HR Operations Manager
| Posting date: | 16 February 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £35,663 to £41,710 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 01 March 2026 |
| Location: | Bristol |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Temporary |
| Job reference: | 448211/1 |
Summary
Do you thrive working in a fast-paced environment where your expertise can be used daily to make a real difference?
Is it time to find a vocation where you can strike a work-life balance, have access to lots of Civil Service benefits, and will be highly regarded by your team and colleagues?
We’re looking for our next HR Operations Manager. With fantastic opportunities for learning and development, flexibility to make your job suit you and an organisation where you will be highly regarded; there’s no better time to join.
Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.
Read more in the Benefits section below!
Find out more about what it's like working at VCA.
About Us
Our work is focused on improving vehicle safety and environmental protection by providing robust testing and certification to national and internationally recognised standards. We are a part of the Department of Transport as the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval Authority. With more than 40 years’ experience, we have become one of the largest and well-respected approval bodies around. This position has been built on a reputation for technical expertise and quality, which is at the heart of everything we do, and what you could be a part of.
Do not just take our word for it, here is Margaret Popo, Head of HR to tell you more.
https://www.youtube.com/embed/OJAdxeuPcDo?si=79oSX4ZsoeET5krb
Please also refer to our Candidate Pack and the VCA website for more information.
We are looking for someone to hit the ground running, with the same enthusiasm and drive as our colleagues across the VCA, to make a real difference. Our HR team provides an invaluable role, delivering support to colleagues, stakeholders and customers, in the UK and overseas. It’s important our team work harmoniously to perform at their best and inspire others daily.
You will be given every chance to learn new skills working collaboratively with the Head of HR and other members of the team. Leading on multiple facets within HR, you will have an ability to adapt and forge strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. There will also be opportunities for you to have the chance to shape the systems we use and liaise with third party suppliers to optimize bespoke solutions.
We pride ourselves on our professionalism and ability to deliver at pace. No one day is the same. You will be at the forefront of our day-to-day running, assisting with reporting, supporting end to end recruitment and using your expertise and skills to help coach other staff members.
Joining us, you will be part of an organisation who cares passionately about you, by giving the support you need to reach your full potential.
Your main duties will include but will not be limited to:
- Responsible for the completion of payroll reconciliation on a monthly basis, ensuring that any issues are raised and actioned with our shared service payroll provider.
- Provide support in the implementation of the new payroll (shared services) system.
- Responsible department for the completion of monthly and annual reports for the agency, wider DfT and other government bodies.
- Act as the HR lead for Corporate Affairs in completing freedom of information requests and Parliamentary Questions when these are requested.
- Support the VCA’s Internal Audit team in providing data when this is requested. Also acting as audit lead in relation to payroll requests.
Great line management is important to us as an organisation, and we will equip and support line managers to develop the skills they need. We aim to empower line managers to create teams where people can flourish and deliver excellent outcomes for the public.
For further information on the role, please read the role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.
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