Ready for your next step in HR?
We are looking for an experienced and proactive HR Specialist to join our UK HR team. Based in our Cambridge office, this role provides day to day HR support to our Cambridge site, as well as opportunities to support more widely across all UK sites. It offers an excellent opportunity for someone with strong HR experience who is ready to take ownership of key processes, work independently, and contribute to a positive employee experience throughout the employee lifecycle.
As a trusted partner to managers and employees, you will play a vital role in delivering high-quality HR support while ensuring compliance, accuracy, and excellent service.
What You'll Be Doing
You will support the full employee lifecycle, including:
- Recruitment and onboarding
- Induction coordination
- Performance management processes
- Learning and development activities
- Employee changes and lifecycle administration
- Leaver processes and exit interviews
- Preparation of monthly payroll inputs
- Providing first-line HR advice and guidance to managers and employees
- Supporting employee relations activities and documentation
- Maintaining HR systems and employee records
- Ensuring compliance with employment legislation and company policies
- Supporting HR projects and wellbeing initiatives
Providing cover for the team during periods of absence
What We're Looking For
Essential:
- Previous UK HR experience in a generalist or specialist HR role
- Strong understanding of HR processes and employee lifecycle activities
- Excellent organisational and administrative skills
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Experience using HR systems (ideally Oracle) and Microsoft Office applications
- High level of professionalism, discretion and attention to detail
Desirable:
- Knowledge of UK employment law
- CIPD Level 3 qualification or working towards CIPD Level 5
Experience in pharmaceutical industry or highly technical scientific environment
Why Join Us?
- Exposure to a broad range of HR activities and projects
- Supportive UK and global HR network
- Opportunity to support multiple UK business locations
- Modern, collaborative working environment
- Hybrid working arrangements
- Opportunity to further develop your HR career
#LI-ORION
How to apply and additional information
We typically review applications already during the application period and may start interviewing candidates before the application deadline. Therefore, we invite you to send your application as soon as possible.
Please attach your CV and cover letter by 9 October 2026
About UsOrion Pharma is a globally operating Nordic pharmaceutical company – a builder of well-being for over a hundred years.
We’re home to more than 4,000 Orionees around the world, and we’re proud to be known as a responsible employer and a great place to work. At Orion Pharma, people are truly valued and trusted, encouraged to grow, and supported by a culture where every voice is heard. We appreciate each other, strive for excellence, and build the future.
Together we develop, manufacture, and market human and veterinary pharmaceuticals and active pharmaceutical ingredients. Our extensive portfolio includes proprietary and generic medicines as well as consumer health products. The core therapy areas of our pharmaceutical R&D are oncology and pain. Proprietary products developed by Orion Pharma are used to treat cancer, neurological diseases, respiratory diseases, and more.
We offer careers with a clear purpose: empowering people to live their lives to the fullest.
About Orion
Skills Required
- Previous UK HR experience in a generalist or specialist HR role
- Strong understanding of HR processes and employee lifecycle activities
- Excellent organisational and administrative skills
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- Experience using HR systems, ideally Oracle
- Experience using Microsoft Office applications
- High level of professionalism, discretion and attention to detail
- Knowledge of UK employment law
- CIPD Level 3 qualification or working towards CIPD Level 5
- Experience in the pharmaceutical industry or a highly technical scientific environment
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What We Do
Orion Pharma is a globally operating Nordic pharmaceutical company – a builder of well-being for over a hundred years. We develop, manufacture and market human and veterinary pharmaceuticals as well as active pharmaceutical ingredients, combining our trusted expertise with continuous innovation. We have an extensive portfolio of proprietary and generic medicines and consumer health products. The core therapy areas of our pharmaceutical R&D are oncology and pain. Proprietary products developed by us are used to treat cancer, respiratory diseases and neurological diseases, among others. In 2025 our net sales amounted to EUR 1,890 million and we employ about 4,000 professionals worldwide, dedicated to building well-being. Product related questions and feedback: https://www.orionpharma.com/feedback Beware of any recruitment scam using Orion Pharma’s name Be cautious of recruitment scams where individuals pose as Orion Pharma employees or authorized recruiters. Orion Pharma will never request payment, personal financial information, or any favours at any stage of our hiring process.
