Human Resources Generalist

Azenta Life Sciences; Wotton; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Azenta Life Sciences is seeking an HR Generalist to provide proactive HR support across the Consumables & Instruments business. You will manage onboarding, employee relations, recruitment, payroll coordination, and HR data management, while partnering with the HR Business Partner on strategic initiatives.

The role emphasizes policy guidance, compliance with UK employment law, and enhancing employee experience in a multi-site, rural-location setting.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 3 qualification or working towards.
• Previous HR experience.
• Good knowledge of UK employment law and HR practices.
• Experience supporting employee relations cases.
• Strong organizational and administrative skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office.
• Experience with Workday or similar HRIS.
• Experience in manufacturing or multi-site environments.

Responsibilities

• Manage onboarding and offboarding activities from offer acceptance through induction and termination; coordinate probation reviews.
• Provide first-line advice to managers and employees on HR policies and procedures.
• Support recruitment across C&I, including direct sourcing and onboarding processes.
• Act as liaison between HR, Payroll and managers for payroll changes.
• Maintain data accuracy in Workday and HR systems; produce regular HR reports.
• Support GDPR, UK employment law compliance and training completion.
• Monitor appraisal and development activities and coordinate learning initiatives.
• Support policy implementation and conduct compliance monitoring.

Skills

UK employment law knowledge

HR case support

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

CIPD Level 3 or equivalent

Tools

Workday

Job description

The HR Generalist is responsible for delivering proactive and efficient HR support across the Consumables & Instruments (C&I) business. Acting as the first point of contact for employees and managers, the role provides operational HR support throughout the employee lifecycle while partnering closely with the HR Business Partner on strategic people initiatives.

The HR Generalist will manage day-to-day HR activities including employee relations, recruitment, onboarding, absence management, payroll coordination, HR data management, policy guidance, and employee engagement activities. The role will also drive consistency of HR processes, improve employee experience, and support compliance with UK employment legislation and company policies.

Duration: Temporary 12 months

Full time Onsite: Wotton, Surrey (own transport required due to rural location)

What You’ll Be Doing

Employee Lifecycle Management

• Manage onboarding and offboarding activities from offer acceptance through to induction and termination.Coordinate probation reviews and ensure completion within required timescales.
• Support managers with employee lifecycle processes and HR administration.
• Maintain accurate employee records within Workday and associated HR systems and completing HR audits and reporting activities.

Employee Relations

• Provide first-line advice and guidance to managers and employees on HR policies and procedures.
• Support absence management, return-to-work processes, flexible working requests, disciplinary matters, grievances, capability reviews, and performance management.
• Support workplace investigations and ensure fair and consistent application of policies.
• Promote employee engagement and wellbeing initiatives.
• Prepare documentation and support HR case management activities.
• Escalate complex employee relations matters to the HR Business Partner where appropriate.
• Support organisational change in activities and consultation processes.

Recruitment and Onboarding

• Support recruitment activities across the C&I business, including Sourcing talent using direct sourcing methods.
• Ownership of assigned job postings and special projects within the team, strategic planning and implementation of improvement activities in line with our employer branding.
• Coordinate requisition approvals, interview scheduling, candidate communications, and onboarding processes.
• Monitor open positions and recruitment activity.
• Work with our candidate management tool in Workday.
• Deliver effective onboarding and induction program.
• Partner with external recruitment on temporary workers

Payroll

• Act as the liaison between HR, Payroll, and managers to ensure employee changes are processed accurately.
• Submit payroll-related changes including starters, leavers, salary changes, overtime adjustments, and absence-related updates.

HR Systems, Reporting and Compliance

• Maintain data accuracy within Workday and related systems.
• Produce regular HR reports and analysis relating to headcount, vacancies, turnover, absence, overtime, and workforce metrics.
• Support internal and external audit requirements.
• Ensure compliance with GDPR, UK employment law and company policies.
• Monitor completion of mandatory HR activities and compliance training.

Performance and Talent Management

• Monitor completion of appraisal and development activities.
• Coordinate learning and development activities.

Compliance and Policy

• Ensure compliance with UK employment legislation and internal policies.
• Support implementation of HR policies and procedures.
• Monitor legislative developments and recommend policy updates where appropriate.
• Maintain appropriate documentation and records for compliance purposes.

What You’ll Bring

• CIPD Level 3 qualified (or working towards).
• Previous experience in HR role.
• Working knowledge of UK employment law and HR best practice.
• Experience supporting employee relations cases.
• Strong organisational and administrative skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience using Workday or a similar HRIS.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, operations, or multi-site environments.