Interim People & Talent Partner

Merrifield Consultants; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 43,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Merrifield Consultants is partnering with an established professional membership organisation to recruit an Interim People and Talent Partner. This is a broad HR role covering recruitment, payroll, iTrent, and advising managers on employee relations and wider people issues.

Hybrid working: one day per week in Central London. CIPD Level 5 and strong iTrent experience are essential. Fixed-term contract until end May 2027, closing date 25 September 2026, interviews 6 October 2026.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 5 qualification required.
• Strong practical experience of iTrent and resolving system issues.
• Experience managing recruitment from role briefing to appointment.
• Experience overseeing monthly payroll and resolving payroll queries.
• Broad generalist HR experience with advising managers on employee relations.
• Current knowledge of UK employment legislation and good HR practice.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment across the organisation with hiring managers.
• Own the monthly payroll process and ensure timely submission.
• Act as the iTrent expert and support system changes.
• Advise and coach managers on employee relations and absence.
• Improve HR services through projects on engagement and wellbeing.

Skills

CIPD Level 5

iTrent expert

Recruitment management

Payroll processing

HR generalist

UK employment law

Influencing & communication

Education

CIPD Level 5 qualification

Tools

iTrent

Job description

Salary: £43,000 to £45,000

Contract: Fixed term contract until the end of May 2027

Location: Central London

Hybrid working: One day per week in the office

Closing date: 12 noon on Friday 25 September 2026

Interview date: Tuesday 6 October 2026

Merrifield Consultants is delighted to be partnering with an established professional membership organisation to recruit an Interim People and Talent Partner.

This is a broad and hands on HR role with clear areas of ownership: recruitment, monthly payroll, iTrent and working closely with managers across the organisation, providing practical advice on employee relations and wider people matters.

Key responsibilities

Lead recruitment across the organisation: Partner with hiring managers to review roles, shape job descriptions and run fair, effective recruitment processes. You will oversee candidate attraction, selection, appointments and the applicant tracking system, while building productive relationships with recruitment agencies and other suppliers.

Own the monthly payroll process: Lead, review and authorise payroll for the organisation. You will resolve queries, coordinate with internal colleagues and external providers, and ensure information is complete, accurate and submitted on time.

Act as the iTrent expert: Provide specialist knowledge of iTrent, investigate system issues and help colleagues use the platform effectively. You will maintain the quality and confidentiality of employee data while supporting improvements and future systems change.

Advise and coach managers: Provide clear guidance on employee relations, absence, performance, disciplinary matters, grievances, flexible working and family leave.

Improve people services: Contribute to projects covering employee engagement, wellbeing, organisational change and the continuous improvement of HR systems and processes.

About you

You will be an experienced generalist HR professional who can take ownership of a varied workload and provide trusted advice with minimal supervision. You will be comfortable moving between recruitment, payroll, systems work and complex conversations with managers.

You will need:

• A CIPD Level 5 qualification


• Strong practical experience of iTrent, with the confidence to resolve issues and act as an internal system expert


• Experience managing recruitment from role briefing and attraction through to selection and appointment


• Experience overseeing monthly payroll and resolving payroll queries


• Broad generalist HR experience, including advising managers on employee relations and people management matters


• Current knowledge of UK employment legislation and good HR practice


• The confidence to communicate, negotiate and influence at different levels

CIPD Level 5, recruitment, payroll and practical iTrent experience are essential for this appointment.

Applications close at 12 noon on Friday 25 September 2026, with interviews taking place on Tuesday 6 October 2026.

We practice a diverse and inclusive recruitment process that ensures equal opportunity for all we work with, irrespective of race, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability, age or gender. As an organisation, we encourage applications from all backgrounds and will ensure measures are met when required, to allow a fair process throughout