Restructure, Redeployment and Redundancy lead

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

Job summary

Defra Group is undergoing a transformation and HR is appointing a fixed-term HR professional to support the Specialist Employment Services team. The role focuses on Restructuring, Redeployment and Redundancy (RRR) and related workforce transformation activity for the wider Defra Group.

The role will work with HR Business Partners, senior leaders, project professionals and external suppliers to operationalise activity, ensuring lawful, consistent delivery and a high-quality employee experience.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead a dedicated RRR operational delivery team with clear objectives, deliverables and timelines.
• Provide expert and technical advice on RRR requirements and ensure compliant, high-quality processes.
• Support the design and delivery of employee and trade union consultation processes with RRR input.
• Lead a small but expert operational HR team to deliver all processes required under an RRR intervention.
• Identify risks, issues and dependencies related to RRR activity and escalate or resolve through governance channels.
• Produce high-quality briefings, reports and progress updates for senior stakeholders, highlighting milestones, risks and resourcing needs.
• Benchmark processes against best practice and cross-government standards to ensure compliant and supportive employee experiences.

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.