Senior HR Operations Assistant (Maternity Cover)
Posted Today by Cognita Schools
Negotiable
Undetermined
Remote
London, England, United Kingdom
Summary: The Senior HR Operations Assistant role at Cognita is a full-time, fixed-term maternity cover position focused on delivering efficient HR administration across the UK. The successful candidate will manage high-volume onboarding and pre-employment checks while providing broad administrative support throughout the employee journey. This primarily remote role requires strong Excel and PowerPoint skills, with occasional travel to the London Eastcastle Office. The position is set to start in early April 2026 and is ideal for an experienced HR professional with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
Key Responsibilities:
- Ensuring compliance with local policies, legislation, and safer recruitment requirements across different countries.
- Managing high-volume onboarding, contracts, and pre-employment checks.
- Supporting schools and central teams with HR systems and process queries.
- Providing Reward-related administrative support.
- Producing accurate HR reporting, working with large data sets, and maintaining employee data.
- Managing the HR mailbox and acting as the first point of contact for queries.
- Maintaining organisational charts.
Key Skills:
- Proven experience in HR operations or shared services.
- Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
- Experience managing high-volume onboarding and pre-employment processes (e.g., right-to-work checks, references, contracts).
- Good understanding of HR processes, compliance, and safer recruitment requirements.
- An initiative-taking and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to adapt quickly.
- Ability to work independently and prioritise effectively.
- Experience using HR systems and competent MS Office skills, including Excel (large data sets), PowerPoint, Word (bulk mail merge), SharePoint, Visio, and OneDrive.
Salary (Rate): undetermined
City: London
Country: United Kingdom
Working Arrangements: remote
IR35 Status: undetermined
Seniority Level: undetermined
Industry: HR
Full-Time | Fixed-Term Maternity Cover Contract | Remote
About Cognita
Cognita is a global leader in independent education. Founded in 2004, we are a growing community of 90 schools in 21 countries - in Europe, North America, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East - serving more than 100,000 students. Each of our schools are proudly unique, however our collective purpose is to create an environment where everyone can, ‘Thrive in a rapidly evolving world’. We now have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Senior HR Operations Assistant to join our fantastic team as Maternity Cover.
About The Role
At Cognita, we are a global community of schools committed to delivering outstanding education for our students. Our HR Operations team plays a vital part in this mission by ensuring every colleague is supported throughout their career journey. As our Senior HR Operations Assistant, you will be responsible for delivering accurate and efficient HR administration across the UK. Awareness of international HR processes would be an advantage. This role is ideal for an HR professional with experience managing high-volume onboarding and pre-employment checks, as well as providing broad administrative support across the employee journey. You’ll be comfortable handling complex HR administration, adaptable to changing priorities, and confident working independently while maintaining a high level of accuracy. Strong Excel and PowerPoint skills are essential, and experience supporting international teams will be highly valued. This role is primarily remote, with occasional travel required to our London Eastcastle Office. This is a 12 month fixed-term Maternity Cover contract starting early April 2026.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Ensuring compliance with local policies, legislation, and safer recruitment requirements across different countries.
- Managing high-volume onboarding, contracts, and pre-employment checks
- Supporting schools and central teams with HR systems and process queries.
- Providing Reward-related administrative support.
- Producing accurate HR reporting, working with large data sets, and maintaining employee data.
- Managing the HR mailbox and acting as the first point of contact for queries.
- Maintaining organisational charts.
Who We’re Looking For:
- Proven experience in HR operations or shared services.
- Exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
- Experience managing high-volume onboarding and pre-employment processes (e.g., right-to-work checks, references, contracts).
- Good understanding of HR processes, compliance, and safer recruitment requirements.
- An initiative-taking and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to adapt quickly.
- Ability to work independently and prioritise effectively.
- Experience using HR systems and competent MS Office skills, including Excel (large data sets), PowerPoint, Word (bulk mail merge), SharePoint, Visio, and OneDrive.
Benefits at Cognita:
- Competitive salary based on experience
- Private Medical Insurance & Healthcare Cash Plan
- Group Personal Pension Plan with Aviva Life Assurance
- 25 days annual leave allowance + Bank Holidays
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Exclusive third-party discounts
- School fee discount
- Professional development
How To Apply
Complete your application before the closing date: 1st March 2025. We encourage early applications, we reserve the right to interview and appoint prior to the closing date for the right applicant. Cognita Schools is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All appointments are subject to safer recruitment checks, including an enhanced DBS check. Our Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy is available on the school website. Details on Recruitment of Ex-Offenders is included within the Application Guidance We are an equal opportunities employer committed to diversity and treating all employees with dignity and respect regardless of background. We are unable to offer sponsorship for this position.