Reporting to: Director
Direct reports: none
Overview of the organisation:
The International Seismological Centre (ISC) is a unique Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) originally founded in the 1960s and charged with the long-term production of the definitive global catalogue of earthquakes and several associated products, based on seismological data received from ~150 institutions in ~100 countries. These vital data products are used by other organisations for academic research and several important applications such as accurate assessment of earthquake hazard and monitoring compliance with the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. Each year, several hundred research publications in high-calibre scientific journals acknowledge their use of ISC data. The organization is small – around 18 staff – and works based on the membership subscription of 80+ international scientific institutions and funders. More information can be found at www.isc.ac.uk.
Job description:
We are looking for an HR Officer to join our team. This varied, generalist role will support the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding to employee relations and HR systems administration, while also assisting with facilities management and health & safety activities.
The HR Officer works in coordination with the Administration Officer and helps the Director to manage staff, staff records, training, and health & safety whilst ensuring compliance with UK employment law. Additional tasks in processing historical archive materials may arise as and when required.
Main duties:
· Provide HR administration throughout the employee lifecycle.
· Maintain the ISC Salary Scales, instigate timely inflation updates, and provide relevant letters to the staff
· Maintain relationship with our HR and H&S contractor
· Maintain relationship with our pension company
· Facilitate the process of hiring new staff – advertising posts, visa applications, on-boarding
· Draft, issue, and maintain employment contracts and variations
· Maintain holiday and sickness records
· Maintain accurate personnel records
· Facilitate and record probation periods and annual staff appraisals
· Facilitate and record staff disciplinary actions where required
· Maintain the ISC’s status as an international Employment Sponsor
· Maintain and update the ISC Staff Book and H&S documentation
· Organise relevant staff training, including first aid training, as required
· Manage temporary visits and trainings
Occasional additional duties:
· Help preparing and running office events, board meetings, conferences
· Organise occasional team building events
· Together with the ISC Software Engineer, select and implement a reliable tracking system of staff holiday, sickness, and in-lieu dates that allows different levels of access to management and staff
· Help finding and digitising historical records on ISC members, collaborators, and former staff.
· Help with scientific documents and articles prepared by international staff in English
The ISC reserves the right to vary or amend the duties of the post holder at any time according to the needs of the organisation.
Person specifications:
Essential:
· Solid experience in HR administration in organisations employing academic or teaching staff
· Strong skills in drafting formal documents and correspondence in English
Qualities and skills required:
· reliability
· patience, discretion, and diplomacy
· impartiality of judgement
· self-reliance and self-motivation
What we offer:
Hours: 16 hrs per week, can be split over 2, 3 or 4 days each week.
Salary: £ 28,593 - £ 32,159 per annum, pro rata
This is an office-based position, working closely with the international and highly skilled ISC staff of predominantly academic background.
Annual leave: 28 days (incl. of 8 bank holidays), increasing to 33 days pa after the first year, pro rata
Apply to [email protected] with your CV, covering letter focused on the above requirements and the names and e-mail addresses of two referees.
Applications will be considered as they arrive until the post has been filled.
First interviews: 1st – 4th September 2026
Start date: mid-October 2026
Pay: £28,593.00-£32,159.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company pension
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
