People Operations Junior Manager

News UK; Greater Lincolnshire; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media organization in the United Kingdom is seeking a junior manager for the New Hire Services team. This role oversees the onboarding process, ensuring a smooth start for new employees. Responsibilities include managing contracts and conducting necessary HR checks. The ideal candidate should have team management experience, excellent administration skills, and a solid understanding of UK employment law. This position supports a hybrid work model, requiring presence in the office three days per week.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Discounted gym memberships

Bikes for Work scheme

Generous pension scheme

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Experience managing or advising teams preferred.
• Strong focus on service delivery with attention to detail.
• Ability to multi-task and meet tight deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Oversee issuing offer letters and contracts for new hires.
• Ensure onboarding items are ready for new hires.
• Maintain employment contract templates and provide guidance.

Skills

Customer focus

Administration skills

Attention to detail

Ability to work under pressure

Knowledge of UK employment law

Communication and interpersonal skills

Analytical mindset

Job description

Overview

The New Hire Services team is a specialist part of People Operations at News UK, responsible for the initial stages of the employee life cycle. They ensure a smooth, compliant, and positive start for every new employee. The core duties include issuing contracts of employment and starter packs, coordinating the onboarding journey for new starters, conducting right‑to‑work checks, and completing mandatory background screening checks. This junior manager leads a team of two HR Administrators to ensure excellent service delivery of our HR onboarding duties.

This role supports a hybrid work model, requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the process for producing and issuing offer letters, contracts of employment, and new starter packs for all new starters and contractual changes.
• Ensure all necessary HR items (e.g. contract of employment, tax declaration forms, etc.) are in place for the new hire to have a successful welcoming first day.
• Maintain all employment contract templates, ensuring that any changes are accurately and consistently updated.
• Provide advice and assistance to customers, line managers, and HR colleagues on contractual terms and the new hire onboarding journey.
• Ensure that the onboarding process is successfully completed by the Line Manager and key stakeholders.
• Manage day‑to‑day activities and processes of the company's employment screening (background checks).
• Ensure the appropriate level of screening is completed for all new employees within their probation period.
• Ensure new team members have completed all clearances and required documentation to start employment, including right‑to‑work verifications.
• Optimise and enhance operational service delivery across the team's remit, recommending improvements in systems and processes to solve problems or increase effectiveness.
• Manage day‑to‑day service from all third‑party suppliers related to employment screening and right‑to‑work checks.
• Ensure Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are met where they exist, providing an excellent customer experience.
• Directly manage, develop, and mentor a team of HR Administrators.
• Lead workflow requirements for the team, delegating tasks within the workflow queue to ensure daily targets are met.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience of managing or advising teams is preferred.
• Strong customer focus and passion for service delivery.
• Excellent administration skills and strong attention to detail to deliver impeccable accuracy and quality.
• Ability to work under pressure, multi‑task, and meet tight deadlines.
• General knowledge of UK employment law.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Analytical mindset and problem‑solving skills.

Benefits

• Private medical insurance including coverage for pre‑existing conditions.
• Discounted gym memberships, free ClassPass at Home, weekly in‑person/virtual exercise classes.
• Bikes for Work and Electric Car scheme.
• Up to 60% discount on Harper Collins books.
• Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary & paternity leave up to 2 weeks.
• Access to exclusive events and competitions with exciting brands such as talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK & The Times. Weekly virtual panel chats with top journalists and celebrities.
• Access to wellbeing benefits such as EAP, physio/massage and counselling.
• A generous pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 5%.
• Wide range of training available, plus full LinkedIn Learning access.
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays and up to 4 volunteering days per year.