HR Improvement Lead

Wessex Water Services; Bath; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Wessex Water Services is seeking an HR Improvements Lead to join the People team for a two-year fixed-term contract, combining analytical thinking with practical problem-solving to drive HR transformation.

You will support HR transformation projects, improve processes, data quality, employee experience, and collaborate across HR, Payroll, Resourcing, IT to deliver measurable value.

If you enjoy making positive changes and simplifying complex HR activities, we'd love to hear from you.

Qualifications

• Experience in HR Operations, Shared Services, transformation or project delivery.
• Understanding of HR processes and lifecycle administration.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Advanced Excel and reporting skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and collaborate.
• Excellent communication and ability to explain complex information simply.
• Experience creating or improving processes, guidance, templates or communications using plain English.
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-team collaboration.
• Good organisational skills and record-keeping.
• Knowledge of data protection, employment legislation, HR policies and risk controls.
• Degree-level qualification; CIPD Level 5 advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Support HR transformation projects (job title reviews, role rationalisation, local agreement review).
• Identify opportunities to simplify HR processes and reduce manual work.
• Shape AI usage by improving content, processes and user journeys.
• Use data and reporting to identify trends and propose improvements.
• Lead data quality activities and introduce better controls.
• Review HR letters, templates and guidance for clarity.
• Collaborate with HR, Payroll, Resourcing, IT and other stakeholders to scope improvements.
• Support change initiatives with planning, testing and implementation.
• Track progress, risks, actions and benefits to ensure value.
• Provide flexible support across the wider People team.

Skills

HR Operations

Shared Services

Transformation

Advanced Excel

Data reporting

Stakeholder management

Communication

Plain English

Data protection

Risk controls

Education

Degree-level qualification

CIPD Level 5

Job description

Do you enjoy improving processes and solving problems? We're looking for an HR Improvements Lead to join our People team and help deliver improvement and transformation initiatives across our HR Service Centre for a two-year fixed-term contract. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys combining analytical thinking with practical problem-solving to create positive change.

Working with colleagues across HR and the wider business, you'll help improve processes, strengthen data quality, enhance employee experience and support the delivery of key transformation priorities. From reviewing HR processes and documentation to supporting system improvements and change initiatives, you'll play an important role in helping us deliver a more effective, efficient and resilient HR service.

What you'll do

• Support key HR transformation projects, including job title reviews, role rationalisation and local agreement review activities.
• Identify opportunities to simplify HR processes, reduce manual work and improve the experience for colleagues and managers.
• Help to shape and improve the use of AI by enhancing content, processes and user journeys to reduce avoidable queries.
• Use data and reporting to identify trends, investigate issues and recommend practical solutions that improve service delivery.
• Lead data quality activities, including root cause analysis, corrective actions and the introduction of improved controls.
• Review and improve HR letters, templates and guidance to ensure they are clear, engaging and easy to understand.
• Work closely with HR colleagues, Payroll, Resourcing, IT and other stakeholders to scope and deliver improvements.
• Support change initiatives through planning, communication, testing and implementation activities.
• Track progress, risks, actions and benefits to ensure improvement activities are well managed and deliver value.
• Provide flexible support across the wider People team to help deliver improvement and transformation priorities.

What you'll need

• Experience working in HR Operations, Shared Services, business improvement, transformation or project delivery environments.
• A good understanding of HR processes, employee lifecycle administration and customer service principles.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify trends, investigate issues and recommend improvements.
• Advanced Excel and reporting skills, with experience handling data accurately and producing meaningful management information.
• The ability to use initiative, manage competing priorities and work collaboratively with others.
• Excellent communication skills and the confidence to explain complex information in a simple and accessible way.
• Experience creating or improving processes, guidance, templates or communications using plain English principles.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to build effective working relationships across teams.
• Good organisational skills, with the ability to maintain controls, manage multiple priorities and keep accurate records.
• Knowledge of data protection requirements, employment legislation, HR policies and risk controls.
• A degree-level qualification or equivalent experience. CIPD Level 5, or working towards it, would be an advantage.

Why join us

This is an opportunity to make a real impact.

You'll play a visible role in shaping how HR services are delivered, working on meaningful improvement and transformation initiatives that impact colleagues across the business. You'll have the chance to influence positive change, develop your improvement and project skills, and see the direct impact of your work.

If you enjoy solving problems, improving processes and helping create a better experience for colleagues, we'd love to hear from you.

What you'll receive

• A combined pension contribution of up to 20%.
• Career progression and professional development opportunities.
• 25 days' holiday rising to 28 with length of service.
• The opportunity to sell up to five days of holiday every year.
• The opportunity to buy up to ten days of holiday each year (subject to conditions).
• A healthcare package that allows you to claim back healthcare costs.
• Life assurance of up to eight times your salary.
• The opportunity to lease a new electric car through salary sacrifice (subject to conditions).
• Cashback and discounts from more than 3,000 retailers.
• One paid volunteering day each year.
• Enhanced family leave and pay arrangements.
• Access to an interactive health and wellbeing platform.
• Support from trained mental health first aiders.
• A £1,000 referral fee if you recommend someone who is successfully recruited by us.

Who we are

YTL UK is part of the international YTL Group based in Kuala Lumpur. The UK companies include:

• Wessex Water - one of the top-performing water and sewerage companies in England and Wales, serving 2.9 million people across the South West
• YTL Developments - a major UK developer currently redeveloping a 350-acre former airfield into an award-winning, exciting mix of houses, apartments, schools, commercial space, restaurants and hotels, to make a truly sustainable new community
• YTL Construction UK - a top 20 UK contractor providing fully integrated services to infrastructure, residential, commercial, industry, energy and environmental sectors
• YTL Live - the development and operation of an entertainment complex that includes a 20,000 capacity arena, conferencing and exhibition space
• plus a number of other retail, environmental and specialist businesses.

Our people tell us that YTL UK is a great place to work, which is why so many of them stay with us! You will have a unique opportunity to develop and progress your career within such a diverse group.

We are passionate about diversity and inclusion - with that in mind, all applicants are welcome. We are delighted to have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and are a Disability Confident Employer.

If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please inform a member of our Recruitment team.