Full job descriptionHR Administrator

Contract: Permanent
Report To: Head of Human Resources
Grade: 2
Hours: 22.5

Location: Stoke Climsland (hybrid, with regular office attendance and travel to sites across the delivery area)

Westcountry Rivers Trust is recruiting an HR Administrator on a permanent contract, following a successful 4-month probation period.

Starting salary: £16,128.00 - £16,764.00 pro rata (£26,880.00 - £27,940.00 FTE) per annum, dependent on experience.

Benefits

- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- 25 days’ Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays, with an extra day per year for each year worked over 5 years (up to 30 days at 10 years’ service)
- Additional leave over the Christmas Closure period
- 9% employer pension contribution (after a three-month postponement) plus Life Assurance
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Hybrid & Flexible Working

Apply by midnight, Sunday 27th September 2026, via the Apply button. Interviews will be held in person at Stoke Climsland on Wednesday 7th October 2026.

About Westcountry Rivers Trust

Formed in 1994, the Trust restores Westcountry rivers, benefiting farmers, water companies, tourism and human health. It works with landowners, communities, businesses, farmers and water companies to protect rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal areas for people, wildlife and the local economy.

Grown from grassroots beginnings in the early 1990s, the Trust’s work is guided by an "ecosystems approach" and the best available science. It now employs around 75 people, with annual turnover of c£3m, running multi-annual projects across a wide range of funders, and comprises three delivery teams plus a support services team.

About the Role

This role delivers efficient HR administrative support across the full employee lifecycle – recruitment through to leavers – and helps maintain accurate HR records and compliance with employment legislation and UK GDPR. It also contributes to improving HR processes.

The postholder needs strong administrative and organisational skills, good written and verbal communication, and a professional, discreet manner. They should be proactive, collaborative and confident, providing reliable, people-centred HR support.

Responsibilities

Recruitment & Onboarding

- Administer recruitment, including adverts and vacancies on Breathe HR
- Arrange interviews and liaise with candidates
- Coordinate onboarding, induction and welcome materials
- Prepare offer letters and contracts
- Employee Lifecycle Administration
- Administer probation reviews and documentation on Breathe
- Process leavers smoothly
- Maintain accurate records on Breathe and prepare HR correspondence
- Compile the monthly payroll spreadsheet ahead of deadline
- Administer asset updates on Breathe

Health, Safety & Wellbeing

- Coordinate occupational health referrals and correspondence
- Support mental health and wellbeing initiatives
- Assist with Health & Safety admin, including minute-taking
- Compile and issue the Staff newsletter
- Administer the Specsavers and cycle to work schemes

General

- Provide day-to-day HR support to managers and staff, escalating complex issues to the Head of HR
- Support training administration and bookings
- Maintain confidentiality and UK GDPR compliance
- Support HR projects and process improvements
- Vehicle compliance: check insurance documents and driving licences every 6 months, update Breathe
- Undertake other duties proportionate to the role

Person Specification

Knowledge and Experience

- Administration experience in a multi-task environment
- Strong administration skills with a drive to improve processes
- Experience using an HR Management System (Desirable)
- HR administration experience (Desirable)

Skills and Competencies

- Able to manage own workload and meet deadlines part-time
- Strong written communication for letters, emails, calls
- High accuracy and attention to detail
- Proficient in MS Office, able to run reports
- Strong interpersonal skills and empathy
- Discretion with confidential information
- Proactive, uses initiative
- Resilient, calm under pressure
- Interest in digital tools to improve ways of working

Qualifications

- CIPD certification (Desirable)
- Education to at least Level 2 (GCSE Maths and English grade 4 or equivalent)

All criteria are Essential unless marked Desirable.