About Kinetic Games

We’re an independent games studio best known for creating Phasmophobia, enjoyed by millions of players worldwide. Our team is passionate, creative, and collaborative and we’re looking for someone equally enthusiastic about games to join our growing team.

We’re a small, friendly team that values creativity, openness, and personal growth. Whether you’re helping various departments or talking about your favourite horror game, you’ll be part of a supportive environment where passion and curiosity are celebrated. You’ll be joining a small but ambitious team where your ideas are valued, your growth is supported, and your development truly matters.

About the role:

We are seeking a highly organised and proactive HR Operations Assistant to support our HR Operations Manager during an exciting period of growth. This is a hands-on operational role, ideal for someone with 1–2 years’ experience in a junior generalist HR or People role who enjoys working across the full employee lifecycle.

You will play a key role in ensuring our HR processes, systems, and data are accurate, compliant, and scalable as we grow. With ambitious plans, this is an exciting opportunity to join at a key moment and contribute to what comes next. Acting as a central coordination point across onboarding, recruitment, systems, benefits, and employee lifecycle administration, you’ll need to be proactive and solutions-focused, comfortable working independently while supporting an HR lead, and agile enough to adapt as priorities evolve in a scaling environment.

This role is hybrid based at our offices in Southampton. At this time, we are unable to provide visa sponsorship. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

Your responsibilities will include:

Onboarding & Induction

• Coordinate end-to-end onboarding for new starters, including right-to-work checks and documentation
• Liaise with hiring managers, IT, and Finance to manage onboarding timelines and system access
• Ensure HR, payroll, benefits, and other systems (Rippling or similar) are accurately set up
• Support and attend inductions to ensure a smooth and engaging new starter experience
• Escalate reasonable adjustment requirements and support Access to Work processes where required

Recruitment & Hiring Support

• Support hiring managers with recruitment coordination and job briefings
• Prepare job descriptions and advertise roles across relevant platforms
• Manage candidate communications, interview scheduling, and feedback tracking
• Coordinate offer letters, contracts, and pre-employment checks
• Ensure a seamless handover from recruitment to onboarding

HR Systems & Administration

• Administer the HR system (experience with Rippling or similar beneficial), maintaining accurate employee records and documentation
• Monitor annual leave, absence, and key lifecycle data
• Track probationary periods and coordinate review documentation
• Prepare employment documentation including contracts, variations, and general correspondence
• Maintain GDPR-compliant records and ensure data integrity across systems
• Maintain HR templates, trackers, and internal documentation
• Support HR reporting and data preparation

Payroll & Benefits Coordination

• Liaise with Finance to ensure payroll changes (new starters, leavers, salary changes, amendments) are accurate and submitted on time
• Act as a contact to ensure payroll data is complete and correct
• Respond to basic payroll and benefits queries, escalating complex matters as needed
• Administer employee benefits platforms and process scheme-related requests
• Support salary and benefits review administration

(This role does not process payroll directly but supports coordination and data accuracy.)

Performance, Employee Relations & Offboarding

• Coordinate probation and performance review processes, tracking completion and maintaining records
• Provide administrative and note-taking support for employee relations meetings
• Support absence management tracking and reporting
• Coordinate exit interviews and manage the leaver process, including system access removal
• Provide administrative support to the HR Operations Manager across employee lifecycle matters

Projects & Continuous Improvement

• Contribute to HR initiatives and people projects
• Support process improvements to enhance efficiency and employee experience
• Identify opportunities to streamline administrative workflows using technology
• Collaborate with the Social Committee to help coordinate and champion company social events, supporting a positive and inclusive culture

Skills & Experience

Essential

• Previous experience in a junior generalist HR or People role
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Experience working across multiple systems and data sources
• Confident using HR systems (experience with Rippling or similar beneficial)
• Strong Excel and Microsoft Office skills
• Good working knowledge of HR processes across the employee lifecycle
• High level of attention to detail and focus on data accuracy
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Professional and discreet when handling confidential information

Nice to have

• CIPD Level 3 qualified or currently working towards (desirable but not essential)
• Experience supporting a growing or fast-paced organisation

What to expect from the hiring process

We aim to keep the process transparent and respectful of your time. It typically includes:

• 1st stage interview: 1 hour with the HR Operations Manager
• 2nd stage interview: 30–45 minutes with the Head of Finance and HR Operations Manager

Benefits & Perks

💰 Competitive salary

💼 5% Employer Match Pension Scheme

💸 Annual performance bonus + Company performance bonus

🍽️ Weekly free team lunches – good food, great company!

🎉 Regular social events – we love bringing our teams together!

🏠 Hybrid & flexible working options

🕓 Flextime – because life doesn’t always fit 9–5

✈️ Opportunities to travel to amazing industry events like GDC, Gamescom, TwitchCon (EU & US), EGX & Develop:Brighton

📦 Relocation package to help you settle in

🏅 Employee of the Month vouchers

🧘 ♀️ Personal wellbeing allowance

🤝 Referral scheme

🎓 Training & Development Budget – invest in your growth with courses, conferences & learning resources

🚀 Training & career development support

💚 Vitality Health Insurance – includes Vision, Dental & Travel cover

🛡️ Aviva Life Insurance

🎂 30 days holiday, including your birthday and a dedicated wellbeing day

🎄 Christmas studio shutdown – enjoy the holidays, on us!