HR Advisor

Lincoln College, University of Oxford; Oxford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

A historic educational institution in Oxford is seeking an HR Advisor to manage day-to-day HR operations, including oversight of the recruitment process and compliance with employment legislation. The ideal candidate will possess a CIPD qualification, have strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills, and be able to operate effectively under pressure. This position offers a competitive salary and various benefits, including paid leave and enrollment in the Oxford Staff Pension Scheme.

Benefits

Six weeks’ paid leave (pro rata)

Enrolment in the Oxford Staff Pension Scheme

Free lunch when on duty

Access to Employee Assistance Programme

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in a generalist HR role.
• Experience of managing recruitment and HR processes.
• Good knowledge of current employment legislation.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day HR operations and support the Head of HR.
• Handle the entire recruitment process for academic and non-academic posts.
• Advise line managers on HR-related matters.

Skills

Organisational skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Interpersonal skills

Education

CIPD Level 3 or 5 qualification or equivalent experience

Tools

Word

Excel

Outlook

Job description

Overview

Job Title: HR Advisor

Contract Type: Maternity Cover, 37.5 hours per week (80% FTE will be considered)

Responsible to: Head of HR

Salary: £35,681 – £45,212 per annum (pro rata if required). Dependent on experience.

Benefits:

• Six weeks’ paid leave (pro rata) in each year on the basis of one week over festive period in December and the remainder to be taken at such time or times as shall be mutually convenient, and agreed in advance with the Head of HR.
• Enrolment in the Oxford Staff Pension Scheme (OSPS)
• Free lunch is provided in College, when on duty.
• Other benefits include; access to an Employee Assistance Programme, and various discounts through the Oxford University card.

The College

Lincoln College was founded in 1427 in the University of Oxford and is a self-governing institution in which the ultimate authority for all decisions rests with the Rector and Fellows. Lincoln has 600 students in residence, of whom around half are graduates. The College is also a popular choice for both undergraduates and graduate applicants to the University. Lincoln College is located on an attractive historic site in the centre of Oxford, with excellent access to university libraries and the university’s departments and faculty buildings. More information on the College can be found on its website, www.lincoln.ox.ac.uk.

The Role

The HR Advisor will work together and provide support to the Head of HR, to successfully deliver the day-to-day HR operation function for the College.

The role will work closely with the academic office and will be responsible for managing the academic recruitment process, ensuring compliance with employment legislation is followed. This will require a high level of attention to detail and efficient practices, to support this area effectively.

The HR Advisor will also support the Head of HR, to shape the employee lifecycle to further enhance HR best practice and workplace culture.

The role will involve collaboration with all departments across the College, in particular the Head of HR, the Senior Tutor, the Academic Registrar, the Bursar’s secretaries, the Payroll Manager, and the Domestic Bursary team. The HR Advisor is expected to develop good working relationships both internally and externally from potential employees to academic Fellows of the College.

Key Responsibilities

This is a generalist HR role and responsibilities may vary from time to time, as the needs of the College determines. The main duties of the role will include, but will not be restricted to:

• Delivery Of The Day-to-day Operational HR Function, Including
• Absence management
• Employee relations
• Line Manager support
• Employee advice
• Performance management
• Interpretation of HR policies

Take ownership of the entire recruitment process and administration for all academic and non-academic posts, from placing advertisements to appointments, complying with legislation and College policies.

Provide straightforward advice and support to line managers on all HR related matters, redirecting more complex queries to the Head of HR.

Support the Head of HR to shape the employee lifecycle, with HR effective policies and processes, to further enhance HR best practice and workplace culture.

Stay up to date with current employment legislation and immigration regulations and ensure correct processes are adhered to.

Support the Head of HR in convening relevant documents and reports for the termly Equality Committee.

Attend and take notes at HR meetings.

Attend relevant HR and legislation updates and training sessions.

Maintain accurate employee records (electronic and via HR software).

This list is not exhaustive and the postholder will be expected to undertake any other duties as reasonably directed by the Head of HR and other senior leaders.

The Candidate

Qualifications

The ideal HR Advisor will have the following attributes:

• CIPD Level 3 or 5 qualification (or working towards) or equivalent experience

Experience And Knowledge

• Demonstrable experience in a generalist HR role
• Experience of managing recruitment and its processes
• Experience of working with HR systems
• Experience of providing advice and support to line managers and employees
• Good knowledge of current employment legislation and compliance
• High level of working knowledge of Word, Excel, Outlook, etc

Skills

• Excellent organisational skills
• High attention to detail
• Excellent communication skills
• Good level of numeracy
• Adaptable and able to solve problems
• Able to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships at all levels both internally and externally.
• Able to work under pressure and prioritise effectively
• Demonstrates strong integrity, sensitivity and commitment

Application Process

Candidates should submit the following documents by closing date of Sunday 8th February 2026:

• A completed Application (available on the College website through Employment Hero)
• A covering letter (no more one A4 page) explaining your interest in the post and demonstrating how you meet the requirements of the person specification.
• An up-to-date CV.

Recruitment monitoring information is collected for equality purposes only and does not form part of the selection process.

Please note that any personal data submitted to the College as part of the job application process will be processed in accordance with the GDPR and related UK data protection legislation. For further information, please see the Lincoln College’s Privacy Policy: https://lincoln.ox.ac.uk/asset/Privacy-Policy.pdf

Equality, Diversity and Data Protection

Lincoln College is committed to equality of opportunity and to providing a working environment in which all individuals are treated with dignity and respect.

Equality of Opportunity

Entry into employment with the University and progression within employment will be determined only by personal merit and the application of criteria which are related to the duties of each particular post and the relevant salary structure. In all cases, ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration. No applicant or member of staff shall be discriminated against because of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.

Other Information

The appointment will be conditional on verification of the successful candidate’s availability for employment in the UK.

The successful candidate will be required to complete a confidential medical questionnaire which will be forwarded to our Occupational Health Department who will assess their fitness to perform this role.

Any enquiries related to these further particulars should be directed in the first instance to the Head of HR, Jenny Waller: [e-mail]