HR Generalist and Administrative Officer

The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is an intergovernmental organization and a world-leading international life sciences research center with its main laboratory situated in Heidelberg, Germany and five laboratories at other sites in Europe. In Italy, EMBL employs approximately 90 people involved in fundamental research and service activities in the area of Epigenetics and Neurobiology. EMBL shares the Monterotondo Campus with the Italian National Research Council (CNR) Institute for Biochemistry and Cell Biology (IBBC).

We are seeking a proactive and collaborative HR Generalist and administrative officer to join our international community. As an integral member of the site operations team, you will provide broad HR support for all staff and fellows in Rome, ensuring a welcoming, inclusive, and efficient workplace, while being part of the broader pan-EMBL HR team. Reporting to both the Head of HR and the Head of Rome Administration, you will be a trusted partner to staff and management, contributing to a culture of excellence, inclusion, and respect.

Your role

Human Resources

• Serving as the first point of contact for HR queries from staff, students, and visitors at EMBL Rome.
• Supporting international staff and newcomers with relocation and integration processes.
• Liaising with the Italian Foreign Ministry and Consulates abroad on matters regarding visas and accreditations.
• Delivering comprehensive HR support including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, travel reimbursement, performance management, training activities and offboarding.
• Liaising with central EMBL HR in Heidelberg and other EMBL sites.
• Maintaining and updating HR systems and records.
• Other HR tasks as requested by the Head of HR.
  
  

Unit Support

• Support the organization of events, meetings and seminars (e.g. room bookings, travel, agenda, logistics).
• Other admin tasks as required by the Head of Administration.
  
  

You have

• Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• At least three years’ experience in a generalist HR role, preferably in an international and multicultural setting.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact sensitively with staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Proactive, organised, and solutions-oriented approach with strong attention to detail, and the ability to work to demanding.
• Proficient in English and Italian.
  
  

You may also have

• Experience with HRIS systems and Microsoft Office suite (experience with platforms such as Workday is an advantage).
• Experience supporting expatriate or international staff is an asset.
• Experience working abroad, especially in an intergovernmental or in a scientific organization would be an advantage.
  
  

Contract Length:

3 years renewable up to 9 years

Salary:

Grade 4-5-6 depending on qualifications and experience, monthly salary starting from

Your role

Human Resources

• Serving as the first point of contact for HR queries from staff, students, and visitors at EMBL Rome.
• Supporting international staff and newcomers with relocation and integration processes.
• Liaising with the Italian Foreign Ministry and Consulates abroad on matters regarding visas and accreditations.
• Delivering comprehensive HR support including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, performance management, training activities and offboarding.
• Liaising with central EMBL HR in Heidelberg and other EMBL sites.
• Maintaining and updating HR systems and records.
• Other HR tasks as requested by the Head of HR.
  
  

Unit Support

• Support the organization of events, meetings and seminars (e.g. room bookings, travel, agenda, logistics).
• Other admin tasks as required by the Head of Administration.
  
  

You have

• Degree in Human Resources, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience).
• At least three years’ experience in a generalist HR role, preferably in an international and multicultural setting.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to interact sensitively with staff from diverse backgrounds.
• Proactive, organised, and solutions-oriented approach with strong attention to detail, and the ability to work to demanding.
• Proficient in English and Italian.
  
  

You may also have

• Experience with HRIS systems and Microsoft Office suite (experience with platforms such as Workday is an advantage).
• Experience supporting expatriate or international staff is an asset.
• Experience working abroad, especially in an intergovernmental or in a scientific organization would be an advantage.
  
  

Salary:

Grade 4, 5 or 6, depending on experience and qualifications (monthly starting salary from 2.8k EUR - net of tax, excl. EMBL excl. pension and health insurance contributions )

Why join us

EMBL is curiosity-driven, community-oriented and international. As an inclusive, equal opportunity employer, we believe that diversity enables us to collaborate more effectively and be innovative in our approaches. We are, therefore, committed to creating an inclusive and flexible culture - one where everyone can realise their full potential and make a positive contribution to our organisation.

We encourage applications from individuals who can complement our existing team – we believe that success is built on having teams whose backgrounds and personal experiences reflect the diversity of the populations that our science serves. We actively encourage applications from all genders and cultures, ethnic groups and all demographics to help us avoid perpetuating biases and oversights at this transformational point in our people strategy.

Enjoy Lots Of Benefits:

• Financial incentives: Salary free of income tax, Monthly family, child and non-resident allowances, annual salary review, pension scheme, death benefit, long-term care, accident-at-work and unemployment insurances
• Flexible working arrangements
• Private medical insurance for you and your immediate family (including all prescriptions and generous dental & optical cover)
• Generous time off: 30 days annual leave per year, in addition to public holidays
• Relocation package including installation grant (if applicable)
• Campus life: Free shuttle bus (select sites), on-site library, subsidised on-site gym and cafeteria, casual dress code, extensive sports and social club activities (on campus and remotely)
• Family benefits: Kindergarten (Heidelberg), 10 days of child sick leave, generous paid maternity/parental leave and monthly family & child allowances
• Benefits for international newcomers: Visa exemption, education grant for private schooling, financial support to travel back to your home country every second year and a monthly non-resident allowance.
• For detailed information please visit our employee benefits page here
  
  

What else you need to know

• International applicants: We recruit internationally and successful candidates are offered visa exemptions. Visit our International Applicants page, to find out more.
• EMBL is a signatory of DORA. Find out how we apply DORA principles to our recruitment and performance assessment processes here.
• Diversity and inclusion: At EMBL, we strongly believe that inclusive and diverse teams benefit from higher levels of innovation and creative thought. We encourage applications from women, LGBTQ+ & individuals from all nationalities.
• How to apply: To apply please submit a cover letter and a CV through our online system. Applications will close at 23:59 CET on the date shown below. We aim to provide a response within two weeks after the closing date.
  
  

Closing Date

16/01/2026