Head of Human Resources

weServed; West of England; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous holiday allowance

Matched pension

Digital GP and health checks

Employee shopping portal

Professional fees coverage

Reservist leave

Be Kind Day

Holiday Trading

Disability confident employer

Job summary

Babcock is seeking a Head of Human Resources to lead a senior HR function within its Naval Nuclear business. The role shapes workforce strategy in a highly regulated, unionised environment and partners with senior leaders to deliver talent and organisational change that supports national security.

The role requires strategic leadership, strong stakeholder influence, and a track record of transforming large HR teams and workforce plans across complex operations.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a senior HR leadership role in a large/complex organisation.
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing HR teams.
• Expertise in workforce planning, OD, employee relations, talent management and change management.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing a team of HR Business Partners, Advisors and Specialists to deliver an exceptional people service.
• Partnering with senior leaders to shape and deliver workforce, talent and organisational strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Driving organisational design, transformation and workforce planning initiatives for future capability.
• Overseeing complex employee relations matters and guiding change, performance and organisational effectiveness.
• Using people data and insights to influence decision-making, engagement and leadership capability.

Skills

Leadership

HR leadership

Workforce planning

Organisational development

Employee relations

Talent management

Change management

Stakeholder management

People data & insights

Education

CIPD Level 7 or equivalent

Job description

Job Title: Head of Human Resources

Location: Bristol, Gloucestershire or Devon, Plymouth + Hybrid Working Arrangements

Compensation: Competitive Salary + Benefits

Role Type: Full time / Permanent

Role ID: SF76352

Shape the future workforce behind one of the UK's most critical defence and nuclear programmes

At Babcock, we’re working to create a safe and secure world, together. If you join us, you can play your part as a Head of Human Resources at Babcock Technology Centre or Devonport Royal Dockyard.

The role

As a Head of Human Resources, you'll take on a highly strategic leadership position supporting our Naval Nuclear business. This is far more than a traditional human resources leadership role. You'll influence workforce strategy across a complex, highly regulated and unionised environment, ensuring we have the talent, capability and culture needed to deliver programmes that support national security.

Day-to-day, you'll be required to:

• Leading and developing a team of Human Resources Business Partners, Advisors and Specialists to deliver an exceptional people service.
• Partnering with senior leaders to shape and deliver workforce, talent and organisational strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Driving organisational design, transformation and workforce planning initiatives that support future capability requirements.
• Overseeing complex employee relations matters while providing expert guidance on change, performance and organisational effectiveness.
• Using people data and insights to influence decision-making, enhance employee engagement and strengthen leadership capability.

This is a full-time role working 35 hours per week. The role is based at BabcockTechnology Centre or Devonport Royal Dockyard, with a minimum of three days per week on site and occasional travel to other Babcock locations, including Plymouth.

Essential experience of the Head of Human Resources

• Significant experience within a senior Human Resources leadership role in a large and complex organisation.
• Proven success leading and developing high-performing Human Resources teams.
• Extensive expertise across workforce planning, organisational development, employee relations, talent management and change management.
• Demonstrable experience leading large-scale transformation and organisational change programmes.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence executive leaders and align people strategies to business priorities.

Qualifications for the Head of Human Resources

• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development Level 7 qualified, or equivalent.
• Significant experience operating in a senior Human Resources leadership position.
• Strong expertise in employee relations, organisational change, workforce planning and talent management.

Security Clearance

The successful candidate must be a Sole UK National and be able to achieve and maintain Security Check (SC) security clearance for this role.

Many of the positions within our company are subject to national security clearance and Trade Control restrictions. This means that your eligibility for certain roles may be affected by your place of birth, nationality, current or former citizenship, and any residency you hold or have held. Further details are available at United Kingdom Security Vetting: clearance levels - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk).

What we offer

• Generous holiday allowance
• Matched contribution pension scheme, with life assurance
• Access to a Digital GP, annual health check, and nutritional consultations through Aviva DigiCare+
• Employee shopping savings portal
• Payment of Professional Fees
• Reservists in the armed forces receive 10-days special paid leave
• Holiday Trading is a benefit that allows UK Babcock employees to buy additional leave or to sell up to one working week of annual leave from their annual entitlement. This Window opens February through to March annually.
• ‘Be Kind Day’ enables employees to take one working day's paid leave a year (or equivalent hours) to undertake volunteering work with their chosen organisation or registered charity

Babcock

We’re Babcock — a global FTSE 100 organisation with over 29,000 people working together to make a difference.

Here, you’ll be part of something bigger. From initial design to final decommissioning, your work will contribute to products and services that are essential to national security and public infrastructure. Together, we’re building a future that lasts — not just through the impact we make, but through meaningful careers that respect your work-life balance.

We call that lifetime engineering.

Join us and see how far we can go, together.

We are a disability confident committed employer. If you have a disability or need any reasonable adjustments during the application and selection stages, please email [e-mail] with the subject header ‘Reasonable adjustments requirement’. We’re committed to building an inclusive culture where everyone’s free to thrive. We are happy to talk about flexible working – please ask about alternative patterns of work at interview.

Closing date: 15/10/2026

#BABDESTNUC