People Operations Specialist

QA Higher Education; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Hybrid on-site role

Job summary

QA Higher Education is seeking a People Operations Specialist in London, on a hybrid basis (2 days on site). You will provide first‑line HR support, manage employee lifecycle admin, and assist onboarding with the Talent Acquisition team.

The role requires strong customer service, attention to detail, and knowledge of GDPR and sponsorship requirements. The team focuses on compliant, efficient processes and a great employee experience across the full lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering a high‑quality HR service in a busy environment.
• Strong knowledge of employment legislation and data protection.
• Experience with sponsorship and right-to-work processes.
• Proficient with HR systems and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

• Provide first‑line People Operations support with a customer focus.
• Act as SME across People Operations policies and systems.
• Manage employee lifecycle administration with accuracy and compliance.
• Assist onboarding and coordination with Talent Acquisition.
• Provide guidance on sponsorship and visa compliance.
• Maintain HR data quality and audit trails in case management systems.
• Support payroll data submissions and collaborate with relevant teams.
• Identify process improvements to enhance efficiency and experience.
• Share knowledge and develop capability across People Team.

Skills

HR administration

Customer service

Attention to detail

GDPR knowledge

Communication skills

Education

CIPD Level 3 or equivalent experience

Tools

ResourceLink

PeopleXD

Home Office SMS requirements

Job description

About The Role

People Operations Specialist

Location: London, Middlesex Street Campus (Hybrid - 2 days on site)
Department: People Team
Reports to: People Operations Manager
Salary:35k + Benefits

At QA Higher Education, our People Team plays a vital role in creating an exceptional employee experience. We are looking for a highly organised and customer-focused People Operations Specialist to join our team and support colleagues throughout their employee journey.

This is an excellent opportunity for an HR professional who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment, delivering outstanding customer service, improving processes and ensuring compliance across all aspects of the employee lifecycle.

As one of the first points of contact for People-related queries, you will provide expert guidance, resolve complex issues and ensure our processes are efficient, compliant and focused on delivering the best possible experience for our colleagues.

What You'll Do

• Provide first-line People Operations support, delivering a professional, responsive and customer-focused service.
• Act as a subject matter expert across People Operations policies, processes and systems.
• Manage employee lifecycle administration, ensuring accuracy and compliance at every stage.
• Support onboarding activities and work closely with the Talent Acquisition team to ensure a seamless transition from candidate to employee.
• Provide guidance on sponsorship, right to work legislation, visa compliance and DBS requirements.
• Review vetting requirements across the business and advise stakeholders on appropriate screening processes.
• Manage job change requests and ensure HR system updates are completed accurately and within agreed service levels.
• Maintain audit trails and data quality through effective management of calls, queries and case management systems.
• Support payroll processes by ensuring accurate and timely data submissions.
• Collaborate with Payroll, Learning & Development, Reward & Benefits, HR Systems and People Partnering teams.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, enhance efficiency and strengthen the employee experience.
• Share knowledge, support colleagues and contribute to developing capability across the wider People Team.

About You

We're looking for someone who combines strong HR administration experience with excellent customer service, attention to detail and a genuine passion for supporting people.

Essential Experience & Knowledge

• Experience working within a busy HR, People Operations or Shared Services environment.
• Experience delivering a high-quality, customer-focused HR service.
• Knowledge of employment legislation, HR policies and employee lifecycle processes.
• Experience of managing sponsorship activities and Home Office SMS requirements.
• Experience using HR systems and Microsoft Office applications.
• Understanding of GDPR and data protection principles.
• Proven ability to manage competing priorities and consistently meet deadlines.
• Strong attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and compliance.

Qualifications

• CIPD Level 3 qualified, working towards CIPD Level 3, or able to demonstrate equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Experience using ResourceLink HR and Payroll systems.
• Experience using PeopleXD systems.
• Experience working within the education, higher education or professional services sector.
• Experience supporting continuous improvement or change initiatives within a People function.
• Experience of managing sponsorship activities and Home Office SMS requirements

What You'll Bring

• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
• Confidence to challenge appropriately and influence outcomes.
• Excellent listening skills and a proactive approach to problem solving.
• Resilience and adaptability within a fast-moving environment.
• Strong organisational and planning skills.
• A continuous improvement mindset and desire to enhance the employee experience.
• A collaborative and customer-focused approach to work.