People Operations Specialist / HR Operations Lead (6 month FTC)
- Type: 6 Month FTC.
- Salary: Circa £75,000 pro rata (negotiable).
- Location: London (Hybrid – 3 days in office).
- Company: Major UK Media Publishing Group.
- Reports to: Director of HR Operations
Company and brief for People Operations Specialist / HR Operations Lead (6 month FTC):
Our client is one of the UK’s most established and widely recognised media publishing groups, with a portfolio of major national brands reaching tens of millions of readers across print, digital and social.
Their HR function is going through a period of genuine improvement and modernisation – and they need an experienced People Operations Specialist to help drive it, on a fixed-term basis.
This is a hands-on, contributor role for someone who genuinely enjoys the detail of HR operations – process, data, systems – and wants to make a tangible difference over a focused six-month period.
You’ll be working closely with the shared service team, helping shape how things are done, not just maintaining what’s already there.
The role for People Operations Specialist / HR Operations Lead (6 month FTC):
- As People Operations Specialist you’ll support operational excellence across HR service delivery, contributing directly to process improvement, data integrity and digital optimisation.
- You’ll work closely with the shared service team – shadowing current practices, helping implement better ones, and ensuring stakeholders stay informed throughout.
- Review and optimise HR processes to improve efficiency and the overall employee experience.
- Support automation and standardisation across HR practices and workflows, making the most of the tools already in place.
- Maintain accuracy, consistency and integrity of data across HR systems – running regular audits and taking corrective action where needed.
- Design and run exception reports to flag missing or illogical data points – duplicate records, conflicting effective dates, salary outliers and similar issues.
- Identify root causes behind data inconsistencies and implement practical process improvements to stop them recurring.
- Ensure all data handling aligns with GDPR and local labour law requirements, maintaining a clear audit trail throughout.
Experience needed for People Operations Specialist / HR Operations Lead (6 month FTC):
- 5+ years in an HR Operations role, with a strong track record in process improvement and a move toward more digitally optimised service delivery.
- Proven experience with HRIS systems – Workday experience and an understanding of systems integrations is highly desirable.
- Strong data analysis and reporting skills – confident with Excel and dashboards, and genuinely comfortable in the detail.
- The confidence to challenge existing practices and suggest simple, practical solutions rather than over-engineered ones.
- Clear, collaborative communication – able to translate technical data for non-technical HR colleagues with ease.
- Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
The contract details:
- 6 month fixed-term contract, with scope to extend depending on business need.
- Salary: circa £75,000 pro rata, with flexibility for the right candidate with exceptional, directly relevant experience.
- London-based, with a minimum of 3 days in the office.
- Reporting directly to the Director of HR Operations – genuine visibility and a real seat at the table.
If you’re looking for a focused, hands-on contract where you can make a genuine difference, we’d love to hear from you.
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