Overview
Our Story
Our small Canadian-born business was founded in 1978 and has become a global organization that now spans 120 locations across 20 countries. Our expansion has been rapid, but what matters most is the common belief that drives all 5,000 of our people to be a different type of real estate organization. We believe that the places in which we live, work and play have the power to make us happier and healthier, and we are united by a shared sense of purpose: to have a positive impact on people’s lives. In short, we are a global commercial real estate advisory firm with a simple aim for real estate to play a leading role in creating vibrant buildings, cities and places that deliver long-lasting social value and economic impact.
Why Work for Us
We believe that our industry is changing, and we want our business to be a melting pot of curious minds, passionate hearts and strategic intelligence. Your gender, religion and race are all highly respected, but are less important to us than your ability to step up and change the game. We provide you with a place where you can do just that, with like-minded people. Collaboration is embedded in the way we work — our people have the autonomy to collaborate on client relationships, engage teams across the business, lead operations, work collectively on projects, participate in strategy and are ultimately responsible for our growth. Our distinctive Principal-led, privately-owned model puts us in the enviable position of being able to offer every employee the opportunity to own a share of our business and inspires and allows anyone to become a Principal. This role carries voting rights, so our people have a very real say in the future direction and operation of our business. This means that we are able to attract, engage and retain the best talent from the industry.
Role Overview
This role provides generalist HR support to the HR Business Partner team and the wider business, delivering a professional, efficient, and responsive service. Responsibilities include offering guidance on Avison Young’s HR policies and procedures, supporting day-to-day people matters, and contributing to HR initiatives across the organisation.
Role Type
We are seeking a strong HR Assistant with experience in professional services, who can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment. This is an excellent opportunity for someone looking to grow their HR career, with future progression available for the right candidate. The role requires a minimum of three days per week in the office, with at least four days during the probation period. There may also be occasional travel to other Avison Young UK offices as required.
Main Duties, Responsibilities & Accountabilities
* Manage probationary periods, flexible working requests, exit interviews, and other employee lifecycle processes in accordance with Avison Young policies and procedures. Provide guidance to managers on best practices to ensure compliance and reduce risk.
* Support HR Business Partners with employee relations cases such as capability procedures, disciplinaries, grievances, and attendance management, with a focus on drafting correspondence and accurately recording minutes during meetings.
* Support the management of attendance cases, both long and short term, in alignment with company policies and procedures. Offer guidance to line managers and provide appropriate support to affected employees.
* Promote employee wellbeing by coordinating Occupational Health and Group Income Protection referrals, and by working closely with managers and employees to implement reasonable adjustments.
* Manage end-to-end processes for maternity, adoption, career breaks, sabbaticals, and secondments, ensuring accurate documentation, clear communication, and effective return-to-work planning. Advise employees and managers on entitlements and procedural requirements.
* Provide support to HR Business Partners on complex or strategic matters, including note-taking for cases such as TUPE, redundancies, and change management.
* Monitor and maintain records of casework, identifying and escalating emerging themes and trends to HR Business Partners.
* Contribute to the review and enhancement of HR policies, procedures, and workflows, ensuring alignment with legislative updates and best practices.
* Assist with the coordination of external consultants, including drafting consultancy agreements and managing related administrative tasks.
* Provide flexible support to the wider HR team across various initiatives and projects, such as salary reviews, performance cycles, training initiatives, recruitment, apprenticeships, and onboarding activities.
* Manage the administration of assigned casework and HR processes independently, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and effective coordination with the wider HR team as needed.
* Act as a key liaison between HR Administrators and HR Business Partners, facilitating clear communication and consistent support across the team.
* Assist the HR Operations team with drafting complex correspondence and resolving advanced queries.
* Coordinate and submit monthly payroll changes, ensuring accuracy and timely delivery to the payroll team.
* Generate ad hoc reports for business stakeholders and HR Business Partners, analysing HR data to highlight trends and provide insights on turnover, absence, and employee engagement.
* Support ongoing process and procedure improvements by identifying opportunities for increased efficiency and effectiveness.
This list of responsibilities is not exhaustive. You may be required to perform additional duties that are reasonably aligned with your role, as directed by your manager.
Qualifications & Attributes
* Strong knowledge of current employment legislation, best practice guidance, and legal considerations in employee relations.
* Proactive self-starter with the ability to work independently and build effective relationships across a geographically dispersed organisation.
* Proven experience in supporting managers with day-to-day HR and people-related matters.
* Excellent time management skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks and meet tight deadlines.
* Exceptional verbal communication and active listening skills, with the ability to anticipate and respond to business needs.
* Capable of resolving operational issues promptly and effectively in a fast-paced environment.
* Desire to achieve, or currently working towards, CIPD Level 3 accreditation.
DEI, Inclusion & Benefits
At Avison Young, we’ve always put people at the heart of what we do. We’ve increased the diversity at our board, leadership and Principal levels, and our Women’s Network of more than 500 members supports networking and learning and advises the business on strategies for promoting access, opportunity and inclusion. Our global DEI steering committee shapes our strategy to increase industry access for underrepresented groups and to accelerate initiatives led by employee resource groups, including our Women’s Network, Black Professionals and LGBTQ+ groups. Our culture is underpinned by diversity, inclusion, and well-being, with a commitment to an inclusive workplace that empowers all employees to thrive, reflects all backgrounds and talents, and fosters a sense of belonging and community.
Avison Young is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to treating all its employees and job applicants equitably. This includes implementing deliberate strategies that advance underrepresented communities in commercial real estate careers. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to removing obstacles to inclusion. If you need adjustments to support your application or any part of the recruitment process, such as information in alternative formats or adjustments to access our buildings, please contact careers.uk@avisonyoung.com. We are committed to inclusion in our hiring processes, and we encourage you to apply even if you feel you do not meet every skill in the person specification. Some roles may be remote and some may be location-specific; you will need to confirm you have the right to work in the UK.
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