Restructure, Redeployment and Redundancy lead

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA); Leeds; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Defra Group is transforming its HR function and is appointing a fixed-term HR professional to support the Specialist Employment Services team with Restructuring, Redeployment and Redundancy (RRR) and related workforce transformation activities.

You will work with HR Business Partners, legal advisers and project leads to deliver compliant, high-quality processes, advise on RRR options, and provide concise briefings and updates for senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead a dedicated RRR operational delivery team with clear objectives, deliverables, and timelines.
• Provide expert and technical advice on RRR requirements ensuring compliance.
• Support design and delivery of employee and trade union consultation processes with input on strategy and TU consultation.
• Lead a small but expert HR team to ensure smooth delivery of RRR interventions.
• Identify risks, issues, and dependencies and escalate or resolve them through governance channels.
• Produce briefings, reports and progress updates for senior stakeholders.
• Benchmark processes against best practice and cross-government standards.

Job description

Defra Group is undergoing a period of transformation and as part of this, HR are appointing a fixed term HR professional to support the specialist advisory capability to support restructuring, redeployment, redundancy. This role will sit within Specialist Employment Services team in HR acting as a central source of expertise on Restructuring, Redeployment and Redundancy (RRR) and related workforce transformation activity for the wider Defra Group. The role will also work closely with HR Business Partners (HRBPs), senior leaders, project professionals and external suppliers to operationalise and transformation activity, ensuring it is delivered lawfully, consistently, and with a high-quality employee experience. Using a structured approach you will work closely with HR Business Partners (HRBPs), HR Expert Services, legal advisors, programme leads, the HR Senior Leadership Team and our shared services partners to:

• Establish and lead a dedicated RRR operational delivery team, with responsibility for defining clear objectives, deliverables, and timelines. This team will provide the core operational capability required to deliver restructuring-related activities.
• This will include the provision of expert and technical advice and guidance on any determined RRR requirements, and assurance that all necessary processes and complex individual cases are handled with due care and legal compliance.
• Support the design and delivery of employee and trade union consultation processes with expert RRR advice and input, helping to design a communication and engagement strategy and having a close involvement in TU consultation.
• Lead a small but expert operational HR team to ensure smooth delivery of all processes required under an RRR intervention.
• Identify risks, issues, and dependencies related RRR activity and escalate or resolve them through appropriate governance channels.
• Produce high-quality briefings, reports, and progress updates for senior stakeholders, ensuring visibility of milestones, risks, and resourcing needs.
• Benchmark processes and outputs against best practice and cross government standards, ensuring the transfer meets compliance expectations and delivers a consistent and supportive experience for employees.