Associate People Partner

Role: Associate Product Manager

Location: UK, London

Applicants must have the existing right to work in the UK. This role is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Job type: Full time, Permanent – hybrid

This position offers a hybrid work model, allowing flexibility between working from home and our office. Typically, employees are expected to work 2 days in the office per week.

Why QS?

At QS, we believe that work should empower you. That’s why we foster a flexible working environment that encourages every employee to own their career whilst flourishing personally and professionally. Our commitment to people development is recognised globally: QS is a Gold-accredited Investors in People organisation, placing us among the top 28% of workplaces worldwide. Our company values underpin everything we do – we collaborate, respect and support each other.

It’s our mission to empower motivated people around the world to fulfil their potential through higher education, ensuring that everyone has access to opportunities that change lives.

Our diversity makes us stronger. By sharing our experiences, we learn from one another and achieve more together, driving progress across the sector.

At QS, you’ll be responsible for implementing real change in the international higher education landscape. You’ll take on meaningful challenges that see a positive impact across the business and the wider sector.

We’re confident you’ll feel right at home here. QS was named as one of Newsweek’s Top 100 Most Loved Workplaces® in the UK (October 2023), recognising the respect, trust and appreciation that drive our culture every day.

As an Associate People Partner, this is what you’ll be doing:

The Associate People Partner is an important operational role within our People and Workplace team, helping us provide a responsive, accurate and people-first service to colleagues and managers.

You will support the day-to-day delivery of People services across the employee lifecycle, including payroll, onboarding and offboarding, employee documentation, HR systems and records, the HR Support inbox and general People administration.

Working closely with our People Partners, you will help ensure they have the information, administration and coordination they need to support their areas of the business effectively. You will also have opportunities to support People projects, undertake research, prepare information and analysis, and gradually develop your HR knowledge and advisory capability.

This is an excellent opportunity for someone at the beginning of their career in the People profession. You might already have one or two years' experience in an HR or People role, or you may have recently completed a relevant university degree and be looking for your first substantial opportunity to build your career.

Alongside your People responsibilities, you will work collaboratively with our Senior Office Manager and UK Social Committee to help create a welcoming, engaging and well-organised experience for colleagues working from our London office.

Role responsibilities

HR Support and employee queries

Act as one of the first points of contact for colleagues contacting the People team through the HR Support inbox.

Respond to routine People queries accurately and promptly, using our policies, processes and guidance, and ensure more complex or sensitive matters are escalated to the appropriate People Partner.

Help maintain a helpful, professional and people-first service, ensuring colleagues understand what will happen next and who is supporting their query.

Identify recurring questions or issues and help improve guidance, FAQs and processes to make it easier for colleagues and managers to find the information they need.

People administration and employee lifecycle

Provide accurate and timely administration throughout the employee lifecycle.

Prepare and coordinate People documentation including contracts, contractual changes, salary and role changes, promotions, probation documentation, family leave correspondence and other employment documentation.

Maintain accurate employee records and ensure relevant People systems are updated promptly following changes.

Support the administration of probation periods, absence, leave and other employee lifecycle processes, ensuring key dates and required actions are followed up.

Provide employment references and other standard documentation in accordance with QS processes.

Maintain organised and accurate electronic People files and ensure documentation is stored appropriately and confidentially.

Payroll

Support the preparation and processing of payroll, working with colleagues within the People team and our external payroll providers.

Collate and process payroll changes including new starters, leavers, salary changes, allowances, deductions and other relevant employee changes.

Check payroll reports and employee data for accuracy, investigate discrepancies and ensure queries are resolved before payroll is finalised.

Maintain clear payroll records, supporting documentation and audit trails.

Respond to routine employee payroll queries and work with payroll providers and People colleagues to resolve issues.

Support the continued documentation and improvement of payroll processes and controls.

Onboarding and offboarding

Coordinate the People elements of onboarding so that new colleagues receive a smooth and welcoming introduction to QS.

Prepare employment documentation, coordinate required People information and ensure relevant systems and records are established before a new colleague joins.

Support induction and onboarding activities and respond to new joiner questions.

Coordinate employee offboarding, ensuring required documentation, systems updates and People actions are completed accurately and on time.

Work with colleagues across People, IT, Payroll and Workplace to ensure joining and leaving processes are well coordinated.

People Partner support

Work closely with the People Partners to provide administrative and coordination support across their areas of responsibility.

Prepare documentation, timelines, meeting materials and background information for People activities and projects.

