Head of HR Service Delivery
Description
- Job grade: Grade 7
- Contract type: Permanent
- Business area: OFQUAL - Corporate Services
- Type of role: Human Resources, Other
- Working pattern: Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time
- Number of jobs available: 1
Location
About the job
Job summary
Ofqual is the independent qualifications regulator for England. We currently regulate 200+ awarding organisations, and approx. 11,600 certified qualifications.
These include GCSEs, AS and A levels, and a broad range of vocational and technical qualifications.
For more information about the work we do please visit our website and our Careers Pages and
Are you passionate about delivering outstanding HR services that enable organisations and their people to thrive?
Ofqual is seeking an exceptional Head of HR Service Delivery to lead the delivery of a high-quality, efficient and professional HR service that supports organisational priorities and delivers an excellent employee experience. Reporting to the Associate Director HR and as a key member of the HR Leadership Team, this is an exciting opportunity to shape and continuously improve people services within an organisation that plays a vital role in maintaining standards and confidence in qualifications and assessments.
The Head of HR Service Delivery provides both strategic and operational leadership, ensuring that people policies, practices and processes are aligned to organisational objectives and support organisational performance, capability and engagement. Acting as a trusted adviser to senior leaders, you will deliver expert guidance across workforce planning, employee relations, resourcing, reward, workforce data, governance and people-related risk.
Job description
About You
We're looking for an experienced and credible HR leader who combines strategic thinking with operational excellence and a passion for delivering outstanding people services.
You will be a Chartered Member of the CIPD (or equivalent) and bring significant experience of leading HR service delivery. You will have a strong understanding of workforce planning, employee relations, employment legislation, HR operations, people governance and organisational change.
You will have a proven track record of developing and leading high-performing HR teams, improving services and processes, and delivering people solutions that enhance organisational performance and employee experience. You will be confident operating at a strategic level while maintaining a strong focus on service quality, continuous improvement and customer outcomes.
With excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, you will be able to build credibility quickly and provide trusted advice to senior leaders on complex workforce and people matters. You will be highly analytical, using workforce data, insight and evidence to identify trends, manage risks, shape strategy and drive informed decision-making.
If you're a talented people leader with the passion and expertise to drive service excellence across the employee lifecycle, we'd love to hear from you.
Join Ofqual and help create an organisation where talented people can thrive, develop and make a real difference.
Person specification
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
Benefits
As a Civil Servant, you will benefit from a leading, modern employment offer which includes flexible working arrangements that support people at different stages in their lives, and pensions among the best available in the UK, as well as generous annual leave entitlements.
Other benefits you can enjoy include:
- Organisational performance related bonus
- Cycle-to-work scheme
- Regular professional development
- Health and wellbeing initiatives such as mini-medicals, flu vaccinations
- Employee assistance programme and occupational health
- Free eye tests and contribution towards lenses/spectacles for VDU users, if appropriate
- Family friendly policies
- Interest free rail season ticket loan
- Access to exclusive discounts
- Free car parking
We are committed to promoting Equality, Diversity, Inclusion and Wellbeing throughout the organisation. We are proud of the action we are taking to support this. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds to support our ethos of creating a diverse culture that is reflective of both our employees and the learners we support.
Due to our continued commitment and focus in relation to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, our inclusion and fair treatment score based on the Civil Service 2024 annual people survey ranks us joint 5th out of 104 participating departments.
Ofqual is a rewarding, dynamic place to work. We offer employees the opportunity to develop within their role and progress through the organisation via a number of Learning and Development opportunities and activities.
Ofqual has a highly engaged workforce. Our 2024 Civil Service People Survey score on engagement was 71%, against 64% for the whole Civil Service, and was the joint 12th highest of the 104 participating CS departments.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Selection process details
Please note that Ofqual does not offer Visa sponsorship.
You will be assessed on the Behaviours shown above at interview stage.
Ofqual has adopted anonymised recruitment. This means that your name, date of birth and other personal details will not be seen by the sift panel. You’ll be asked to remove all personal details from your CV when you apply.
When you press the ‘apply now’ button, you will be asked to complete personal details (not seen by the shortlisting panel), your career history and qualifications.
You will then be asked to provide a personal statement evidencing how you meet the essential criteria shown on the job description attached to this advert. Once this job has closed, the job description will no longer be available. You may wish to save a copy for your records.
Please ensure you demonstrate clearly, within your personal statement, how you meet these requirements as this will form a key part of your evidence when the panel is scoring your application, against the requirements of the role.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift will be undertaken using the work history and personal statement against the lead essential criteria, which is significant HR leadership experience, driving the delivery of high-quality, efficient and professional HR operational services.
We reserve the right to offer a second interview, if required.
Please submit your application by 15 November 2026 at 23:55pm.
Interview dates 3 and 4 December 2026 – (subject to change).
We often have similar roles available at different grades. If a candidate is suitable for a similar role or at a lower grade than they applied for, we may extend an offer without the need to go through a further selection process, providing the role has comparable behaviours and essential criteria.
Ofqual works flexibly, with a hybrid office/home based working model. Employees will spend a minimum of two days per week working from our office in Coventry. As Coventry will be your base location expenses for travel to the office will not be paid.
Final panel interviews will be held in person. Further details will be provided at invite to interview stage.
One of our resourcing colleagues will be on hand to answer any queries you may have throughout the process.
Please be aware that expenses incurred by candidates during the recruitment process will not be reimbursed.
A reserve list may be held for up to 6 months. Ofqual may use this to fill future suitably similar vacancies for candidates who are considered appointable following interview.
Reasonable adjustments
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you require assistance or need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should tell us what changes or help you might need further in the recruitment process.
For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional. You should contact us at [email protected] to discuss your needs.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
- UK nationals
- nationals of the Republic of Ireland
- nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
- nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
- individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
- Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Ofqual Recruitment Team
- Email : [email protected]
Recruitment team
- Email : [email protected]
Further information
Attachments
| Head of HR Service Delivery JD Sept 26 Opens in new window (docx, 71kB) |
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