HR Advisor and Executive Assistant

Harrison Street; London; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job description

About Harrison Street

Harrison Street (HS) is a privately-owned investment management firm that launched its first investment vehicle in 2005. Since that time, the firm has grown into a market leader in the alternative real estate sectors through its offering of opportunistic and core funds as well as separate accounts dedicated to targeted strategies. The firm currently manages over US$55 billion in assets across the US, Canada, and Europe, through both its closed-end Opportunistic Funds and its open-end Core products. Harrison Street’s investment strategy is focused on alternative real estate sectors (including senior housing, student accommodation, life sciences, storage, data centres, and healthcare properties) as well as social infrastructure.

As an extension of Harrison Street’s activities in the US, the firm launched its European platform in 2015. In Europe, HS is currently investing out of its fourth European Opportunistic Fund, which is focused on the life sciences, student accommodation, and specialty residential sectors. To date, HS has invested in over €5.0 billion of assets in Europe across France, Germany, Ireland, Spain, and the UK, and will expand to other European geographies over time.

The Role:

Harrison Street is seeking to hire an HR Advisor and Executive Assistant to support its London-based European team of approximately 40 employees. The ideal candidate will have 5+ years of experience, preferably within the financial services or real estate sectors, with a strong background in HR operations, employee relations, and team administration. This role will provide comprehensive HR support, ensuring the seamless implementation of HR policies and initiatives.

This role will also provide executive support to the Managing Directors/Directors on the Asset Management, Acquisitions, Portfolio Management and Legal teams.

The ideal candidate will be extremely organized with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously. They must be comfortable dealing with people and able to coach managers and employees with confidence and confidentiality. Successful candidates will possess the ability to thrive in a high energy office environment as a team player. Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

Human Resources

• HR Operations: Manage day-to-day HR operations, including employee onboarding, offboarding, and maintaining employee records.
• Employee Relations: Act as a point of contact for employees, offering advice and guidance on HR-related matters, and managing employee relations issues.
• Performance Management: Support the performance management process by assisting in the creation of objectives, conducting appraisals, and providing feedback.
• Training & Development: Identify training needs and opportunities for employee development. Assist in the design and delivery of training programs.
• HR Policies & Compliance: Assist in the creation, communication, and enforcement of HR policies and procedures. Ensure compliance with UK employment laws and regulations.
• Culture & Engagement: Work closely with management to promote a positive, inclusive, and high-performance culture. Support initiatives that drive employee engagement and retention.
• HR Invoicing: Log and process HR invoices, liaising with Finance to ensure prompt payment.
• Maintain HR spreadsheets and employee records.
• Manage the onboarding/offboarding and induction experience.
• Manage the annual Internship application process, scheduling all interviews and working with the Intern managers on the agenda for the Intern Insight Day.

Team Administration

• Complex diary management for internal and external meetings across various time zones.
• Manage communication with key internal and external parties, demonstrating an awareness of time-sensitive issues and prioritizing accordingly.
• Manage highly confidential and sensitive information.
• Assist with the planning and arranging of international and domestic travel, hotels, and Visa requirements.
• Coordinate and plan asset tours across Europe for relevant team members.
• Maintain spreadsheet of board meetings for senior team and proactively arrange necessary travel and related meetings.
• Compile and submit expense reports for the senior team.
• Miscellaneous administrative support, including document preparation, documentation handling, filing, and printing as needed.
• Contribute to projects/events as requested by the wider London team and other duties as assigned.
• Provide cover for the CEO/IR team EA and the Office Administrator during absences.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Minimum of 5+ years' relevant experience (at least 2 years of HR Advisor experience preferred).
• Experience booking international travel and submitting expenses.
• Strong team player.
• Excellent communication skills and customer service mentality.
• Great attention to detail.
• Ability to anticipate needs, work in a fast-paced environment and be flexible with changing priorities and multiple requests.
• Exceptional project and time management skills required.
• Ability to work independently and consistently with minimal direction and supervision.
• Must be highly organized, proactive and resourceful.
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office Suite.