HR Assistant

Salary: £29,500 – £35,000 annually pro rata, dependent on experience

Working hours: Full-time/Part time – 35 hours per week

Contract:Permanent contract

Location
:
Ratho, Edinburgh / Hybrid-working

Closing Date for Applications: Thursday, 13 August 2026 at 12 noon.

In person interviews for this role will take place w/c Monday, 17 August 2026.

Prior to any employment commencing with Scotland Food & Drink you will be asked to provide documents to demonstrate your right to work in the UK.

At Scotland Food & Drink, we lead and support the growth of the food and drink sector, working with partners and policymakers to drive responsible, sustainable growth. We are also a membership organisation, representing more than 420+ companies at the heart of one of Scotland’s most exciting and innovative industries.

At Scotland Food & Drink, we are ambitious about making a difference and believe the best results come from collaboration
. We champion innovation and continuous improvement,
celebrate success, and stay authentic to our values through honesty and integrity. Just as importantly, we value balance
, supporting our people to thrive at work and beyond.

If you’re passionate about making a difference and want to help shape the future of Scotland’s food and drink industry, we would love to hear from you.

As our HR Assistant, you will play a vital role in the day-to-day running of our HR function, supporting employees at Scotland Food & Drink with a wide range of HR processes and tasks. From maintaining accurate employee records to handling sensitive and confidential information with the utmost professionalism, you will be someone who understands that getting the detail right matters.

You will act as a key point of contact for HR queries, helping to create a collaborative, inclusive and supportive working environment that reflects our People Strategy and wider organisational goals. You will work closely with the HR Business Partner and the wider team, bringing your own initiative, warmth and expertise to everything you do.

We are looking for an experienced HR Assistant who brings a solid grounding in HR practice, a proactive approach and the confidence to manage their workload, takes ownership of their work and is ready to make a meaningful contribution to an organisation that is passionate about Scotland's food and drink industry and the people within it.

Your day-to-day responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

HR Data Management and Administrative support:

• Maintain and take ownership of HR systems, including holiday and absence records, employee files, induction documents and company documents, ensuring accuracy and compliance at all times.
• Independently produce HR data analysis, reporting, and employee communications such as letters, promotions, leavers, and organisational charts using established templates and good judgement, without requiring step by step supervision.
• Monitor and create purchase orders as required.
• Maintain accurate employee records and ensure compliance with data protection and safeguarding requirements.

Recruitment:

• Take ownership of the recruitment process including advertising vacancies, collating applications, arranging interviews and managing offers, contracts and references from start to finish.

Employee Onboarding & Offboarding:

• Independently carry out a range of onboarding and offboarding procedures to ensure accurate, efficient and timely completion. Organise induction programmes and liaise with IT department for new starter equipment.
• Oversee the full leaver process, including exit interviews, property returns, system access termination, and issuing termination paperwork.

Employee Relations & Support:

• Act as the first point of contact for day-to-day HR queries from employees and managers, providing accurate, confident and timely responses and knowing when to elevate more complex matters to the HR Business Partner.
• Manage straightforward investigations, disciplinary matters, grievances, and long-term absence cases, independently and confidently, escalating to the HR Business Partner where appropriate, ensuring fair and…