HR Assistant

Details
Reference number
415555
Salary
£24,275 - £25,681
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Administrative Officer
Contract type
Fixed term
Length of employment
up to March 2026
Business area
ICO - HR and Facilities
Type of role
Human Resources
Working pattern
Full-time
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
Wilmslow
About the job
Job summary
HR Assistant – Fixed term contract up to March 2026

Full time / Part time

Salary: £24,275 - £25,681 with potential for further progression to £27,324 with our pay progression scheme.

Location: Flexible

Contracted to our Wilmslow office, however, through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.

Please note that our Head Office will be relocating from Wilmslow to central Manchester in the near future. This move marks an exciting step forward, offering enhanced opportunities for collaboration, both within our internal teams and with external partners, through a more flexible, connected, and dynamic working environment.

Why work for the ICO?

Pay progression scheme.
Hybrid and flexible working options.
25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
Flexi leave (up to 24 additional days leave per year).
Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
Health Cash Plan.
Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.

Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website.


About us

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.


As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.

Job description
The HR Shared Services Team is the first point of contact for ICO employee and manager HR enquiries and operational HR Services.

The HR Assistant is embedded within the team and is responsible for the provision or administrative HR support and accurate and timely response to enquiries from colleagues.

Key Responsibilities

Provision of timely and accurate advice to colleagues in response to HR policy and process enquiries. Escalation of any complex queries or complaints via line management chain.
Administration of learning and development activities.
Timely and accurate processing of basic HR transactions, ensuring any supporting documents are correctly completed and filed.
Creation of Purchase Orders as requested to enable supplier payments in relation to People Services contracts.
Provision of administrative support to the People Services team as required.
Provision of good customer service to all colleagues, managing expectations sensitively and communicating clearly, regularly and at an appropriate level, in writing and verbally.
Develop and maintain relationships with relevant external stakeholders as required; providing information and ensuring processes are completed within stipulated timeframes and compliant with the ICO’s policies.
To perform local record management duties and ensure compliance with retention schedules by weeding records.
To monitor, sift and respond where appropriate to enquiries and service requests
To maintain relevant management information using spreadsheets, logs and databases as required
Undertake such other duties that are required and are commensurate with the role.
Person specification
Essential criteria assessed at application stage

Experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
Good standard of literacy and effective written communication skills .
Ability to deal with a demanding workload and prioritise accordingly.
Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a team.
Accurate data inputting skills and attention to detail
Ability to use standard office IT packages.
Essential criteria assessed at interview stage

Effective verbal communication skills in particular the ability to provide clear advice and guidance
Ability to ensure that the highest standards of quality and customer care are achieved.
Ability to adhere to clear instructions/ procedures in order to deliver appropriate and consistent outcomes.
Effective organisational skills
Accurate data inputting skills and attention to detail
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £24,275, Information Commissioner's Office contributes £7,032 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
Please visit ico.jobs for full details, including salary and benefits.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
locationsWilmslow, Cheshiretime typeFull timeposted onPosted Todaytime left to applyEnd Date: July 21, 2025 (16 days left to apply)job requisition idJR556

HR Assistant – Fixed term contract up to March 2026

Full time / Part time


Salary: £24,275 - £25,681 with potential for further progression to £27,324 with our pay progression scheme.


Location: Flexible


Contracted to our Wilmslow office, however, through hybrid working we offer flexible home and office-based working opportunities. There will be times when you will be expected to attend the office to collaborate with colleagues or travel due to business need.


Please note that our Head Office will be relocating from Wilmslow to central Manchester in the near future. This move marks an exciting step forward, offering enhanced opportunities for collaboration, both within our internal teams and with external partners, through a more flexible, connected, and dynamic working environment.


Why work for the ICO?

Pay progression scheme.
Hybrid and flexible working options.
25 days paid holiday per year, plus privilege and public holidays.
Flexi leave (up to 24 additional days leave per year).
Pension (employer contribution around 28.9%).
Online discount scheme to save money at major supermarkets, retailers, gyms, restaurants, insurance providers and many more.
Health Cash Plan.
Fantastic development opportunities to learn and progress.

Further details can be found on the benefits section of our website.


About us

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is the independent regulator of information rights. In a data-driven world, we provide advice, guidance, and support to organisations enabling compliance with their obligations, as well as protecting individuals and their personal data.


As an employer, we are passionate about making a positive difference to the lives and careers of our people, and we empower you to be curious, impactful, collaborative and respectful.

Job Description

The HR Shared Services Team is the first point of contact for ICO employee and manager HR enquiries and operational HR Services.

The HR Assistant is embedded within the team and is responsible for the provision or administrative HR support and accurate and timely response to enquiries from colleagues.

Key Responsibilities

Provision of timely and accurate advice to colleagues in response to HR policy and process enquiries. Escalation of any complex queries or complaints via line management chain.
Administration of learning and development activities.
Timely and accurate processing of basic HR transactions, ensuring any supporting documents are correctly completed and filed.
Creation of Purchase Orders as requested to enable supplier payments in relation to People Services contracts.
Provision of administrative support to the People Services team as required.
Provision of good customer service to all colleagues, managing expectations sensitively and communicating clearly, regularly and at an appropriate level, in writing and verbally.
Develop and maintain relationships with relevant external stakeholders as required; providing information and ensuring processes are completed within stipulated timeframes and compliant with the ICO’s policies.
To perform local record management duties and ensure compliance with retention schedules by weeding records.
To monitor, sift and respond where appropriate to enquiries and service requests
To maintain relevant management information using spreadsheets, logs and databases as required
Undertake such other duties that are required and are commensurate with the role.
About you


Essential criteria assessed at application stage

Experience relevant to the role requirements, as described in the role responsibilities and person specification, and accumulated through any combination of academic or vocational qualifications or experience.
Good standard of literacy and effective written communication skills .
Ability to deal with a demanding workload and prioritise accordingly.
Ability to work on own initiative and as a member of a team.
Accurate data inputting skills and attention to detail
Ability to use standard office IT packages.

Essential criteria assessed at interview stage

Effective verbal communication skills in particular the ability to provide clear advice and guidance
Ability to ensure that the highest standards of quality and customer care are achieved.
Ability to adhere to clear instructions/ procedures in order to deliver appropriate and consistent outcomes.
Effective organisational skills
Accurate data inputting skills and attention to detail

Equality, diversity, and inclusion

The ICO is committed to promoting and enhancing equality, diversity, and inclusion. We are focused on developing a workforce that is representative of the communities we serve and together we are building an inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues have the opportunity to make a real difference. We are championing this through our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Board together with a number of staff networks. Read more about our commitment on our website.


If you have a disability or impairment and have difficulty using our online application system, please email the HR team at recruitment@ico.org.uk who can arrange for you to submit an application via an alternative method.


Closing Date

Please submit your CV by 23:59 on Sunday 20th July 2025


Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Medical
Successful candidates will be expected to have a medical.
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Name : recruitment@ico.org.uk
Email : recruitment@ico.org.uk
Recruitment team
Email : recruitment@ico.org.uk

United Kingdom
England
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