HR Data & Operations Administrator

The Pirbright Institute; Woking; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Group Personal Pension

Life assurance

25 days annual leave

Enhanced Maternity package

Cycle to work

On-site facilities

Job summary

The Pirbright Institute is seeking an HR Data & Operations Administrator to deliver high‑quality, confidential support within the People Strategy & Services function. The role focuses on HR data management, records control and compliance, including GDPR considerations.

You will review and cleanse HR data, support migration of documents, and assist across onboarding, recruitment, visa administration and other employee lifecycle activities. An organised, detail‑oriented candidate is ideal.

Qualifications

• Experience in an HR administration or HR operations role.
• Experience handling large volumes of data with high accuracy.
• Experience with data cleansing, validation, auditing or records management.
• Proficiency in MS Office, especially Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Understanding of GDPR, data protection and HR records management.
• Ability to manage workload with attention to detail and accuracy.
• Knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.

Responsibilities

• Provide HR data management, records management and document control.
• Support migration and consolidation of HR documents.
• Assist onboarding, recruitment, visa and immigration administration, and other lifecycle activities.
• Maintain HR information in systems and records; support data quality improvements.

Skills

HR administration

Data management

GDPR

MS Office

Excel

Word

Outlook

UK right to work

UKVI knowledge

Education

CIPD qualification or working towards

Tools

HRIS/HR systems

DocuSign

Onboarding software

Job description

Contract Length: 1 year Fixed Term Contract

Closing Date: 26th October 2026

Applicants must have the right to work in the United Kingdom at the time of application.

Please note that The Pirbright Institute is unable to offer Skilled Worker visa sponsorship for this position. As a result, applications from candidates who require current or future sponsorship to work in the UK cannot be considered.

About The Pirbright Institute

For over a century, The Pirbright Institute has stood at the forefront of global scientific innovation, contributing to landmark breakthroughs in the study and control of viral diseases affecting livestock and those that can spread from animals to humans (zoonoses). As a world-leading centre of excellence, our state-of-the-art facilities enable over 150 scientists from more than 30 nationalities to work collaboratively to predict, detect, understand and respond to high-consequence viral threats.

At Pirbright, you’ll join a vibrant and dynamic community where scientific rigour meets genuine diversity. Whether you’re advancing research, supporting operations, or leading innovation, your contribution will help shape a healthier, safer world for our livestock, you and upcoming generations.

About the role

The HR Data and Operations Administrator will provide high-quality, efficient, and confidential administrative support within the People Strategy & Services function, with a primary focus on HR data management, records management, document control, and compliance.

A significant part of the role will involve reviewing and cleansing HR data and documentation, identifying gaps, inconsistencies and outdated records. This is to ensure our HR information is accurately maintained and appropriately stored. The postholder will also support the migration and consolidation of HR documents into agreed systems and locations, helping to ensure HR records are managed in line with legal (GDPR, Data Protection Act etc), regulatory, and organisational requirements.

Alongside this core focus, the role will provide administrative support across the wider HR function as required, including the HR inbox and helpdesk, onboarding, recruitment, visa and immigration administration, and other employee lifecycle activities.

The role is ideally suited to an organised, highly detail-oriented and proactive individual with an interest in all aspects of the HR lifecycle. Particularly HR data management, records administration, information confidentiality, and compliance.

Key Responsibilities

HR Data & Records Management

• Undertake HR data cleansing, validation and auditing across HR systems, employee records and digital personnel files.
• Review historic HR data and documentation, identifying missing, duplicated, inaccurate or outdated information and taking appropriate action.
• Support the migration and consolidation of HR documents and records into agreed systems and locations.
• Ensure HR records and documentation are appropriately maintained, retained and archived in line with GDPR, ICO guidance and organisational requirements.
• Maintain consistent filing, naming and document management practices across HR records.
• Support regular reviews of HR records to identify and resolve data quality or compliance issues.
• Assist with maintaining HR templates, forms, processes and standard operating procedures.

HR Administration & Team Support

• Provide administrative support across the employee lifecycle, including onboarding, changes of employment and leavers.
• Provide support to the HR inbox and helpdesk, responding to routine queries and directing queries to the appropriate member of the team where required.
• Support visa and immigration administration, including document collation and tracking.
• Support recruitment administration, including interview scheduling, candidate communication and onboarding coordination.
• Support pre-employment checks, new starter administration and induction activities.
• Provide administrative support to other HR processes and projects as required, working collaboratively with colleagues across the People Strategy & Services function.

HR Systems & Reporting

• Maintain accurate employee information within HR systems and supporting records.
• Support HR system and data improvement activities, including identifying opportunities to improve data quality and administrative processes.

What we’re looking for:

Experience & Knowledge

• Experience in an HR administration, HR operations, or similar role.
• Experience working with large volumes of data and/or records, with Maintaining high levels of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Experience undertaking data cleansing, validation, auditing or records management activities.
• Experience using HRIS/HR systems for employee administration, records maintenance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, Word and Outlook.
• Experience handling sensitive and confidential information appropriately.
• Understanding of GDPR, data protection, confidentiality and HR records management.
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload and the ability to manage detailed, repetitive and high-volume work accurately.
• Ability to identify discrepancies and follow through to resolution.
• Understanding of core HR administrative processes and willingness to support across a broad range of HR activities.
• CIPD qualification or working towards.
• Previous experience within a research, scientific, healthcare or public sector environment.
• Experience supporting HR data migration, document migration or records consolidation.
• Understanding of UKVI/right to work processes.
• Knowledge of UK employment legislation and HR best practice.
• Experience with HR ticketing systems, DocuSign and onboarding software.
• Experience using Microsoft excel to manipulate, validate and reconcile employee data, including the use of filtering, sorting, formulas and lookup functions.

What Pirbright offers you

• A supportive and collaborative working environment with a keen sense of community.
• Beautiful campus in a semi-rural location with free on-site parking and good transport links.
• Generous Group Personal Pension Scheme and life assurance (subject to age and earnings).
• 25 days annual leave plus 10.5 public and privilege days, increasing up to 31 days with long service
• Enhanced Maternity package.
• Option to buy and sell annual leave.
• Option to carry over up to two weeks' annual leave.
• Pirbright Lifestyle Hub (employee discount site).
• Cycle to work scheme.
• Childcare allowance.
• Electric car charging facilities.
• Access to on-site subsidised facilities including staff restaurant, gym, and social club with subsidised membership.

This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not an exhaustive list of skills, efforts, duties, responsibilities, or working conditions associated with it. Responsibilities may change to carry out other duties as may be reasonably required by the line manager and may be reviewed on an ongoing basis in accordance with the changing need of The Pirbright Institute.

We acknowledge, understand, and embrace diversity, equality and inclusion

Our commitment to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and sustainable environment that supports cutting-edge research and professional growth.