HR Generalist

Our client is an established offering a wide range of services across the shipping industry. They seek an experienced HR Generalist / HR Advisor to join the team on a fixed term contract basis for 15 months to cover maternity leave. This is a broad role where you will be the go to HR professional for all areas of HR Support in the Ipswich office.

The role will cover all areas of HR queries, recruitment and onboarding, employee relations and payroll. The role has the support of a London based group HR team and on a day to day basis will have the independence to actively support the Ipswich based business. Ideally the working arrangements are four days per week in the office, with some flexibility.

Key responsibilities will include:
Prepare job requisitions, offer approvals and job changes for approval within HR system for new hires / leavers / employee contractual changes / contingent workers. Manage the end-to-end lifecycle processes including starters / leavers / changes for the permanent and Temporary workforce. Prepare contracts, new starter packs and create new electronic employee files ensuring all documentation is completed to a high standard and filed accordingly.

Prepare and issue any other documentation needed for the end-to-end employee lifecycle including probation, salary letters, family friendly, internal transfers, change in roles, leavers etc. and contingent worker documents. Conduct pre-employment background checks, collecting copies of right to work documentation prior to start date, reviewing the completed checks and following up with any discrepancies in a timely manner. Assist the HRBP where required with any ER matters, including performance management, sickness management, disciplinaries and grievances.

Manage the maternity/paternity/family friendly processes and documentation from end to end, updating Success Factors where necessary and close liaison with payroll. Monitor all employee queries received into the team mailbox/es and ensure timely response, escalating queries where necessary. Assist with monthly payroll preparation to ensure all changes are accurately processed prior to monthly deadline. Manage new starter onboarding process prior to joining and organise inductions for new starters and welcome meetings on their first day to run through documentation, housekeeping and right to work checks.

This role has a broad set of responsibilites with a huge amount of variety in the workload. The position requires someone with enough experience to hit the ground running, ideally a CIPD qualification to support the experience. The client is keen to interview straight away with a view to the successful candidate starting in early 2026.