4926 - People Operations Adviser

University of Greenwich; London; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job description

People Directorate - People Operations

Are you passionate about delivering exceptional People advice and a seamless service experience? Ready to be part of a forward-thinking People team driving digital transformation and people-focused support through a dedicated Help Desk? The University of Greenwich is seeking a proactive and customer-centred People Operations Adviser to join our growing People Operations team. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your People expertise in a fast-paced and supportive environment where employee experience and service excellence are at the heart of everything we do.

About the Role

As a People Operations Adviser, you will be a core part of the university’s Help Desk acting as the first point of contact for HR-related queries from managers and employees. You will deliver timely advice and support, either resolving queries directly or escalating to specialist teams where appropriate. This role blends operational HR work with a strong service delivery focus, supporting a broad range of people processes including recruitment, contract changes, onboarding, employee relations, and general policy queries. You’ll also play a key part in maintaining data accuracy, managing employee lifecycle administration, and ensuring a high-quality service that meets both service level agreements (SLAs) and employee expectations.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Acting as a first-line adviser via the Horizon Help Desk, offering advice and resolving queries across a wide range of HR topics.
• Delivering high-quality people administration to support operational processes and employee lifecycle events.
• Liaising with Senior People Business Partners and Centres of Expertise (CoEs) to escalate complex queries and ensure appropriate solutions.
• Maintaining strong working knowledge of HR systems, templates, policies, and best practices.
• Contributing to the ongoing improvement of the Help Desk knowledge base and identifying opportunities to enhance the employee experience.
• Supporting the smooth and efficient execution of core people processes in line with the university’s People Enabling Strategy.

About You

You’ll be an experienced People professional with a passion for excellent service delivery and strong problem-solving skills. You’ll feel comfortable working with systems and handling a wide range of queries, offering practical advice with empathy and clarity. You’ll also bring:

• Substantial experience delivering HR advice and administration in a busy operational environment.
• Confidence using HR systems and supporting digital service channels.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and maintain attention to detail under pressure.
• A collaborative approach to working with colleagues at all levels.
• A commitment to continuous improvement and enhancing the employee experience.

A Level 3 qualification in HR or a related field is essential, and CIPD membership (Associate or above) is desirable. (We are particularly keen to attract candidates who are already active CIPD members and committed to maintaining professional standards and development.)

Why Join Us?

At the university, we are committed to providing a world-class employee experience, and our Help Desk model is central to achieving this. You’ll be part of a supportive and future-focused People Operations team, helping to shape a service that is modern, accessible, and responsive. We offer:

• Hybrid working and flexible hours
• A generous annual leave allowance and pension scheme
• A culture of professional growth and development
• A welcoming and inclusive campus community

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact Olakunle Taiwo, People Operations Manager, [e-mail] or alternatively Ibi Akinkuade, Head of People Operations at [e-mail].

Applying:

Please submit an up-to-date CV and supporting statement outlining how you believe you meet the criteria outlined in the person specification and why you want to join us at Greenwich. Closing date for application is: Monday 28 April 2025.

Selection:

Assessment and interview: Wednesday 7 May 2025 (can be done in person or via Teams). If you are shortlisted for selection, there will be an in-tray exercise which will take circa 45 minutes and an interview lasting approximately an hour. Interview questions will be provided ahead of the interview itself.

About the university

The university is a brilliant place to work. We aim to become the top modern university in the UK by 2030 and our people are truly at the heart of what we want to achieve. We offer a great set of benefits including an excellent pension scheme, generous holiday entitlement, flexible working options including hybrid working and a genuine commitment to development. We are looking for people who can help us achieve our Strategic Plan, through the values we expect for our whole university community, of being Inclusive, Collaborative and Impactful.

Discover why the university of Greenwich is the perfect place to shape your future – watch our Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive's inspiring message on why you should join us. Your Future Starts Here. To apply, please visit the University of Greenwich vacancies page and complete all details, including the supporting statements (please note attached CVs and personal statements will not be seen by the recruitment panel at the application stage).

Employment Visa:

Under the UK Government Points Based System scheme this role does meet the criteria to be sponsored for a Skilled Worker Route application. We are committed to building a strong, diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We do this through taking positive action such as encouraging applications from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, disabled and LGBT+ people. As part of our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Time to Change Employer Pledge / Mentally Healthy Universities, we are committed to promoting and supporting the physical and mental health of all our staff and removing barriers to improve inclusion. We encourage applicants to disclose experience of mental health problems so we can support them fully during our recruitment process and make any necessary reasonable adjustments. Any information disclosed will be kept confidential and separate from the job application form. We are making significant strides to understand and continuously improve our employees’ experience, and we are committed to implementing progressive diversity talent management.

Ready to Apply?

If you are committed to providing high-quality People advice and want to help shape a modern, people-first service we’d love to hear from you. Apply now and play a key role in delivering excellent People services at Greenwich.