business as usual’ HR administration including monthly payroll and management of appraisal processes
• Lead or support strategic projects such as SEO London’s Learning and Development Plan, internal communications via SEO London’s intranet and continuous improvement of our recruitment and onboarding processes
• Line Management, currently of a full-time Senior HR and Operations Officer

 

Accountabilities

HR Strategy and People Plan 

• Full accountability to design and align the annual People agenda to the strategic needs of SEO London, working closely with the Chief Operating Officer 
• Compilation and use of HR data to inform planning and decision making 
  Regular review of HR policies, procedures, pay and benefits to make sure these are in line with current regulation  
• Provision of advice and support re. organisational design and development  
• Internal reporting to Executive Leadership Team (ELT) and via an organisational dashboard 

Employee Engagement and Wellbeing, and Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) 

• Responsibility for developing and overseeing the engagement strategy for SEO London’s staff team 
• Planning, execution and analysis of staff surveys, communication of insights and planning and execution of follow-up actions  
• Design and delivery of culture building activities to support employee engagement and well-being e.g. team away days, oversight of staff-led wellbeing committee  
• Responsibility for designing and embedding DEI policy and initiatives in conjunction with the ELT and other senior leaders 
• Responsibility for providing employment advice and counsel and managing the risk of staff team attrition  

Learning and Development and Performance Management 

• Execution of a robust and future-focused talent development, performance management, and learning strategy that supports staff members’ ongoing learning and performance
• Identification of skills gaps and internal and/or low-cost solutions/training to meet needs
• Continuous improvement of regular performance management, talent management and succession planning and execution 

Employee Relations

• Advice and support to Senior Managers regarding employee relations issues 
• Lead responsibility for management of employee relations issues, as agreed with the Chief Operating Officer 

Recruitment and Onboarding 

• Identification of recruitment needs and plans alongside hiring managers with focus on filling skills and experience gaps where necessary, internal progression opportunities and cost-effective hiring processes 
• Design and execution of an effective and efficient candidate experience 
• Execution of competency-based assessment and selection 
• Embedding of DEI and Safeguarding measures into recruitment processes 
• Continuous improvement of onboarding plans and processes, working closely with managers to ensure high quality new starter induction 

Employee Reward 

• Responsibility for sourcing and analysing regular market data to inform renumeration 
• Responsibility for delivering a competitive and attractive salary, pension and benefits programme 
• Responsibility for managing a fair and transparent salary review process focused on providing incentives for good performance and fair pay 
• Responsibility for payroll and associated processes 

Operations 

• Responsibility for regular review of SEO London’s suppliers, working closely with the Finance team 
• Lead responsibility for some supplier relationships, including those connected to SEO London’s offices 
• Maintenance, curation and regular review of organisation-wide policy and procedures ensuring adoption across the organisation and alignment with accepted good practice and regulations 
• Accurate record keeping in line with SEO London’s data protection policies and procedures 
• Governance administration including scheduling and taking minutes at Board and sub-committee meetings and support to the Chief Operating Officer on all matters relating to SEO London’s governance 

Line Management 

• Line management as required (currently one team member), including goal setting, performance management, support with planning and execution of tasks, identification of learning and development opportunities and accountability for report’s outcomes and outputs. 

Required qualifications

• University degree (any discipline)
• HR qualification (minimum CIPD Level 5)

Skills and experience of: 

• Analysing and using data to inform planning 
• Designing and executing a people strategy 
• Project management and process improvement (start to finish) 
• Creating and curating policies 
• Creating and executing Learning & Development plans 
• Managing employee reward and benefits 
• Recruitment and onboarding including planning, assessment, selection and process management 
• Microsoft (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SharePoint) including ability to create spreadsheets, run and analyse pivot tables in excel and create quality PowerPoint presentations 
• HR technology including HRMS and applicant tracking systems (Personio preferred by not essential) and payroll system/s 
• Operations and supplier management 
• Internal communications 
• Event management 

Knowledge of: 

• UK Employment Law 
• The HR life cycle 
• Wellbeing and DEI practices 
• Knowledge of Salesforce desirable but not essential 
• Understanding of coaching and mentoring practices 

Behaviours: 

• Influencing and engaging, and excellent relationship management across all levels of an organisation 
• Excellent written and verbal communication  
• Tact, diplomacy and integrity 
• Highly organised 
• A deep understanding of equity, diversity and inclusion to foster a positive organisational culture 

What we offer?

• Salary: from £38-46k, depending on experience 
• Annual Leave: 28 days + Bank Holidays 
• Enhanced Family Friendly Policy
• Flexible working - 3 days in the office 
• Benefits: Employee Assistance Programme, Private Health Insurance, Discount to Nuffield Gyms via Private Health Care and many more…

 

Closing date for applications

Timeline:  

• Closing date for applications: 18 October at 12 noon 
• Shortlisting: 18 October 
• First interviews: 21-24 October or sooner as possible 
• Second interview, with task/presentation: 25 October or sooner as possible 

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply as soon as possible.  We are reviewing applications on a rolling basis. 

 

Equal opportunities Statement

As part of its recruitment policy, SEO London intends to ensure that no prospective or actual employee is discriminated against based on race, sex, nationality, marital status, sexual orientation, employment status, class, disability, age, other protected characteristic, religious belief or political persuasion or is disadvantaged by any condition or requirement which is not demonstrably justifiable.

Safeguarding

All posts at SEO London involve some degree of responsibility for safeguarding. Successful applicants are required to complete a Disclosure Form from the Disclosure and Barring Service ("DBS") for the position. Failure to declare any convictions (that are not subject to DBS filtering) may disqualify a candidate for appointment or result in summary dismissal if the discrepancy comes to light subsequently.

Right to work

Do you have the right to work in the UK? Unfortunately, at this time, we cannot provide sponsorship or consider overseas applications.