Head of People Services
Ofcom -
Please note that this role will close at 00:01 on Monday 8th April, and therefore we advise getting your application in no later than midnight on Sunday 7th April.
About Ofcom
Ofcom is the regulator for the communications services that we use and rely on each day. We make sure people get the best from their broadband, home phone and mobile services, as well as keeping an eye on TV and radio.
Our culture is clear – we live by our values: Empowerment; Excellence; Collaboration; Agility and Respect. These define how we work to deliver our purpose, now and in the future. The behaviours which support these values set the path for a fully inclusive and innovative culture at Ofcom.
We focus not only on what we do, but how we do it. We pride ourselves on being an organisation of people who genuinely care about helping others.
Purpose of the Role
Reporting into the Director of People & Culture, this role sits on the P&C leadership team and is responsible for the high-quality delivery across all the teams sitting in People Services.
The role is required to lead the People Operations function in the delivery of all aspects of the administration of the full employee lifecycle, employment and payroll compliance, policy development and safeguarding. In addition, to oversee Ofcom’s HRIS and people data strategy, working in close partnership with key stakeholders across ICT, Finance and Data.
To lead, with a strong customer service approach to all work, role modelling Ofcom’s values.
This role is responsible for the following teams, who work across both our Manchester and London offices (total headcount c20):
People Operations, a shared service administration function, responsible for all colleague life cycle administration.
Payroll, an in-house payroll team, responsible for payroll and all HMRC compliance.
Employee Relations & Policy, a team of ER and Policy advisors who manage all ER cases, as well as being responsible for all policy development and maintenance, as well as ensuring employment legislation compliance.
Employee safeguarding, a service to support colleagues who work with distressing content and material.
Data, a team of data professionals who are responsible for all P&C data governance, security, reporting and delivery of people data products which enable Ofcom to make data informed decisions.
People Systems, a systems team responsible for primarily our Workday HRIS in addition to other P&C systems, ensuring optimal performance, efficiency, security and agility across a wealth of modules. Responsible for both new product and module development as well a culture of continuous improvement.
Key responsibilities
Compliance
Ensuring compliance and risk mitigation across all employment, GDPR and payroll legislation.
To have and maintain deep working knowledge of employment law, including ability to understand nuances and where the law doesn’t provide clarity. Able to provide guidance and advice to the team, managers and the P&C Business Partners.
Able to advise the P&C leadership team and Director of upcoming legislative changes and provide a risk and impact assessment to Ofcom with recommendations for implementation and solutions.
Employee relations
Case manage complex and/or senior ER matters
Responsible for Ofcom’s relationship and negotiations with our recognised Trade Union.
Responsible for our Employee Voice program of work, including colleague forum and working with our D&I team on strong engagement with our colleague networks.
Working with our L&D team, supporting the development of managers, using ER case data to inform development programs and content
Relationship management of our external legal services provision
Employee safeguarding
Responsible for delivery of policy and practices which support managers and colleagues working in the field of distressing content, empowering the safeguarding lead to deliver best in class provision, being a point of escalation and advice.
Stakeholder engagement
Stakeholder engagement at a senior level, representing our people operations work to the organisation.
Ensuring strong partnerships with key stakeholder groups including, but not limited to, Group Directors, Directors, and others in the Corporate department (ICT, Finance, Facilities, Governance, and Data).
Governance
Member of Ofcom’s Operations Board, representing all P&C matters.
Responsible for P&C presence (through delegates or personally) on Ofcom’s Security Committee, Data Protection Governance Committee, and Health & Safety Committee.
Responsible for the production of Board / Exec level papers where they relate to the People Operations work.
Wider leadership of P&C function
Represent the people operations teams at the P&C leadership team, working well with others in the department where cross team collaboration is key to our overall success.
To continually be aware of external landscape for people operations, bringing best practice, possible new ways of working and strategic insight to the delivery of our work.
Data and systems
Responsible for data governance, system security and GDPR compliance
With the team, using our Workday First approach, delivering on our system and data strategies
Continually improving system use
Creating data products which enable our P&C function, and wider organisation to make data based decisions.
Ensuring all P&C system use is in line with expectations around procurement, security and efficiency.
With the team, being curious about AI and it’s opportunities and risks for P&CEmployee Administration and Payroll
Supporting the team with delivery of high-quality customer focused shared service operations.
Responsible for continuous improvement opportunities, seeking to ensure efficiency, quality, and consistency in service.
Responsible for the delivery of Ofcom’s payroll services through the payroll team, including all pre and post payroll processes.
Responsible for all HMRC and pension regulator compliance as it applies to all payroll, pension, and benefits administration.
Team leadership
Responsible for providing guidance and advice and being a point of escalation for all teams.
Responsible for wellbeing and pastoral care for the whole People Services team.
Inspiring all teams to deliver at their best, to be empowered to make their own decisions and to provide career development opportunities for all.
Project ownership, change management and continuous improvement.
To create, champion and provide leadership for all projects across the People Services delivery.
Responsible for supporting stakeholder engagement and influencing at a senior level for the better of the team’s work. This includes Senior Management Team, managers, colleague forum, colleague networks and our union.
Work with the P&C Leadership Team to ensure we drive consistent and high standards of work across the whole P&C function.
Essential skills and knowledge
Ability to work at pace, with flexibility and an ability to combine both proactive planning of work and the need to, at time, be reactive.
Strong understanding of payroll legislation, employee tax and National Insurance, including the treatment of benefits
Strong systems capability, with the ability to learn quickly and adapt. Experience of Workday and ServiceNow an advantage
Experience of complex and senior ER case management
Experience in Industrial Relations
Experience of an environment with structured governance processes and protocols
Experience in operating at a senior level, working with and influencing senior stakeholders
Attitude of continuous improvement, supportive and welcoming of change
Drive for high quality delivery
Strong external network and attitude of continual learning from peers in the industry, bringing that knowledge into Ofcom for the better of our work
Memberships
CIPD membership advantageous although not required
How to apply
Please submit a covering letter of no more than two pages outlining your suitability and experience for the role. You are able to upload multiple documents at the point where you are asked to upload your CV.
