People Operations Junior Manager

Newscareers; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading media company in Peterborough seeks a People Operations Junior Manager to oversee onboarding and manage HR services. The role requires a strong customer focus and excellent administration skills. Ideal candidates will have experience managing teams and knowledge of UK employment law. The position offers a hybrid working model with various employee benefits, including private medical insurance and generous holiday allowance.

Benefits

Private medical insurance

Discounted gym memberships

Pension scheme with employer contributions

25 days holiday plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Experience of managing or advising teams is preferred.
• Strong customer focus and passion for service delivery.
• Excellent administration skills and strong attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the onboarding process and ensure compliance.
• Manage employment screening and compliance checks.
• Directly manage, develop, and mentor a team of HR Administrators.

Skills

Customer focus

Attention to detail

Ability to multitask

Knowledge of UK employment law

Job description

People Operations Junior Manager – News UK, Peterborough

The New Hire Services team is a specialist part of People Operations at News UK, responsible for the initial stages of the employee life cycle. They ensure a smooth, compliant, and positive start for every new employee. Their core duties include issuing contracts of employment and starter packs, coordinating the onboarding journey for new starters, conducting right to work checks, and completing mandatory background screening checks.

Your role

You will drive service excellence by optimising new hire service delivery, managing third‑party suppliers, and enhancing our onboarding processes across key systems such as ServiceNow. This junior manager leads a team of two HR Administrators to ensure excellent service delivery of our HR onboarding duties.

Day to day you will

Onboarding

• Oversee the process for producing and issuing offer letters, contracts of employment, and new starter packs for all new starters and contractual changes.
• Ensure all necessary HR items (e.g. contract of employment, tax declaration forms, etc.) are in place for the new hire to have a successful welcoming first day.
• Maintain all employment contract templates, ensuring that any changes are accurately and consistently updated.
• Provide advice and assistance to customers, line managers, and HR colleagues on contractual terms and the new hire onboarding journey.
• Ensure that the onboarding process is successfully completed by the Line Manager and key stakeholders.

Employment screening and compliance checks

• Manage the day‑to‑day activities and processes of the company’s employment screening (background checks).
• Ensure the appropriate level of screening is completed for all new employees within their probation period.
• Ensure new team members have completed all clearances and required documentation to start employment, including Right‑to‑Work verifications.

Service delivery and third‑party management

• Optimise and enhance operational service delivery across the team’s remit, recommending improvements in systems and processes to solve problems or increase effectiveness.
• Manage day‑to‑day service from all third‑party suppliers related to employment screening and right‑to‑work checks.
• Ensure Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are met where they exist, providing an excellent customer experience.

Leadership and team management

• Directly manage, develop, and mentor a team of HR Administrators.
• Lead the workflow requirements for the team, delegating tasks within the workflow queue to ensure daily targets are met.

What we’re looking for from you

• Experience of managing or advising teams is preferred.
• Strong customer focus and passion for service delivery.
• Excellent administration skills and strong attention to detail to deliver impeccable accuracy and quality.
• Ability to work under pressure, multi‑task, and meet tight deadlines.
• General knowledge of UK employment law.

If you think you have what it takes but don’t tick every requirement on the list, please do apply. We recognise that considering someone’s potential as well as their experience is a great way to hire. We want to hear from people who have a passion to learn and develop.

Location and working pattern

News UK is based in Peterborough, England. We embrace a hybrid work model, currently requiring a minimum of three days per week in the office.

Benefits

• Private medical insurance including coverage for pre‑existing conditions.
• Discounted gym memberships, free ClassPass at home, weekly in‑person/virtual exercise classes.
• Bikes for Work and Electric Car scheme.
• Up to 60% discount on HarperCollins books.
• Maternity leave up to 18 weeks full basic salary and paternity leave up to 2 weeks.
• Access to exclusive events and competitions with exciting brands such as talkSPORT, Virgin Radio UK, and The Times.
• Access to wellbeing benefits such as EAP, physio/massage and counselling.
• A generous pension scheme with employer contributions of up to 5%.
• Wide range of training available, plus full LinkedIn Learning access.
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays and up to 4 volunteering days per year.