HR Operations Lead (Maternity Cover – 12–14 Month FTC)

London | Hybrid (3 days in office)

£75,000 – £85,000 + benefits

Investment Management

A leading investment management firm is seeking an HR Operations Lead to join their London-based HR team on a maternity cover contract.

This is a hands-on role responsible for the delivery of HR operational services across the UK, Europe and the US, ensuring a smooth and compliant employee lifecycle in a regulated financial services environment. You will also line manage two HR Operations team members, supporting their development while maintaining high standards of service delivery.

Working closely with the Senior HR Manager, the role combines day-to-day HR operations, HR systems management and process improvement, making it a great opportunity for an experienced HR professional looking to take ownership of operational excellence within a collaborative HR function.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day HR operations including onboarding, offboarding, contractual changes, employee records and HR queries

• Manage and develop two HR Operations team members, ensuring work is prioritised and delivered effectively

• Maintain and optimise HR systems (Workday), ensuring accurate data management and reporting

• Coordinate HR input into UK, US and European payrolls and support benefits administration

• Manage the operational delivery of the annual performance management cycle

• Support SMCR, Fit & Proper and regulatory HR processes within a regulated financial services environment

• Maintain HR policies and ensure compliance across multi-jurisdictional operations

• Deliver operational aspects of learning and development, including training coordination and reporting

• Lead or contribute to HR systems enhancements and process improvement initiatives

Key Requirements

• Strong HR Operations experience, ideally within financial services or another regulated environment

• Experience managing or mentoring junior HR team members

• Hands-on experience with HR systems, particularly Workday

• Knowledge of SMCR, Fit & Proper processes or regulatory HR frameworks

• Strong HR data and reporting skills, including advanced Excel

• Experience supporting multi-jurisdictional HR operations (UK, US or EMEA) is highly desirable

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity to join a well-established asset management firm in a role with genuine operational ownership. You’ll work closely with senior HR leadership while leading core HR processes within a fast-paced and collaborative environment.