Head of HR Operations

CRA GROUP RECRUITMENT AND PAYROLL LTD; Swindon; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A local authority is seeking an experienced HR Operations Manager for a 4-5 month contract in Swindon. This role will lead the HR team, establish service standards, and drive operational improvements within the HR function. The ideal candidate will possess substantial leadership skills in HR Operations and have a proven ability to implement effective performance reporting. Expect a focus on continuous improvement and the application of emerging digital solutions in HR operations.

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in HR Operations within a public sector.
• Strong track record of leading teams and improving performance with robust service standards.
• Experience in delivering transformation in HR Operations ideally in a unionised environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop HR Operations for efficient, customer-focused services.
• Establish performance standards and KPIs for the HR Operations team.
• Deliver consistent, customer-focused HR operational support across the employee lifecycle.

Skills

Succession Planning

Expense Management

Management Experience

Senior Leadership

Operations Management

Relationship Management

Negotiation

Job description

4-5 month contract with a local authority

Summary

• The Council is seeking an interim HR Operations Manager for a 4-5 month contract to provide immediate stability leadership and operational excellence within the HR Operations function. This role is crucial in leading the HR Team Leader and team establishing robust service standards and implementing performance reporting. The position will drive improvements aligned with transformation audit and service review recommendations. Additionally the role will focus on embedding technological enhancements including AI exploration and restoring stakeholder confidence in HR Operations ability to deliver timely reliable and professional services.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop HR Operations to ensure efficient customer‑focused and digitally enabled services.
• Provide immediate leadership to the HR Operations team establishing performance standards and KPIs.
• Deliver a clear HR Operations service offer and drive improvement initiatives.
• Ensure the service is positioned to scale and adapt to future needs balancing resources with demand.
• Strengthen data quality and reporting embedding a culture of continuous improvement.
• Rapidly establish and implement KPIs and Service Standards (SLAs) for HR Operations.
• Communicate service standards and the HR Ops service offer clearly to key stakeholders.
• Deliver consistent timely and customer‑focused HR operational support across the employee lifecycle.

Essential Experience

• Significant leadership experience in HR Operations or Shared Services within a local authority or complex public sector environment.
• Strong track record of leading HR teams improving performance and embedding robust service standards and SLAs.
• Experience in delivering transformation and process improvements in HR Operations ideally in a unionised environment.
• Demonstrable experience in workforce resource analysis and capacity planning including the application of technology to enhance efficiency.
• Skilled in managing HR data quality reporting and analytics to support decision‑making.

Essential Qualification

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills with the ability to engage and reassure at all levels.
• Understanding of audit and compliance requirements within public sector HR operations.
• Awareness of emerging digital solutions and ethical AI applications in HR.

Additional Information

• Working hours : 37 hours per week
• Location : Civic Campus Euclid Street Swindon SN1 2JG United Kingdom
• Application Deadline : 15th October 2025 apply ASAP.

Required Skills

• Succession Planning, Growing Experience, Expense Management, Management Experience, Rackspace, Laboratory Management, Senior Leadership, Operations Management, Relationship Management, Leadership Experience, negotiation, Taxonomy

Employment Type

Full Time

Experience

years

Vacancy

1