People Operations Assistant

About Hero UKI You probably know us best through our beloved brands: Deliciously Ella for our range of plant-based food products and delicious recipes; Organix for our tasty toddler snacking range; and Goodies for fun pre-schooler snacks. This is a unique opportunity to lead the Marketing agenda and make a visible impact in a leading company that prioritises sustainability, integrity, and natural goodness. We’re proud of our strong heritage of using business as a force for good in the UK food landscape – building brands that connect deeply with consumers; leading our categories in key retail partners; and offering nutritious, delicious snacking options to all age groups. You’ll find our offices in the heart of London and in sunny Bournemouth. We’ve been named a Great Place to Work, and we’re seriously proud of the positive culture and business we’ve built together. We’re part of the Hero Group, a global family of brands united by a shared mission ‘to delight consumers through honest goodness in every bite’. About Hero Group Hero is a global food company, founded in 1886 in Switzerland, specialising in branded nutritional products across the Growing Up and Adult categories. With a portfolio of trusted brands like Corny, Semper, Goodies, Beech-Nut, Organix, and Deliciously Ella , Hero delivers high-quality, great-tasting food rooted in natural goodness. With 4,000 team members worldwide, the company is driven by strong values, high performance, and a commitment to doing the right thing - always, without compromise. About the role To provide accurate and timely payroll, pension and People administration, ensuring employee records are maintained, statutory and internal deadlines are met, and the People Team’s data protection activities are effectively coordinated. You will work closely with the People Team, Finance Team, Line Managers and employees, while also managing key external relationships with PayFit support, pension providers and brokers to ensure a high-quality and compliant employee experience. This is a permanent, part-time role working 15 hours per week. The role requires regular office attendance, normally at least one day per week, with the pattern agreed according to how the working hours are arranged. Travel may be required infrequently between the London/Bournemouth Offices. The role requires careful planning around fixed payroll and pension deadlines, proactive follow-up where information is incomplete, and sound judgement when resolving discrepancies or handling sensitive employee data. Key Responsibilities Payroll delivery Coordinate the monthly payroll process through PayFit to ensure employees are paid accurately and on time. Collect and check authorised payroll changes. Reconcile payroll and investigate variances. Coordinate approval through agreed procedures. Process payroll and complete required reports. Maintain a clear audit trail. Pension administration Coordinate the workplace pension administration cycle, including enrolment, contribution changes, reconciliation, submissions and employee communications. Resolve discrepancies with Finance and the pension provider, escalating exceptions where appropriate. PayFit and employee records Maintain complete and up-to-date employee and payroll records in PayFit, process authorised changes and resolve routine system queries with PayFit support. Ensure records are accessible only to authorised colleagues. Holiday and sickness administration Maintain holiday and sickness records, check relevant payroll inputs and support managers and employees with routine queries. Identify discrepancies or exceptions and escalate them to the People Business Partner. GDPR coordination Act as Hero UK Foods GDPR Co-ordinator and the People Team’s GDPR Supervisor, coordinating GDPR training, records, audits, data requests and agreed actions. Escalate data protection concerns through the appropriate procedure. People administration and queries Provide ad-hoc People Team administrative support, produce accurate documents and reports, and respond clearly and promptly to routine queries while maintaining confidentiality. Planning and process improvement Plan work around payroll, pension and People deadlines within the agreed weekly hours. Proactively obtain complete information from stakeholders, identify recurring discrepancies, and suggest and support practical process improvements in consultation with the People Business Partner. Decision-making and accountability Resolve routine queries and maintain records within agreed procedures, escalating exceptions to the People Business Partner. Responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of payroll, pension and employee records, completion of agreed GDPR actions, and confidential handling of personal data. The role has no direct reports or functional leadership responsibilities. Measures of success Payroll and pension activities are completed accurately and within agreed deadlines. Employee and payroll records are complete and up to date. Discrepancies are identified, investigated and escalated appropriately. Routine queries are handled clearly and promptly. GDPR records, audits and agreed actions are maintained and completed. Recurring administrative issues are identified and practical improvements are suggested. About you Essential Strong numerical accuracy and attention to detail, with the ability to reconcile payroll and pension information, investigate discrepancies and maintain accurate records Ability to prioritise recurring deadlines within part-time hours and communicate routine information clearly and professionally Ability to maintain confidential records, coordinate actions, follow data protection procedures and suggest practical administrative improvements A pro-active and dependable team member who values different perspectives, works openly with others and takes shared ownership for delivering on commitments Desirable: Payroll or CIPD qualification Experience of supporting or coordinating payroll and workplace pension administration; maintaining accurate employee records; and handling confidential personal data Previous experience of People Team administration and supporting GDPR audits, training records or data requests Knowledge of UK payroll and workplace pension requirements, holiday and sickness administration, GDPR principles and the appropriate handling of employee data Knowledge of wider People processes and employment law relevant to People administration Experience of payroll systems and Microsoft Excel Previous experience of PayFit What We Offer Our values are at the heart of everything we do. Developed through an inclusive process involving colleagues from across the business, they guide how we work, collaborate, and succeed together. They reflect who we are today and the future we are building. Create Wow - We go beyond expectations and strive to make a meaningful impact Everyone Hero – Every individual matters and every contribution counts. Nourish Others – We support, inspire, and help each other grow. Take Responsibility - We own our actions and outcomes, individually and as a team You will have the opportunity to be part of a mission driven business at a hugely exciting point in our growth trajectory, where your voice is heard and where you’re able to actively impact our business. Some great perks in working for Hero UK&I include: 25 days holiday + bank holidays + your birthday off Private Medical Insurance from day one (plus dental and optical fund) Life Assurance and Income Protection Contributory pension scheme starting with 5% employer contribution, moving to 10% with service, and access to free pension advice Enhanced maternity and paternity pay Access to Grocery Aid employee assistance resources. Massages & Reflexology when you are in our Bournemouth office Psycle Classes when you are in our London office Salary sacrificed schemes: Childcare support, Home & Tech, Bike to Work and Electric Car Schemes On-site parking at our Bournemouth Office Hybrid Working and Flexible Bank Holidays Summer hours in July and August Office perks including team breakfasts and lunches and snacks from all our UK brands Learning Opportunities and Study Leave Free Deliciously Ella App Access for you and five friends and family Equal Opportunity Statement Hero UK&I is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected category under applicable laws.