People Assistant

BDP - Building Design Partnership; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading design firm in Greater London is seeking a full-time People Assistant for a fixed-term contract of up to 12 months. This is an excellent opportunity for someone early in their HR career or with strong administrative experience. The role includes managing administrative support, handling inquiries, payroll administration, and onboarding. Ideal candidates will possess excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, all while working within a supportive team environment.

Benefits

Competitive remuneration and benefits package

Employee profit share scheme

Private medical insurance

Life insurance

Long term sickness insurance

Interest-free season ticket loans

Health screening

Enhanced maternity and paternity provision

Mentoring scheme

CPD events

Qualifications

• Relevant experience within a similar role.
• Ability to prioritise workload and deliver to tight timescales.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and manage the People inbox.
• Support administrative tasks for the Senior People Advisor.
• Administer the monthly payroll process.
• Maintain and update People systems and employee records.
• Support new starters' onboarding process.
• Assist with leaver administration.
• Prepare standard People documentation.
• Support administration of reviews.
• Provide general administrative support.

Skills

Excellent organisational skills

Attention to detail

Proficient in Microsoft Excel

Proficient in Microsoft Word

Proficient in Microsoft Outlook

Excellent communication skills

Team player

Adaptability

Job description

Full time, Fixed Term Contract (up to 12 months)

Monday to Friday, 9.00am – 5.30pm

About the role

We are looking for a People Assistant to join our People team on a fixed-term basis for up to 12 months. This is an excellent opportunity for someone at an early stage in their HR career, or with strong administrative experience, who is keen to learn and develop within a supportive team.

You will provide day-to-day administrative support to the People team. The role offers exposure to a wide range of People activities, with guidance and support from more experienced team members.

About us

BDP is a leading, global, multidisciplinary design practice united by a shared purpose: to design a world that’s built for good. For more than 60 years, we\'ve been solving problems, creating innovative spaces, and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. From the start, we\'ve been pioneers in the world of design, and our legacy is built on the meaningful, people-centred places we\'ve brought to life.

We are a diverse, international practice of architects, engineers, designers, and urbanists. We work closely with our clients, users, and communities to craft spaces for living, working, learning, and enjoying life across the globe. With studios spanning the UK, Ireland, Europe, Asia, and North America, our reach is as broad as our expertise. And since joining forces with Japan’s Nippon Koei in 2016, our ability to deliver integrated, impactful design has only grown stronger.

Our work is rooted in creativity, quality, and collaboration. We believe that great design removes barriers and opens new possibilities, all while meeting the demands of a constantly evolving world. Whether we’re designing homes, workplaces, or public spaces, we always put people at the heart of our thinking, ensuring that the environments we create are not just functional, but also inclusive, beautiful, and socially and environmentally responsible.

We’re proud of the places we\'ve shaped and the lives we\'ve touched, and we are committed to continuing our mission of designing a better, more connected world—one that leaves every place better than we found it.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor and manage the People inbox, responding to routine queries in a timely and professional manner and escalating more complex queries as appropriate.
• Support the Senior People Advisor with administrative tasks such as maintaining absence (holiday, sickness, unpaid leave) and escalating issues as appropriate.
• Support the administration of the monthly payroll process, ensuring information is accurate and provided within required timescales.
• Maintain and update People systems and employee records, ensuring information is accurate and handled in line with GDPR.
• Support the onboarding process for new starters, including preparing contracts, collecting right to work documentation, arranging inductions and first-day logistics.
• Assist with leaver administration, including processing resignations, updating systems, and organising exit interviews.
• Prepare standard People documentation, including contracts, contract changes and employment references.
• Support the administration of probation and development reviews, ensuring records are kept up to date.
• Provide general ad-hoc administrative support to the People team as required.

About you

The successful candidate will have the following essential skills and experience required for the role:

• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail with the ability to prioritise workload and deliver to tight timescales.
• Relevant experience within a similar role
• Adaptability and a keenness to learn.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, Word and Outlook
• A good team player, capable of working in a fast-paced environment whilst maintaining accuracy and quality.
• Excellent communication skills both verbally and written.

BDP offers

In return, BDP can offer you a wide range of learning opportunities to encourage personal and professional career development. From sponsorship to profession led CPD events, we also offer annual appraisals and a mentoring scheme that is supported by our internal online learning platform.

We are committed to being an employer of choice and offer a competitive remuneration and benefits package that includes an employee profit share scheme, tax efficient smart benefits, private medical insurance, life insurance, long term sickness insurance, interest free season ticket loans, health screening, opportunity to buy/swap holidays and enhanced maternity and paternity provision, plus many more.

We offer regular international, and studio based social, sporting and charitable events. Some recent events include month-end socials, a hiking club, wellbeing webinars and toolbox talks. Our variety of employee forums gives everyone the platform to have a voice and be heard which drives cultural changes and helps to create an engaged, inclusive organisation.

To find out on more detail about what BDP can offer you, please visit: https://www.bdp.com/en/careers-at-bdp/why-join-bdp/.

To apply

To apply please click on the ‘Apply’ button below. You will then need to complete the online application form and attach a CV and cover letter (<400 words) that outlines how your skills and experience fulfil the requirements of this position.

BDP is actively fostering an inclusive organisation where people can be themselves and everyone has a sense of belonging. We want our teams to be diverse at every level, reflecting the communities we design for. As designers, we will create spaces for all that promote equity, wellbeing and participation within the built environment. We actively encourage people from a variety of backgrounds with different skills, professional and life experiences, to join us and help us to achieve our aspirations. We also welcome applications from candidates who wish to work flexibly. BDP also operates a hybrid working policy which is usually three days in the office and two days working from home.

No agency or third-party applications please.