HR Assistant 12-Month Fixed Term Contract – Maternity Cover Location: Gravesend, Kent Salary: £30K - £35K Diamond Search Recruitment are delighted to be supporting a well-established and busy law firm in their search for a proactive and detail-oriented HR Assistant to join their team on a 12-month fixed-term maternity cover contract. This role provides essential administrative and operational support across the full employee lifecycle, ensuring HR processes are delivered efficiently, confidentially, and in line with legal and regulatory requirements. Working Hours 37.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm (one hour unpaid lunch break at 1:00pm.) Key Responsibilities HR Administration & Support * Provide day-to-day administrative support to the HR team * Maintain accurate and confidential employee records * Draft HR correspondence including contracts, offer letters, and policy updates * Assist with onboarding and offboarding processes, including right-to-work checks Recruitment & Onboarding * Coordinate recruitment activities, including posting vacancies, scheduling interviews, and liaising with candidates * Support hiring managers throughout the recruitment process * Prepare onboarding documentation and ensure a smooth induction experience Employee Relations & Compliance * Act as a first point of contact for general HR queries, escalating where appropriate * Support absence management, probation reviews, and performance management processes * Assist in ensuring compliance with employment legislation and internal policies * Support the firm’s equality, diversity, and inclusion initiatives HR Projects & Continuous Improvement * Support HR projects such as policy reviews, engagement initiatives, and training programmes Skills & Experience Essential * Previous experience in an HR support or HR Assistant role * Strong organisational skills with excellent attention to detail * Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and confidentiality * Excellent written and verbal communication skills * Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) * Full UK driving licence Personal Attributes * Professional and approachable manner * Proactive, adaptable, and eager to learn * Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trusted working relationships * Able to work independently as well as part of a team Benefits Our client offers a very attractive remuneration package, dependent on experience, along with a comprehensive range of staff benefits, including: 25 days’ holiday plus statutory and bank holidays Private healthcare through AXA after six months’ service (optional) Workplace pension scheme via Scottish Widows 30% discount on all legal services for staff 25% discount on legal services for immediate family (parents, siblings, and children) Referral bonuses for successful staff introductions (T&Cs apply) £100 no-sick bonus paid in December for full attendance throughout the year Annual black-tie Christmas party and firm-wide summer BBQ/party This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced HR Assistant to join a professional services environment and gain exposure across a broad range of HR activities. Diamond Search Recruitment is acting as an Employment Agency in regard to this vacancy