Business Management Lead – Resourcing, Finance and Planning
| Posting date: | 03 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £56,375 to £69,105 per year |
| Additional salary information: | National:£56,375-£62,830 London: £62,000-£69,105 For details of our pay on appointment policy, please see below under the heading ‘Salary’. |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 16 March 2026 |
| Location: | York |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 451161/1 |
Summary
We are Strategy Group Business Management Team. We provide resourcing, finance, corporate, business improvement and Senior Leader support to two of Defra’s six core operating groups. It’s fair to say our senior leaders do amazing things because of the work we do in the background.
Encouraging diverse applicants
We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible, and we hope to attract applications from underrepresented groups.
Job Description
The Business Management Lead for Resourcing, Finance and Planning is a senior role as part of the Business Management Team responsible for ensuring that the Strategy Group and Science, Data and Analysis Group receives an elevated level of services across three key areas:
- Resourcing (end to end recruitment)
- Financial Planning and Forecasting
- Oversight of operational procurement and financial reward processes.
The role holder will lead a team of up to five people and will, through leading by example, setting consistent standards and demonstrating the correct leadership behaviours, drive a high performing and well recognised team.
The role holder will be a trusted advisor to each of the five Directorate (business area) Senior Leadership Teams on all matters that sit within their area of responsibility.
The role is a big role with a wide-ranging reach across the Directorates and Groups that the Business Management Team supports. The role holder will engage regularly with Senior colleagues at Director, Deputy Director and on occasion Director General level.
The role holder will create, develop, and enhance relationships with internal colleagues including HR and Finance Business Partners, Financial Reporting Team, HR Policy and recruitment teams together with external partners – Government Recruitment Service (GRS) and Shared Services Connected Limited (SSCL).
Activities delivered in this role include:
- With support and guidance from the Head of Business Management, set the direction for the team to deliver an ambitious first-class business management offer; identifying opportunities to improve current systems, develop new ways of working and think strategically about longer-term challenges and opportunities for the Directorates/Groups and how best to address them
- Lead an operational recruitment team which oversees resource management, recruitment, and onboarding of new joiners providing detailed insights, advice and guide on all resourcing matters; Ensuring the Deputy Directors and teams are supported to recruit and retain a talented and happy workforce and that we maintain and meet our Group FTE Targets - This role holder will also lead on Deputy Director recruitment for Directors and act as a trusted resourcing partner
- Working closely with the central Defra finance team on tracking and management of in year finances and expenditure across all five Directorates, working closely with the finance business partners and management reporting. This will include providing analysis, data, and insight, whilst facilitating effective conversations for the Directors and SLT to help decision making
- Supporting their team with monthly budgetary profiling, budget management and forecasting of future expenditure. Preparation of accurate, timely and informative financial reports to the Directors, senior leadership teams, Finance Business Partners across all directorates within the Groups that we support
- Lead on future years business planning for the Directorates the role supports, providing timely and accurate data to inform decision making for SLT colleagues
- Maintain accurate records and information that supports FTE trajectory management
- Develop and maintain good relations with key partners; this role will work closely with the SLT and team leaders across each directorate, as well as other individual stakeholders across HR services, recruitment services and finance
- Overseeing a business management environment, ensuring day to day operations are undertaken efficiently and effectively and that opportunities for improvement are identified and implemented quickly
- Have a good overview and understanding of your team’s work and that the team are meeting their deliverables effectively and efficiently
- Lead from the front and demonstrate to your team that you are a can-do person and can get involved in the day to day activities carried out by the team
- Work as part of the Business Management leadership team to drive forward our programme of back-to-basics activity to develop the team and create a single connection to each other and the directors and develop ways of working with other Senion Business Management colleagues
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme