This senior HR role is responsible for the delivery, development and effective communication of employment benefits and entitlements across EMBL’s six sites and the management of payroll and HR analytics.

EMBL offers a remuneration system comprising a range of pay scales, benefits and family-related allowances to attract and reward highly qualified and skilled people from around the world. As an intergovernmental organisation EMBL is outside the remit of national taxation and employment legislation and runs internal social security programmes in the framework of its Staff Rules and Regulations.

Reporting to the Head of Human Resources, you will be part of the HR management team working closely with senior HR colleagues in Heidelberg and Hinxton to develop pan-EMBL HR solutions and integrated processes.

You will manage a team of 8 staff and lead on the development, communication and delivery of pay, benefits, and the provision of HR analytics and information to support decision-making and compliance.

EMBL runs internal social security programmes including health Insurance, pension and unemployment benefit in the framework of its Staff Rules & Regulations. As a centre of expertise, your team will provide advice and information on these programmes to HR colleagues in Heidelberg and Hinxton, EMBL staff and leadership.

In this role you will be responsible for effective processes running an in-house payroll using SAP integrated with HR and Finance modules.

The role is varied and calls for a structured approach to operational matters and problem solving, and an ability to work to tight deadlines while remaining flexible to handle changing priorities across many teams with different perspectives.

Excellent teamwork and communication are essential as there are strong interdependencies between HR team members to provide a high quality service to the staff. Close and effective working relationships between your team and colleagues in Finance are essential to ensure timely and accurate delivery of pay, benefits and reimbursement of duty travel expenses.

We are in the process of reviewing the structure of the Human Resources team at EMBL to better support our organisation and its strategic objectives and improve career development opportunities for team members - you will play a key role in this transformation.

• Lead on the delivery of EMBL pay and benefits processes ensuring full adherence to staff rules and regulations and to audit requirements
• Provide guidance and advice on EMBL benefits and entitlements including duty travel and the respective administration
• Manage EMBL Social Security schemes in accordance with the staff rules and regulations; Health Insurance, Pension scheme, Long Term Care, Death Benefit insurance, Accident at work, Unemployment Insurance
• Ensure compliance, identify areas of risk and recommend mitigation measures

• Produce periodic HR reports and advanced predictive analytics
• Contribute to the preparation of the EMBL Council and Finance Committee statistics, including policy papers and briefing notes
• Coordinate responses to queries and recommendations from internal and external auditors, as well as from the auditors as appointed by EMBL Council

• Lead and manage the HR Payroll, benefits and analytics team to a successful delivery of high quality HR service
• Provide team members with enabling guidance and advice to maximise performance and support career development and personal growth
• Lead on the delivery of strategic HR projects and HR systems and process improvements

• University degree and training in human resources management or similar
• Minimum 10 years professional HR experience including at least 5 years in the area of pay and benefits in an international environment
• Solid track record of proven process improvement
• Excellent communication skills to provide clear written communications about complex matters, ensuring pay and benefits information and advice is accessible to a diverse workforce
• Strong numerical analysis and problem-solving skills
• Proven ability to thrive in multicultural and/or matrix management environment
• Line management experience
• Proven ability to lead, coach and develop
• Very good organisational skills
• High level of professional integrity
• Ability to build strong professional relationships and inspire confidence and trust
• Excellent teamwork
• Excellent spoken and written English

• Experience in scientific, biotech or academic organisation
• Experience working outside home country
• Experience working with SAP or similar ERP
• Good working knowledge of another European language

EMBL is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation with a very collegial and family friendly working environment. The remuneration package comprises a competitive salary, a comprehensive pension scheme, medical, educational and other social benefits, as well as financial support for relocation and installation, including your family and the availability of an excellent child care facility on campus. 

We are Europe’s flagship research laboratory for the life sciences – an intergovernmental organisation performing scientific research in disciplines including molecular biology, physics, chemistry and computer science. We are an international, innovative and interdisciplinary laboratory with more approx. 2000 employees from many nations, operating across six sites, in Heidelberg (HQ), Barcelona, Hinxton near Cambridge, Hamburg, Grenoble and Rome. Please note that appointments on fixed term contracts can be renewed up to 9 years in total, depending on circumstances at the time of the review.

For questions or issues with the application process, please contact recruitment@embl.org