Support the organisation and administration of employee relations processes where appropriate, including arranging meetings, preparing documentation, maintaining case files and taking accurate notes.

Undertake research to support People Partners with projects, policy development, benchmarking and other areas of work.

Help track actions and deadlines across People projects and activities.

The role will provide exposure to a broad range of People matters, providing opportunities to build knowledge and experience while working alongside experienced People professionals.

People data and reporting

Maintain accurate People data and carry out regular checks to identify missing or inconsistent information.

Prepare routine People reports and management information when required.

Support People Partners with data gathering and analysis for projects, workforce planning and People initiatives.

Handle employee data carefully and confidentially and ensure appropriate data protection standards are followed.

Workplace and UK office support

Work collaboratively with the Senior Office Manager to support the smooth running of the London office where People and Workplace activities overlap.

Provide agreed administrative support during periods of leave or absence, helping maintain continuity for employees using the office.

Help coordinate People and Workplace communications, activities and employee events.

Work with the Senior Office Manager, People Partners and members of the UK Social Committee to plan and coordinate social events, employee activities and opportunities for colleagues to connect.

Undertake the role of fire warden and first aider in the London Office.

Support practical event administration including bookings, communications, attendance information and coordination with suppliers where required.

Projects and continuous improvement

Support People projects by undertaking research, gathering data, coordinating activities and helping prepare materials and communications.

Look for opportunities to simplify People processes, reduce unnecessary administration and improve the employee and manager experience.

Help maintain People process documentation, templates, guidance and internal resources so that information remains accurate and easy to use.

Participate in wider People and Workplace initiatives and collaborate with colleagues across the global People team where required.

Learning and development

We want this role to provide a strong foundation for a career in the People profession.

You will have the opportunity to develop your HR knowledge through practical experience across a broad range of People activities and through regular coaching and support from experienced members of the People team.

Subject to eligibility, previous qualifications and experience, there may also be an opportunity to undertake an appropriate CIPD-aligned apprenticeship as part of the role.

We will work with the successful candidate to identify the most appropriate development pathway for their existing experience and longer-term career ambitions.

Key skills and experience:

We are interested in candidates who are early in their People career and who want to learn and develop.

You are likely to bring:

• Experience in an HR, People, People Operations or similar role; or a recently completed degree in Human Resources, Business, Psychology or another relevant discipline.
• A genuine interest in developing a career within the People profession.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, deadlines and employee requests.
• Excellent attention to detail, particularly when working with employee information, payroll data and documentation.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and the confidence to communicate with colleagues at different levels of an organisation.
• A helpful and service-focused approach, with an understanding that even routine People processes can have a significant impact on an employee's experience.
• Good judgement and an understanding of when an issue can be resolved directly and when it should be escalated.
• A high level of discretion and an understanding of the importance of confidentiality when handling employee information.
• Confidence using Microsoft Office applications and the ability to learn HR systems and other technology quickly.
• An interest in using data, technology and process improvement to make People services simpler and more effective.
• The ability to work collaboratively as part of a team while also taking ownership of your own responsibilities.
• Curiosity and a willingness to research unfamiliar topics, ask questions and develop your knowledge.
• Flexibility and a willingness to support different priorities across the People and Workplace team.
• Previous experience of payroll, HR systems or employee lifecycle administration would be helpful but is not essential if you have the aptitude and willingness to learn.
• A CIPD qualification is not required, as it can be undertaken as part of the role. We are more interested in your potential, approach and commitment to developing your career in the People profession

So, who are we and what do we do?

QS is the world leader in higher education services, analytics, insights and intelligence. From consultancy to student mobility, academic partnerships to branding solutions, our services power both institutional and individual success.

We’re behind the world’s most widely read university rankings. With an 85% share of all Google searches for university rankings, the QS World University Rankings® reach hundreds of millions, shaping decisions and guiding futures.

Since launching in 1990, our impact and influence have only grown. Today, we work with more than 2,000 of the world’s leading higher education institutions, over 12,000 employers, and governments seeking change and socioeconomic development through higher education – while helping more than 75,000 students enrol each year.

Join QS and you’ll join an 800-strong community of problem-solvers, creators, collaborators and change-makers based in 40+ countries and 11 international offices, including Australia, Malaysia, India, Romania, Singapore, France, Germany, the USA and our headquarters in London.

With every talented new hire, business acquisition and bold initiative, we’re strengthening our reach and delivering even greater value to institutions and learners worldwide. Are you ready to shape the future of higher education?