HR Assistant - 12 month FTC (Secondment Cover)

Howden; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a motivated HR professional to join their dynamic team. This role offers an exciting opportunity to deliver first-class HR services across the UK, supporting a fast-growing organization. You will be instrumental in managing employee lifecycle processes, collaborating with various stakeholders, and driving HR best practices in a rapidly evolving environment. If you're eager to progress your HR career and thrive in a complex setting, this is the perfect opportunity to make a significant impact within a people-centric culture.

Qualifications

• Experience in HR within a fast-paced, transformational environment.
• Strong organizational and communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Provide accurate administration of employee lifecycle processes.
• Collaborate to drive consistency and improve HR processes.
• Support onboarding and conduct exit interviews.

Skills

Relationship-building

Influencing skills

Customer-focused approach

Generalist HR experience

Problem-solving resilience

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Tools

Workday

Job description

Who are we?

Howden is a collective of talented and passionate people worldwide. We have pushed the boundaries of insurance and are united by a shared passion and a no-limits mindset. Our strength lies in our ability to collaborate as a powerful international team of 18,000 employees across over 100 countries.

People join Howden for various reasons, but they stay for our unique culture. It’s what sets us apart and why our employees have been turning down headhunters for years. Whether your priorities are work/life balance, career progression, sustainability, or volunteering, you’ll find like-minded people driving change at Howden.

About the Role

At Howden Group Holdings, we are transforming how we deliver HR services to our business. This is an exciting time to join our evolving HR function as we aim to provide strategically aligned HR support to our stakeholders.

This role offers the opportunity to deliver first-class HR services support to our UK businesses, providing first-line HR support to a fast-growing, transformational organization. Responsibilities include handling operational HR queries, parental leave, onboarding, leavers, and references.

You will model HR best practices, establish credibility with stakeholders at all levels, and support innovation by advising, informing, challenging, and facilitating discussions with the business and HR Business Partners on a wide range of issues within a rapidly evolving environment.

We seek a motivated team player with a positive attitude, eager to progress their HR career, working closely with HR Business Partners to support transactional and operational changes. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, complex, entrepreneurial environment and be comfortable working with ambiguity associated with growth and change.

Role responsibilities

• Provide a focused client experience through accurate and timely administration of employee lifecycle processes.
• Initiate processes such as job changes, contingent worker requests, international moves, and leavers.
• Collaborate within HRES to drive consistency, improve processes, and increase efficiencies.
• Work with Recruitment to ensure smooth applicant-to-onboarding processes and a positive candidate experience.
• Analyze data to provide insights, including absence, performance, milestones, and headcount reports.
• Validate data accuracy, including roles, teams, and cost centers.
• Manage people data requests within GDPR guidelines, maintaining confidentiality.
• Support business with Workday training and promote self-service capabilities.
• Assist new starters with onboarding and induction sessions.
• Conduct exit interviews, managing feedback and insights.
• Support HR activities like compensation reviews, restructures, acquisitions, and projects.
• Follow up on actions and inquiries, ensuring processes are completed accurately and timely for payroll.

Key requirements

• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills.
• Customer-focused with a delivery-oriented approach.
• Generalist HR experience in a fast-paced, complex, or transformational environment.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage conflicting demands, and meet deadlines.
• Independent working confidence with strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Problem-solving resilience, initiative, and a proactive mindset to challenge the status quo.
• Experience with Workday and HR Shared Services is desirable.

What we offer in return

A career you define. Our culture emphasizes voice, community volunteering, and sustainability. We seek individuals eager to make a difference in the workplace, industry, and community.

Our culture: People First

Our core values shape our work and lifestyle. We are independent, people-centered, and foster a unique culture — the biggest small company in the world. Our focus on being a People First business remains central to our vision of creating an entrepreneurial, talent-driven group.

Diversity & Inclusion

We value our people as our greatest asset and commit to fairness and respect for all colleagues, candidates, clients, and partners, regardless of age, disability, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or family circumstances.

Additional Information

We offer reasonable adjustments to support your needs, including flexible hours and hybrid working options where feasible. If you’re interested but unsure about fit, apply anyway — if your profile matches the role’s criteria, we’ll assist with any adjustments needed.

*Note: Not all positions can accommodate changes to working hours or locations. Please consult your Recruitment Partner for details.*