Team Leader

Serco; Idstone; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 36,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Sports and activity clubs

Gym membership

Riding stables and lessons

Retail discounts

Volunteer day and payroll giving

Job summary

Serco at Defence Academy of the UK, Swindon, is seeking a Team Leader to guide Joint Service Administration Unit and Workforce Operations. You will recruit, onboard, manage probation and ensure security clearance and IT access while delivering strong customer service.

You’ll drive performance through coaching and reviews, handle employee relations, and collaborate with MOD stakeholders. The role offers 37 hours per week and a starting salary of £33,175.41 plus excellent benefits.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading and developing teams in a people-focused environment.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage confidently with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Experience handling sensitive employee matters and conducting difficult conversations with professionalism and fairness.
• Competent in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Teams).
• CIPD Level 3 or 5 qualification or equivalent relevant experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead recruitment, onboarding and probation management with security clearance and access control.
• Provide day-to-day leadership for JSAU and Workforce Operations Team, ensuring wellbeing and service.
• Drive performance through regular one-to-one meetings, coaching and reviews.
• Manage employee relations and workforce administration including absence and flexible working requests.
• Build relationships with MOD stakeholders to assure performance and delivery.
• Support audits, inspections and data protection compliance.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Communication

Organisational skills

Sensitive matters handling

Education

CIPD Level 3/5

Tools

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Teams

Job description

Location: Defence Academy of the UK, Swindon, SN6 8LA

Salary: £33,175.41 plus excellent benefits

Schedule: 37 hours per week, Monday – Friday

What You’ll Do As Team Leader

• Lead the recruitment, onboarding and probation management of colleagues, ensuring security clearance, information technology access and induction requirements are completed.
• Provide day-to-day leadership for Joint Service Administration Unit (JSAU) and Workforce Operations Team colleagues, promoting wellbeing, engagement and excellent customer service.
• Drive individual and team performance through regular one-to-one meetings, feedback, coaching and annual performance reviews.
• Manage employee relations and workforce administration activities, including absence management, flexible working requests, family leave and capability matters.
• Build strong relationships with Ministry of Defence (MOD) stakeholders, providing assurance on team performance and service delivery.
• Support audits, inspections, continuous improvement initiatives and compliance with policies, procedures and data protection requirements.

Does this sound like you?

• Proven experience leading and developing teams in a people-focused environment.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to engage confidently with colleagues and stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Experience handling sensitive employee matters and conducting difficult conversations with professionalism and fairness.
• Competent using Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Teams.
• Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) Level 3 or Level 5 qualification, or equivalent relevant experience. Desirable.

What We Offer

The Defence Academy sits within a beautiful and secure site which hosts 2 lakes and is surrounded by acres of scenic woodland. The Academy trains the future commanders and staff officers of all three UK Armed Services and those from many countries around the world. Other benefits of working on this site include:

• Free, secure onsite parking.
• Opportunity to join many sports and activity clubs (heavily subsidised subscription costs).
• Gym membership, the site boasting 2 fully equipped gymnasiums.18-hole golf course (annual membership £36.50).
• Fully equipped riding stables, with the opportunity for lessons.
• Other sporting facilities include tennis courts, Astro-turf football pitches and much more.

Serco Offers

• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
• Over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships (we currently offer over 60 different apprenticeships), mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression.
• Employee Assistance Programme, Bupa Anytime HealthLine, wellbeing app, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres, and 24/7 access to a virtual GP service
• Discounts across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
• Paid volunteering day, tax-free charitable giving through Payroll Giving Scheme, donate your pennies from your monthly pay to the Serco People Fund Charity
• Our employee networks support connection by providing spaces for collaboration, learning, and belonging. They represent and empower all our colleagues including veterans, LGBTQIA+ employees, women, parents and carers, people with disabilities, and people from all cultural backgrounds.

Vetting And Checks

This role requires Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance, which involves verifying your identity, employment history, nationality, and criminal record to meet government security standards. In addition, depending on the nature of the role, you may need to obtain formal Security Clearance (such as CTC or SC), which includes more detailed background checks on employment, criminal record, and financial history to ensure suitability for working in secure environments. Please note that UK residency requirements may apply for certain levels of clearance. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire so we can identify and provide any support you may need to undertake the role effectively.

A Little Bit About Us

At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.

Our Inclusive Recruitment Commitment

We prioritise your skills and potential.

As a Disability Confident Leader, the Top Great British Employer of Veterans 2026, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all.

We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

• Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.
• Ban The Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).