HR Specialist - Payroll and Benefits

Summary: The HR & Payroll Specialist role is a 6-month fixed-term contract within a globally renowned media organization, focusing on payroll, benefits, and core HR operations. The position requires a detail-oriented individual to manage benefit plans, resolve HR and payroll issues, and collaborate with a small HR team. The role offers a dynamic work environment with a hybrid working arrangement. The successful candidate will support key HR processes and maintain effective communication with the Director of HR.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage benefit plans and programmes across the organisation
• Lead and coordinate key annual HR processes such as P11Ds and benefits enrolment windows
• Resolve complex HR and payroll issues by sourcing and analysing relevant data
• Manage and work confidently with large and complex data sets
• Provide accurate and timely payroll information including starters, leavers, maternity, promotions, and transfers
• Liaise and negotiate with benefit providers, ensuring competitive and effective service delivery
• Respond to employee queries around benefits, pensions, and general HR matters
• Operate independently while collaborating effectively across a small HR team of three
• Work closely with the Director of HR to keep them informed throughout payroll processing cycles

Key Skills:

• Prior experience managing benefit plans and payroll operations
• Strong project management skills with the ability to lead cyclical HR processes
• Excellent problem-solving skills and data literacy
• High attention to detail and consistency in output
• Proven ability to work autonomously in a flexible team structure
• Experience in large corporate or matrixed environments preferred
• ADP experience highly desirable; Workday experience a plus
• Comfortable in a fast-changing, global work environment

Salary (Rate): £65,000

City: Stoke-on-Trent

Country: United Kingdom

Working Arrangements: hybrid

IR35 Status: fixed-term

Seniority Level: Mid-Level

Industry: HR