HR Assistant

About Saab UK

Saab UK is a division of Scandinavia's largest defence company, combining Swedish and British innovations to deliver world-class defence, aviation, space, and civil security solutions. The organisation is growing rapidly with over 600 employees across eight UK sites specializing in software engineering, underwater robotics, radars, AI, and armed forces training.

Role Overview

The HR Assistant will provide essential operational and administrative support within the Human Resources function specifically for the Saab Seaeye Business Unit. This role demands meticulous attention and high discretion, supporting various HR activities to maintain smooth processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist recruitment by preparing employment offers and contracts, coordinating onboarding and inductions, supporting managers, and ensuring timely feedback to recruitment.
• Prepare contracts for new hires and internal transfers, ensuring all related paperwork is completed and correctly filed.
• Manage new starter processes including inductions and necessary paperwork submission.
• Support pre-employment screenings such as right to work and security clearances including BPSS and higher where necessary.
• Coordinate with hiring managers and security teams to guarantee compliant onboarding procedures.
• Handle payroll input data monthly, including updates on overtime and personal details, ensuring accurate and timely payroll processing.
• Administer employee benefits such as medical cover, dental plans, salary sacrifice schemes for starters and leavers.
• Offer guidance to managers on employee relations matters, grievances, disciplinaries, and escalate complex issues to Senior HR Business Partners.
• Support formal HR procedures, including absence management discussions.
• Advocate wellbeing, staff engagement, and collaboration by participating in initiatives and campus activities to boost morale.
• Assist Senior HR Business Partner with staff survey feedback analysis and recommend improvement actions.
• Conduct day-to-day HR operations including managing employee lifecycle data: starters, changes, leavers, inductions, probation, and leave records.
• Maintain accurate personnel files and HR system data, providing system user support as needed.
• Uphold confidentiality of sensitive data and departmental security.
• Book and track completion of internal and external training courses, ensuring records in Workday are accurate and complete.
• Monitor mandatory training to ensure timely completion and maintain up-to-date training records.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

• Experience working in a fast-paced HR setting, preferably in manufacturing or retail sectors.
• Proven ability to deliver a wide range of HR advice and understand end-to-end HR procedures.
• Problem-solving skills for typical HR issues with preventative initiatives.
• Deep knowledge of HR practices and employment policies.
• Confident advisor to managers demonstrating practical and empathetic decision-making on sensitive matters.
• Excellent organisation skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities under deadlines.
• High attention to detail, professionalism, reliability, independence, and a positive, approachable attitude.
• Preferred: CIPD Level 5 or similar qualifications/experience, experience with Workday or HR data systems, thorough understanding of HR laws and regulations, and experience managing organisational change and sensitive employee relations.

Additional Information

Applicants to Saab UK must consent to workforce screening such as Personnel Security checks, National Security Vetting, reference validation, verification of right to work, and security interviews for preferred candidates.