We are pleased to offer an opportunity for an experienced HR Partner to join our close-knit team at EMBL’s European Bioinformatics Institute on a 15-month absence cover contract.
At EMBL-EBI, we are committed to creating an inclusive research and working culture that values diversity in its broadest sense. We believe this strengthens our ability to deliver world-leading life science research and services across Europe and beyond.
As part of the HR Partnering team, you will support the scientists and professional staff whose work advances biodiversity research, addresses the challenges of climate change, and drives discoveries that improve human health.
EMBL’s HR function operates across two core locations, Heidelberg and Hinxton, supporting colleagues across all six EMBL sites. As part of the HR Partnering team, you will provide a proactive, practical and people-focused HR service to UK-based managers and staff, advising on a broad range of operational and strategic HR matters in an international and multicultural environment.
Your role
Reporting to the Lead HR Partners & Operations, your main duties and responsibilities will include:
Providing HR support on HR policies and practices that ensure fairness and expediency and providing partnership to the organisation to supply/deliver value added services by shaping the design and supporting the delivery of People Plans with a focus on providing/delivering what the organisation needs tactically to sustainably improve for the future.
Influencing and developing strong relationships with all stakeholders to proactively advise and coach managers on how the people agenda may be ‘worked’ to deliver success achieving high levels of trust, respect and professionalism
Challenging people managers to get to the root of people and business issues and supporting them in the effective staffing of their teams ensuring inclusivity in how we develop and who we promote
Bringing people expertise to develop solutions to help the organisation to deliver its strategy and being one step ahead in terms of understanding, data and insight (externally and internally) to role model HR skills and professionalism
Driving a culture of high performance where talent is recognised, stretched and poor performance managed
Collaborating across the HR function to develop integrated solutions and ensure execution for major people-centered projects and processes with a ‘one team’ approach that boost employee morale and satisfaction
Acting as change agent to oversee new processes, help drive end-user adoption of HR technology, tools and solutions and to drive other change management across the organisation.
You have
A degree or apprenticeship in Human Resource Management, Public/Business Administration or a related field.
Experience engaging with a wide range of audiences with a flexible, customer-focused, and outcome-orientated approach able to excel in high-pressure situations. You are an authentic, collaborative and commercially minded professional with a healthy amount of ambition and determination.
Strong business partnering experience and project management, analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to use data and metrics to drive decision-making and measure program effectiveness.
A passion for innovation and experience driving employee development and contributing to a positive learning culture
A commitment to providing exceptional customer service
The ability to effectively communicate and collaborate cross-functionally, building strong partnerships with colleagues of different cultural backgrounds.
Internal stakeholder management capability as well as coaching skills have supported you when partnering with colleagues to solve problems, seize opportunities and advance the mission across an organisation whilst being skilled at engaging through difference and valuing bringing together multiple perspectives.
A good knowledge of principles of employment legislation (be it in any national system or in intergovernmental organisations), application and compliance, current issues and thinking in HR best practice.
Demonstrated experience in navigating conflict and facilitating conversations with previous exposure to the development and implementation of HR initiatives to diverse, dispersed and dynamic teams.
You may also have
Prior experience in using Workday
Knowledge of HR processes and procedures in international organisations
Exposure to and work experience in a multicultural environment, ideally in a science organisation
Good knowledge of another European language (such as French, German, Italian or Spanish)
Other helpful information
Hybrid Working - At EMBL-EBI we are pleased to offer hybrid working options for all our employees. A dedicated desk will be available everyday, but most of our HR team choose to work three days on site and two from home. We have a team day once a week (on a Wednesday) and you can choose two other days to work on campus to suit you!
Contract length: 15 months absence cover.
Salary: Grade 6 - Monthly salary at £3,695.61 after tax, but excluding pension and insurance contributions. Plus generous benefits.
Interviews: We plan to hold interviews on Thursday 25th June, via Zoom.
Why join us
Do something meaningful
At EMBL-EBI you can apply your talent and passion to accelerate science and tackle some of humankind's greatest challenges. EMBL-EBI, part of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, is a worldwide leader in the storage, analysis and dissemination of large biological datasets. We provide the global research community with access to publicly available databases and tools which are crucial for the advancement of healthcare, food security, and biodiversity.
Join a culture of innovation
We are located on the Wellcome Genome Campus, alongside other prominent research and biotech organisations, and surrounded by beautiful Cambridgeshire countryside. This is a highly collaborative and inclusive community where our employees enjoy a relaxed atmosphere. We are committed to ensuring our employees feel valued, supported and empowered to reach their professional potential. Watch this video to see how EMBL-EBI makes an impact.
Enjoy lots of benefits:
Financial incentives: Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
Flexible working arrangements - including hybrid working patterns
Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition public holidays
Relocation package including installation grant (if required)
Campus life: Free shuttle bus to and from work, on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
Family benefits: On-site nursery, 10 days of child sick leave, generous parental leave, holiday clubs on campus and monthly family and child allowances
Benefits for non-UK residents: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.
For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here.
What else you need to know
International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Please take a look at our International Applicants page for further information.
EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.
Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we believe that diverse teams drive innovation and scientific excellence. We encourage applications from candidates of all genders, identities, nationalities and/or any other diverse backgrounds.
How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.
Closing Date
07/06/2026