Head of HR Operations

Lucy Walker Recruitment; Leeds; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Lucy Walker Recruitment is recruiting an experienced Head of HR Operations to lead a UK & Ireland team from our Leeds base. The role focuses on ensuring compliant HR systems, service delivery, onboarding, and payroll governance with data-driven insights.

You will guide HR technology and analytics, embed employment-law requirements, and drive governance across annual pay, bonuses, and related audits. The successful candidate will shape the colleague experience and operate with impact.

Qualifications

• Relevant payroll qualification or equivalent professional expertise.
• CIPD (not essential)
• Current knowledge across HR processes, documentation, controls, and case administration, with effective partnership on complex ER matters
• Substantial experience leading compliant and reliable UK & Ireland payroll service
• A leader of HR Operations and Payroll teams
• Practical UK TUPE desirable
• Sets high standards for quality and quantity
• Monitors and maintains quality and productivity
• Works in a systematic, methodical, and orderly way
• Consistently achieves project goals

Responsibilities

• Lead HR Operations and Payroll teams
• Own compliant employment documentation and onboarding
• Guide the HR technology and people-data roadmap, using responsible AI
• Embed UK & Ireland employment-law requirements across HR and payroll processes and controls
• Lead helpdesk performance, service levels, and meaningful HR Operations measures
• Turn people analytics into evidence-led decisions
• Own compliant contracts, written particulars, onboarding operations, and employment documentation
• Embed UK & Ireland employment-law requirements across HR and payroll processes
• Enable effective ER delivery through clear triage, accurate case administration, reliable data, and appropriate escalation
• Turn people data and analytics into decision-ready insight
• Guide the HR technology, payroll, and automation roadmap
• Lead annual pay, bonus, performance, gender pay gap, employee survey and audit delivery with strong governance and accurate data

Skills

Leadership

Payroll management

HR operations

Compliance

Data analytics

UK Ireland law

ER handling

CIPD optional

Education

Payroll qualification

CIPD (optional)

Tools

HRIS systems

Payroll software

Job description

We are working with an international property company with offices based in the heart of Leeds who are looking to appoint an experienced and engaging Head of HR Operations to lead a team here in the UK and Ireland to ensure they deliver legally compliant and insightful services. The role will lead on being accountable for HR systems, service delivery, employment documentation, onboarding and people data and insight as well as payroll governance and annual pay process. A role that will strengthen the colleague experience, looking at making working days simpler yet more effective. A varied and challenging role, key duties will include;

• Lead, support, and develop HR Operations and Payroll teams
• Own compliant employment documentation and onboarding
• Guide the HR technology and people-data roadmap, using responsible AI
• Embed UK & Ireland employment-law requirements across HR and payroll processes and controls
• Lead helpdesk performance, service levels, and meaningful HR Operations measures
• Turn people analytics into evidence-led decisions

• Own compliant contracts, written particulars, onboarding operations, and employment documentation
• Embed UK & Ireland employment-law requirements across HR and payroll processes
• Enable effective ER delivery through clear triage, accurate case administration, reliable data, and appropriate escalation
• Turn people data and analytics into decision-ready insight
• Guide the HR technology, payroll, and automation roadmap
• Lead annual pay, bonus, performance, gender pay gap, employee survey and audit delivery with strong governance and accurate data

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a growing and reputable organisation. Looking for insight and experience, the successful candidate will have;

• Relevant payroll qualification or equivalent professional expertise
• CIPD (not essential)
• Current knowledge and practical application across HR processes, documentation, controls, and case administration, with effective partnership on complex ER matters
• Substantial experience leading compliant and reliable UK & Ireland payroll service
• A leader of HR Operations and Payroll teams
• Practical UK TUPE desirable
• Sets high standards for quality and quantity
• Monitors and maintains quality and productivity
• Works in a systematic, methodical, and orderly way
• Consistently achieves project goals