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People Operations Lead

Food Standards Agency

Cardiff

On-site

GBP 57,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Job summary

The Food Standards Agency seeks a People Operations Lead to drive change within its People Operations function. This pivotal role involves leading a team to ensure exceptional employee lifecycle support while fostering a culture of inclusivity and continuous improvement. Ideal candidates will possess extensive experience in HR operations, strong leadership abilities, and hold relevant qualifications such as MCIPD.

Qualifications

Extensive experience in people operations and employee lifecycle delivery.
Track record of leading high-performing teams and managing resources effectively.
Expertise in HR systems development and data integrity.

Responsibilities

Lead a large, collaborative team through a period of exciting transformation.
Drive the development of HR systems and processes to meet evolving customer needs.
Build strong relationships to deliver strategic people priorities.

Skills

Communication

Team Leadership

Influencing

Education

MCIPD

Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management

We offer great flexible working opportunities, and have offices in Belfast, Cardiff and York.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas.

Travel within the UK will be required on an occasional basis, possibly with overnight stays.

Job Summary

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is a non-ministerial department of over 1600 people. We play a critical role in protecting public health and consumers’ wider interests in food across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our vision is an important one - to drive change, delivering “food you can trust” and working towards a healthier and more sustainable food system.

Are you ready to lead a dynamic team at the heart of the FSA?

We’re looking for an experienced and inspiring People Operations Lead to help shape the future of our newly formed People Operations function.

Job Description

At the FSA, we’re proud of the impact we make every day. Our People Operations team is central to that mission – delivering exceptional, customer-focused support across the full employee lifecycle. From onboarding to payroll, from first line policy advice to system development, we keep the FSA running smoothly and our people supported.

As Our New People Operations Lead, You’ll:

Lead a large, collaborative team through a period of exciting transformation
Drive the development of our HR systems and processes to meet evolving customer needs
Champion a culture of continuous improvement, wellbeing, and inclusivity
Build strong relationships across the agency to deliver strategic people priorities
Be a visible, confident leader who brings people together to get things done

We’re Looking For Someone With:

Extensive experience in people operations and employee lifecycle delivery
A track record of leading high-performing teams and managing resources effectively
Expertise in HR systems development and data integrity
Excellent communication and influencing skills
MCIPD or Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management

If you’re passionate about people, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and want to make a real difference – we’d love to hear from you.

Working pattern guidance

Applicants who wish to work compressed hours are welcome to apply - however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

At the FSA, we’re proud of the impact we make every day. Our People Operations team is central to that mission – delivering exceptional, customer-focused support across the full employee lifecycle. From onboarding to payroll, from first line policy advice to system development, we keep the FSA running smoothly and our people supported.

We’re Looking For Someone With:

Extensive experience in people operations and employee lifecycle delivery
A track record of leading high-performing teams and managing resources effectively
Expertise in HR systems development and data integrity
Excellent communication and influencing skills
MCIPD or Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management

If you’re passionate about people, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and want to make a real difference – we’d love to hear from you.

Working pattern guidance

Applicants who wish to work compressed hours are welcome to apply - however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Person specification

Please read the attached Candidate Pack to discover further details about the role, our organisation, who we are looking for and the criteria we will assess against during the selection process.

We look forward to receiving your application and wish you every success.

Qualifications

MCIPD OR Associate Diploma level 5 Qualified

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

MCIPD OR Associate Diploma level 5 Qualified and the commitment to achieving Chartered Membership within 12 months
Thorough understanding of employment legislation and how this directly links to people operations, with in-depth knowledge of HR policies and processes.

Alongside your salary of £56,037, Food Standards Agency contributes £16,233 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Our candidate pack details the benefits that the FSA has to offer. Please also refer to the attached Terms and Conditions statement.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

Full details of the selection process are detailed in the attached candidate pack.

Application and shortlisting

You will be asked to provide personal details (not seen by the Panel) and to confirm your eligibility to apply for the role.

Ability: You will be asked to complete an online test and, if successful, will proceed to the rest of the application.

Technical: You will be asked a question to confirm that you meet the Technical requirements of the role.

MCIPD OR Associate Diploma Level 5

If you cannot answer yes to this question – you will not be able to proceed further with your application.

You will then be asked to complete an application which will be used to assess you against the following essential criteria.

Experience

Essential criteria

Lead criteria: Extensive experience of working in a people operations environment responsible for the delivery of the full employee life cycle.
Experience in the development of HR systems.
Previous experience of leading a people operations function, actively and effectively manage workload and resources to drive delivery, while being inclusive and prioritising team wellbeing.
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to influence and engage, to bring together individuals from across the business to deliver key objectives

Technical

MCIPD OR Associate Diploma level 5 Qualified and the commitment to achieving Chartered Membership within 12 months
Thorough understanding of employment legislation and how this directly links to people operations, with in-depth knowledge of HR policies and processes.

Lead Criteria An initial sift will take place on the Lead Criteria.

In the event that we receive a large number of applications, the minimum pass mark for the Lead Criteria may be raised at shortlisting stage. Candidates who apply under the DCS, GPTW or RIS schemes and meet the minimum requirements will be unaffected by the pass mark raise.

Interview

If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in which we will assess you against the following Experience / Technical requirements of the role.

Technical

Thorough understanding of employment legislation and how this directly links to people operations, with in-depth knowledge of HR policies and processes.

Experience

Extensive experience of working in a people operations environment responsible for the delivery of the full employee life cycle.
Experience in the development of HR systems.
Previous experience of leading a people operations function, actively and effectively manage workload and resources to drive delivery, while being inclusive and prioritising team wellbeing.
Excellent communication skills, including the ability to influence and engage, to bring together individuals from across the business to deliver key objectives

Assessment exercise

As part of the interview process, you will be asked to take part in a Staff Engagement Exercise and undertake a briefing exercise. Further information will be provided to you in the invitation to interview email.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Expected Timeline

Advert closes: 23rd June 2025

Sift: Expected to take place week commencing 23rd June

Staff engagement exercise and final panel interview: Expected to take place week commencing 7th July and 14th July

Interviews and Staff Engagement Exercise will be held remotely via MS Teams. (If you do not have the Microsoft Teams application installed on your computer, you can join on the web without installing the application).

Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to the Food Standards Agency from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare.

Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Reserve List

A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that the FSA does not hold a licence to sponsor any visa applications and we are unable to provide any advice about visas.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Ability, Experience and Technical skills.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job Contact :

Name : Nicky Allen
Email : nicky.allen@food.gov.uk

Recruitment team