HR Assistant

Sullivan Brown Recruitment is delighted to be partnering with Muckle LLP, one of the North East’s most respected and award-winning law firms, to recruit an organised, proactive and people-focused HR Assistant.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a highly regarded HR team within a values-driven organisation that is recognised for its exceptional culture, commitment to employee wellbeing and investment in its people. As HR Assistant, you will play a pivotal role in delivering a first-class HR service across the full employee lifecycle, ensuring colleagues receive an outstanding experience from recruitment and onboarding through to development, engagement and beyond.

You’ll be a trusted first point of contact for HR queries, providing high-quality administrative support while helping to drive continuous improvement across HR systems, processes and employee initiatives. This varied role offers exposure to all aspects of HR, making it ideal for someone looking to further develop their career within a supportive environment.

Key Responsibilities

HR Administration & Employee Lifecycle

• Act as the first point of contact for HR-related enquiries, providing timely advice and escalating complex matters where appropriate.
• Deliver comprehensive HR administration across the entire employee lifecycle, including recruitment, onboarding, probation, contractual changes, flexible working requests, references and employee departures.
• Prepare accurate contracts of employment, amendments, correspondence and HR documentation to a consistently high standard.
• Support the administration of annual leave, including the firm’s annual buy/sell holiday scheme.
• Maintain employee records relating to health, safety and wellbeing, including accident reporting and first aider notifications.
• Assist with salary benchmarking, annual salary reviews and wider reward initiatives.
• Coordinate employee benefits administration, including private medical insurance, salary sacrifice schemes, transport benefits and Total Reward Statements.
• Ensure HR policies, procedures and employee communications remain accurate, compliant and up to date.

HR Systems, Compliance & Governance

• Manage and maintain the firm’s HR Information System, ensuring employee data is accurate, secure and fully compliant.
• Support the continued development and optimisation of HR systems, workflows and employee self-service functionality.
• Maintain the Performance Management System, ensuring reviews, objectives and check-ins are completed and accurately recorded.
• Conduct Right to Work checks and maintain robust compliance records in line with current legislation.
• Champion GDPR best practice and ensure effective document management across all HR records.
• Contribute to the ongoing development and continuous improvement of HR processes, systems and employee experience.

HR Reporting & Data Analysis

• Produce accurate HR reports and management information to support business decision-making.
• Prepare and analyse HR data for pay gap reporting, audits, tenders and leadership reporting.
• Support the HR leadership team with data collection for external accreditations including Investors in People, Better Health at Work and B Corp certification.
• Monitor absence data, sickness triggers and HR metrics, ensuring records remain accurate and up to date.

Employee Engagement & Internal Communications

• Coordinate internal HR communications, ensuring colleagues remain informed of key updates, initiatives and events.
• Organise and promote employee recognition initiatives, including the firm’s “Make a Difference” Awards.
• Support the planning and delivery of wellbeing initiatives, Lunch & Learn sessions, internal training and firm-wide events.
• Assist with HR training administration, preparing materials, coordinating attendance and managing communications.

Recruitment & Onboarding

• Support the end-to-end recruitment process, coordinating job advertisements, candidate applications and communications with applicants and recruitment partners.
• Deliver engaging HR inductions for new starters and gather feedback to continually enhance the onboarding experience.
• Coordinate the firm’s work experience programme, ensuring an excellent experience for participants while maintaining compliance with organisational and statutory requirements.

Learning & Development

• Coordinate internal and external training programmes, maintaining accurate training records and budgets.
• Organise training logistics, including venue preparation, materials, attendance tracking and communications.
• Work closely with learning coordinators and departmental teams to support learning and development across the firm.
• Monitor training budgets, highlighting potential overspend and providing regular updates to the Director of HR.

This is a fantastic opportunity to join an employer with an outstanding reputation for developing its people, fostering collaboration and creating an inclusive, supportive working environment. If you’re an organised HR professional who enjoys variety, thrives on delivering exceptional service and wants to build your career with one of the region’s leading employers, we’d love to hear from you.

JOB REF 5410