HR Chief Operating Officer
| Posting date: | 10 March 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £100,000 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 29 March 2026 |
| Location: | Bristol |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 450380/1 |
Summary
Defra plays a vital role in protecting and enhancing the environment, supporting food and farming, and driving sustainability. Our people are at the heart of this mission. As HR COO, you will have the opportunity to shape the future of HR in government, delivering services that are modern, inclusive, and digitally enabled and influence policy and practice across a large, complex organisation.
You will also hold a key role in the HR Senior Leadership Team and will report directly to the Chief People Officer operating as their formal deputy, and accountable for the functional delivery of HR, providing strong delivery grip on our critical enabling functions, you will do this with a workforce of around 300 people in HR, whilst having a strong influence on the experience of thousands of employees across Defra.
Key Responsibilities Include:
- Strategic Leadership: Partner with the CPO to deliver a future-ready HR function aligned with Defra’s priorities. Set the vision for operational excellence and lead the evolution of the HR operating model.
- Transformation & Innovation: Drive digitalisation, automation, and service redesign to improve customer experience and efficiency. Drive transformation, making a tangible impact on employee experience and organisational performance. Work at the centre of government, collaborating with senior leaders and contributing to cross-government initiatives.
- Operational Excellence: Ensure robust governance, compliance, and risk management across all HR services, including recruitment, pay, pensions, casework, and workforce data.
- People Leadership: Inspire and develop senior HR leaders, foster a culture of inclusion and high performance, and build capability for the future.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Represent HR at senior forums across government, influence policy and practice, and build strong relationships with trade unions and external partners.
- Financial Accountability: Manage a delegated budget of c£15–20m and oversee the wider HR budget of c£40m, ensuring value for money and effective resource allocation.
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