Human Resources Officer - Personnel Management EMBL

European Molecular Biology Laboratory

Heidelberg, Germany

Staff Category: Staff Member
Contract Duration: 3 years
Grading: 4, 5 or 6, depending on experince and qualifications
Closing Date: 12 February 2012
Reference number: HD_00181

Job Description

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is one of the highest ranked international scientific research organizations in the world. The Headquarters Laboratory is situated in Heidelberg (Germany) and the outstations are in Grenoble (France), Hamburg (Germany), Hinxton (UK) and Monterotondo (Italy). The Human Resources unit is responsible for the Laboratory’s staff of approx. 1500 persons from over 70 nations and at all levels working at its sites.

Under the responsibility of the Senior HR Officer (Compensation and Benefits), s/he will be part of a team of HR Officers responsible to deliver an extensive high quality HR service to EMBL staff. The appointed HR Officer will be responsible for defined functional units at the Headquarters in Heidelberg and for the Grenoble outstation. Duties/functions may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Support and give general advice to staff and scientific managers of different EMBL functional units in all aspects of compensation and benefits (salaries and benefits, taxation and social security, expenses reimbursement, absences);
• Keep master data in SAP updated and prepare the monthly payroll;
• Support and advice on all aspects of performance assessment as well as contracting functions for the units s/he will be responsible for;
• Explain the provisions of the Staff Rules & Regulations to staff and scientific managers;
• Support our newly hired, mainly international staff, while settling in at EMBL and in Germany;
• Establish and maintain an open and comprehensive information policy on HR related matters;
• Continuously interact with staff and listen to their concerns/comments on relevant HR issues, bring them to the attention of management where necessary;
• Provide advice and assistance to managers for staff performance evaluations;
• Prepare certificates and documentation in French;
• Work on additional projects as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

This exciting and challenging opportunity will suit HR professionals who can demonstrate credibility, the ability to develop strong relationships and a track record of delivering in multicultural environments. S/he must have a University degree and training in human resources management and/or experience in a relevant field such as business administration. Previous experience as Human Resources Officer/Business Partner is essential. The appointed applicant should have a conscientious attitude, high numerical accuracy, the ability to prioritise tasks and work independently and under pressure of fixed time schedules. Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to work in a team and high customer orientation to provide a state-of-the-art service for staff at all levels in the organisation are required. S/he will be able to identify and respond to priorities, assist in a flexible way with the work of the Unit and work independently in his/her area of responsibility but with a team-orientated approach. S/he is expected to give continuous input to his/her supervisor to improve the quality of the HR service and processes. High computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office tools and SAP HR are mandatory. Excellent spoken and written English and French is essential. German language skills will be an asset.

Application Instructions

Please apply online through www.embl.org/jobs in English.

Additional Information

EMBL is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer offering attractive conditions and benefits appropriate to an international research organisation.

Please note that appointments on fixed term contracts can be renewed, depending on circumstances at the time of the review.