HR Operations Specialist – Glasgow
The Client
We've partnered with a rapidly growing international organisation that delivers specialised talent solutions across several technical and professional sectors. The company operates across multiple European locations and places strong emphasis on high-quality service, operational excellence, and supporting a diverse, fast-moving workforce.
The Role
The client is looking for an organised and proactive HR Operations Specialist who will take ownership of key processes throughout the employee life cycle. This person will play a central role in ensuring smooth onboarding and offboarding, managing contractual changes, and addressing more complex employee and payroll-related queries. The role requires a strong understanding of employment legislation across the UK and Europe, as well as effective coordination with both HR and payroll teams.
Key Responsibilities
Employee Life Cycle
* Oversee onboarding and offboarding for employees across the UK and EU, ensuring all actions comply with local employment requirements.
* Prepare employment documentation, review eligibility-to-work checks, and manage pre-employment vetting across multiple countries.
* Coordinate employee changes including promotions, relocations, secondments, and amendments to existing contracts.
* Maintain accurate and timely updates within the HR system and ensure payroll receives clear, complete handovers for all change activities.
HR & Payroll Coordination
* Ensure HR processes, templates, and documentation meet legal and regulatory requirements across the UK and EU (e.g., data protection rules, working time obligations, statutory entitlements).
* Stay informed on legislative developments and support periodic updates to policies and procedures.
* Work closely with external advisers for cross-border or complex employment matters.
* Maintain audit-ready personnel records and uphold high standards of documentation accuracy.
Employee Support
* Serve as the initial escalation point for employee queries related to policies, pay, contractual matters, and absence.
* Provide managers with guidance on best practice and compliance across different jurisdictions.
* Escalate sensitive or complex matters appropriately to senior HR colleagues or relevant stakeholders.
Systems & Reporting
* Keep employee data up to date within the HRIS and ensure documentation is stored securely in line with data protection standards.
* Produce regular HR metrics and ad hoc reports, such as headcount, joiners and leavers, and absence data.
* Contribute to the enhancement of HR processes by identifying opportunities for better efficiency and consistency.
Candidate Profile
* Solid understanding of UK and EU employment legislation.
* Experience supporting HR operations across multiple regions.
* Proficiency in HR information systems and Microsoft Office applications.
* Exceptional attention to detail and strong organisational skills.
* Confident communicator with the ability to build trusted relationships across the business.
The client operates predominantly from the office, so the successful candidate should be comfortable working from central Glasgow, with occasional UK travel as required.
Experience working within a multifunctional HR environment (such as HR operations, payroll administration, or health & safety) would be advantageous. Exposure to a business of similar size (around 500 employees) is also beneficial.
They are particularly keen to meet individuals with 1–2 years’ experience in a transactional HR role. Experience with Cascade IRIS is welcomed, though not essential. As the organisation is implementing a new HRIS and improving its internal processes, a continuous improvement mindset and strong stakeholder engagement skills will be highly valued.