Absence Admin Support 18 month secondment

Northern; Manchester; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

A major train operator in Manchester seeks an Absence Admin Support professional to assist with HR administration and sickness absence processes. This full-time role offers competitive pay starting at £32,853, rising to £38,650 after six months. Responsibilities include supporting managers, updating HR systems, and analyzing absence trends. Benefits include unlimited free travel, a generous pension scheme, and tailored training opportunities. Join a company that values its employees and promotes a culture of inclusion and support.

Benefits

Unlimited free travel for employee and dependents

Generous pension scheme

Enhanced family benefits

Exclusive discounts

Employee assistance programme

Training and career development

Qualifications

• Experience in HR administration or absence management support.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Familiarity with HR systems such as SAP or Skylight.

Responsibilities

• Support managers with all aspects of sickness absence including accurate note‑taking at meetings.
• Schedule meetings and prepare clear policy‑aligned paperwork.
• Keep absence management systems updated ensuring GDPR compliance.
• Analyze absence trends and share insights to improve wellbeing and performance.
• Assist with the alternative duties process maintaining records.

Skills

Data Entry

Microsoft Excel

Administrative Experience

Microsoft Office

HR Administration

Tools

SAP

Skylight

Job description

Business Function: Operations

Salary: 32853 rising to 38650 per annum after 6 months

Role Type: Onsite

Location: Manchester

Hours: 35 per week

Absence Admin Support

People come to Northern for trains they can rely on and colleagues who genuinely care about doing the right thing. As part of our team at Northern you’ll help keep everything running smoothly by supporting managers with fair and consistent sickness absence processes. Your work would help create healthier teams, stronger communication and a better experience for colleagues and customers alike.

You’ll be part of a busy Operations environment where accuracy, empathy and clear organisation make a real difference. From preparing key documents to analysing emerging trends you’ll be the steady hand that keeps absence‑related tasks flowing in the right direction.

What you’ll be doing

• Supporting managers with all aspects of sickness absence including accurate note‑taking at meetings
• Scheduling meetings and preparing clear policy‑aligned paperwork
• Keeping our absence management systems up to date including Skylight and SAP while ensuring GDPR requirements are met
• Analysing absence trends and sharing insights that help improve wellbeing and performance
• Assisting with the alternative duties process and maintaining accurate records
• Travelling across the network when needed to provide hands‑on support to the Operations team

About you

Organisation communication and attention to detail – that’s three things you’ll bring that really matter in this role. You’ll also bring :

• Experience in HR administration or absence management support
• Confidence using Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Familiarity with HR systems such as SAP or Skylight
• The ability to work independently and handle sensitive information with care

Whats in it for you

At Northern we don’t just value our people – we go the extra mile to support them. Here’s a taste of what you can look forward to :

Free Travel: Unlimited free travel for you, your partner and your dependents on Northern services. Plus up to 75% discount on other networks in the UK and Europe.

Generous Pension Scheme: We top up your contributions by 1.5 times.

Enhanced Family Benefits: We offer 9 months of full pay for maternity leave and 2 weeks for paternity leave.

Exclusive Discounts: From shopping to wellbeing Northern Perks has you covered.

Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 support for family lifestyle and more.

Training and Career Development: We offer tailored training to our colleagues and opportunities to gain recognised qualifications. Plus enhanced career pathways no matter what part of the business you’re in.

Recognition: We know how important it is to show how much we appreciate our people. That’s why we have our Northern Lights and Northern Sparks Awards recognizing and celebrating brilliance every day.

Why Northern

We’re more than just a train operator. We’re the heartbeat of the North, connecting communities, creating opportunities and driving sustainable growth. With 2,500 trains running daily we are on a mission to improve rail travel and enhance the customer experience while protecting the environment.

Back in 1825 the first passenger train set off in the North of England and this year we’re celebrating 200 years of the modern railway. As we look back we also look forward to the future of Great British Rail. Join us at this pivotal moment in rail history and play your part in our journey.

A place for everyone

The best journeys happen when everyone feels welcome on board. At Northern we don’t just move people from A to B – we’re building a team where everyone feels they belong.

We can make reasonable adjustments to the process if that’s something you need. We’re also a Level 2 Disability Confident employer so if you meet the minimum criteria you’ll always be offered an interview.

All offers are subject to a DBS check and a medical assessment.

No matter your background, experience or whether you call it a bap barm or cob there’s a place for you here in the railway.

Key Skills

Data Entry, Adobe Acrobat, AS400, EDI, Microsoft Outlook, Cloud Architecture, Microsoft Excel, Quick Books, Administrative Experience, Order Fulfillment, Project Implementation, Sales Support

Employment Type: Full‑Time

Experience: years

Vacancy: 1