HR & Payroll Officer

Are you an organised and people-focused HR professional with payroll experience who enjoys delivering excellent service and building strong working relationships?

We are seeking an enthusiastic HR & Payroll Officer to join our Human Resources team, playing a key role in supporting employees, clergy, managers and senior leaders across the Diocese of Oxford. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to meaningful work, ensuring our people are supported through efficient payroll, recruitment, learning and development, and employee lifecycle processes.

About the role:

This is a varied and rewarding role within a professional and collaborative HR team that supports both the Oxford Diocesan Board of Finance and Oxford Diocesan Board of Education. Reporting to the Head of HR, you will provide reliable, confidential and people-centred HR and payroll support that helps employees, clergy and leaders do their best work.

As HR & Payroll Officer, you will play a key role in delivering recruitment and onboarding activities, supporting managers through safer recruitment processes, coordinating learning and development initiatives, and helping employees grow and thrive within the organisation. You will also support performance review processes, maintain HR systems and records, and contribute to the continuous improvement of HR services across the Diocese.

Alongside HR responsibilities, you will be the first point of contact for payroll-related matters, ensuring the accurate and timely administration of employee and clergy payrolls, pensions, benefits, grants and associated processes. Working closely with colleagues in Finance, Area Offices, the Church Commissioners and external payroll providers, you will help maintain robust controls and ensure compliance with statutory and organisational requirements.

This role offers the opportunity to work across the full employee lifecycle while building expertise in both HR and payroll. It is ideal for someone who enjoys balancing attention to detail with relationship-building and who takes pride in delivering a high-quality service.

A CIPD and/or CIPP qualification or membership would be advantageous, although applications are welcomed from candidates with transferable skills and experience.

You do not need to be a practising Christian to work with us. Around half of our staff are not practising Christians, but all are comfortable working within the Christian ethos and values that underpin our work.

£ 37,751.95 – £40,655.94 per annum (Salary Band L)

• 25 days holiday per annum, rising each year by one day to a maximum of 30 days
• In addition to the statutory UK public holidays, the Diocese offers three additional discretionary leave days
• Hybrid working
• Generous employer pension contribution of 12.5%, including 1% death in service benefit (5% Employee Contribution)
• Access to wellbeing support via Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced family friendly policies and a generous sick pay provision
• Access to low interest financial services from Churches Mutual Credit Union including loans
• Opportunities for professional development and training
• A supportive and collaborative working environment committed to helping people flourish