People Operations Specialist / HR Operations Lead (6 month FTC)

• Type: 6 Month FTC.
• Salary: Circa £75,000 pro rata (negotiable).
• Location: London (Hybrid – 3 days in office).
• Company: Major UK Media Publishing Group.
• Reports to: Director of HR Operations

Company and brief for People Operations Specialist / HR Operations Lead (6 month FTC):

Our client is one of the UK's most established and widely recognised media publishing groups, with a portfolio of major national brands reaching tens of millions of readers across print, digital and social.

Their HR function is going through a period of genuine improvement and modernisation – and they need an experienced People Operations Specialist to help drive it, on a fixed-term basis.

This is a hands-on, contributor role for someone who genuinely enjoys the detail of HR operations – process, data, systems – and wants to make a tangible difference over a focused six-month period.

You'll be working closely with the shared service team, helping shape how things are done, not just maintaining what's already there.

The role for People Operations Specialist / HR Operations Lead (6 month FTC):

• As People Operations Specialist you'll support operational excellence across HR service delivery, contributing directly to process improvement, data integrity and digital optimisation.
• You'll work closely with the shared service team – shadowing current practices, helping implement better ones, and ensuring stakeholders stay informed throughout.
• Review and optimise HR processes to improve efficiency and the overall employee experience.
• Support automation and standardisation across HR practices and workflows, making the most of the tools already in place.
• Maintain accuracy, consistency and integrity of data across HR systems – running regular audits and taking corrective action where needed.
• Design and run exception reports to flag missing or illogical data points – duplicate records, conflicting effective dates, salary outliers and similar issues.
• Identify root causes behind data inconsistencies and implement practical process improvements to stop them recurring.
• Ensure all data handling aligns with GDPR and local labour law requirements, maintaining a clear audit trail throughout.

Experience needed for People Operations Specialist / HR Operations Lead (6 month FTC):

• 5+ years in an HR Operations role, with a strong track record in process improvement and a move toward more digitally optimised service delivery.
• Proven experience with HRIS systems – Workday experience and an understanding of systems integrations is highly desirable.
• Strong data analysis and reporting skills – confident with Excel and dashboards, and genuinely comfortable in the detail.
• The confidence to challenge existing practices and suggest simple, practical solutions rather than over-engineered ones.
• Clear, collaborative communication – able to translate technical data for non-technical HR colleagues with ease.
• Comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

The contract details:

• 6 month fixed-term contract, with scope to extend depending on business need.
• Salary: circa £75,000 pro rata, with flexibility for the right candidate with exceptional, directly relevant experience.
• London-based, with a minimum of 3 days in the office.
• Reporting directly to the Director of HR Operations – genuine visibility and a real seat at the table.

If you're looking for a focused, hands-on contract where you can make a genuine difference, we'd love to hear from you.