HR Associate (Maternity cover)

Greencore Group plc; Lewdown; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

Greencore Group plc in the United Kingdom is recruiting a People Associate to provide essential HR administration and support employee engagement initiatives across the business. You will act as a first point of contact for colleagues and managers, ensuring policy adherence and a positive employee experience.

The role combines hands-on HR administration with people-focused engagement, wellbeing activities, training coordination, and involvement in small HR projects and events.

Qualifications

• Experience in an HR, people or administrative role in a fast-paced environment.
• Interest in developing a career in HR with broad generalist exposure.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Attention to detail and handling confidential information with integrity.
• Proficient in HR systems and Microsoft Office; quick to learn new tools.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with adaptable style.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day HR administrative support, including maintaining employee records, preparing HR documentation, and onboarding.
• Support generalist HR activities such as recruitment coordination, absence monitoring, and assisting with performance management processes.
• Support the coordination and delivery of learning and development activities, encouraging participation across the business.
• Assist with HR reporting, audits, and documentation to ensure compliance with company policies and employment legislation.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve HR processes and contribute ideas to enhance engagement and overall employee experience.
• Demonstrate genuine interest in developing a career in HR with a collaborative, proactive approach.

Skills

HR administration

Recruitment coordination

Onboarding

Learning & development

HR reporting

Data confidentiality

MS Office

HR systems

Interpersonal communication

Organisational skills

Education

Tools

HRIS systems

MS Excel

MS Word

Job description

In this dynamic and engaging role as a People Associate, you will provide essential HR administration support to the local HR team while also taking an active role in employee engagement initiatives. You will help plan and deliver engagement activities, wellbeing initiatives, training coordination, and small HR projects and events, directly contributing to a positive employee experience across the business. You will act as a first point of contact for colleagues and managers, offering practical HR guidance to ensure policies are followed and employees feel supported. This role combines hands-on HR administration with interpersonal engagement, giving you the opportunity to build a strong foundation in HR while making a real impact on the team and company culture. Role Accountabilities:

• Provide day-to-day HR administrative support, including maintaining employee records, preparing HR documentation, and supporting onboarding to ensure a positive employee experience.
• Support generalist HR activities such as recruitment coordination, absence monitoring, and assisting with performance management processes.
• Support the coordination and delivery of learning and development activities, encouraging participation across the business.
• Assist with HR reporting, audits, and documentation to ensure compliance with company policies and employment legislation.
• Proactively identify opportunities to improve HR processes and contribute ideas to enhance engagement and overall employee experience.
• Some experience in an HR, people, or administrative role, ideally within a fast-paced environment.
• A genuine interest in developing a career in HR, with a desire to gain broad generalist experience.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritise effectively, and meet deadlines.
• High attention to detail and accuracy, particularly when handling data and confidential information.
• Confident using HR systems and Microsoft Office, with the ability to learn new systems quickly.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, able to adapt style for different audiences and formats.
• Resilient and calm under pressure, with a positive and professional approach.
• Analytical mindset, comfortable reviewing data and producing clear, accurate information.
• Proactive and pragmatic, with the confidence to work independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Curious, open to learning, and willing to challenge ways of working constructively.
• High levels of integrity and professionalism, with a strong understanding of confidentiality.
• People-focused, inclusive, and aligned with values that promote respect, engagement, and teamwork.

Why Greencore?

Following the combination with Bakkavor in January 2026, we're one of the UK's leading creators of convenience food, driven by a simple purpose: to make every day taste better. As a vibrant and fast-moving business, we're proud to employ over 28,000 talented colleagues across 36 manufacturing sites and 21 distribution depots in the UK and the US. Together, we bring delicious food to life. Our products cover every meal occasion from breakfast through to dinner and dessert, with lunch and snacking in between. In FY25, our shared passion helped us achieve combined revenues of approximately £4bn. Our extensive direct to store (DTS) network, with 17 depots across the UK, allows us to deliver fresh and frozen food both our own and from trusted partners to thousands of stores every day, ensuring consumers enjoy the very best, whenever and wherever they shop. Our site in Nantwich, Aston, is a vibrant facility producing chilled speciality breads, including sliced baguettes, and dough balls. The site employs around 270 people and delivers high-quality products to a dedicated customer base. Our site in Crewe produces chilled speciality breads, hand-crafted flatbreads, and dough balls. The site employs over 280 people in the factory operating at a high standard of quality and volume. At Greencore we put our people at the core. We celebrate their differences and help everyone to be themselves at work. Together we make every day taste better. If this sounds like you, join us and grow with Greencore, and be a part of driving our future success.

Competitive salary and job-related benefits

• Holidays
• Competitive matched pension contribution
• Life insurance up to 4x salary
• Company share save scheme
• Greencore Qualifications
• Exclusive Greencore employee discount platform
• Access to a full Wellbeing Centre platform
• Enhanced parental leave and menopause policies

Throughout your time at Greencore, you will be supported with on-the-job training and development opportunities to further your career.