Group head of hr policy and employee relations

Group Head of HR Policy and Employee Relations

Department for Transport

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 1st March 2026

📍 Location: Birmingham, Hastings, Leeds, London, Swansea (Hybrid)

💷 Salary: £69,501 - A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
National Salary: £69,501
London Salary: £74,535

🕘️ Contract Type: Fixed Term – Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

🏆️ Available Positions: 1

As part of the Department for Transport Group HR function, our team is committed to providing expert HR and employee relations guidance. We take a business-oriented approach to developing effective solutions across the DfT Group.

The Group HR team leads on HR policy and employee relations within the central department, as well as supporting five executive agencies: Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), and Active Travel England (ATE).

Top Responsibilities

* Lead of a team of HR professionals to build flexible and integrated HR policy and employee relations strategies/plans to support departmental strategy.

* Manage the relationship with the Departmental Trade Union side and build strong and trusted relationships with key stakeholders across the DfT Group.

* Manage the work of the team using project techniques to enable the effective, tracking, monitoring, and reporting of workstreams and support prioritisation.

* Ensure the team act as a centre of expertise, providing professional advice and guidance to HR colleagues, shared services and key stakeholders that enable and support the successful implementation of our people policies.

* Act as the lead contact/s for the relationship with Civil Service HR Expert Services, feeding into central people policy development so that the specific requirements of DfT people are captured and that we can influence Civil Service wide approaches

Additionally, you will:

* Manage a temporary project team that will focus on reviewing, evaluating and delivering a complete refresh of our existing HR Policies.

* The team will then need to work with our HR Data, Technology & AI Lab to implement an AI solution that will support staff self-service and navigability of our policies.

* It is anticipated that this will be a 12-month project to match the length of the appointment.

Benefits

* 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).

* 8 Bank Holidays plus an additional Privilege Day to mark the King’s birthday.

* Access to the staff discount portal.

* Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department, such as CIPD, Prince2, apprenticeships, etc.

* Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.

* 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.

* Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

About You

We’re looking for an individual who is passionate about leading high performing teams, and will use this confidence and enthusiasm towards designing, analysing and implementing positive change within the organisation.

We are keen to talk to individuals who have experience of working collaboratively and engaging and influencing a range of stakeholders and advising leadership teams and senior managers on strategic business decisions relating to people policies including performance management and Employee Relations.

We also are looking for someone with a proven record of delivering projects to time and managing resources effectively, ideally drawing on multi-disciplinary teams or functions to do so. It would be of additional benefit-but not essential- if you have experience working with digital products or AI tools to deliver HR outcomes. You’ll be confident applying your knowledge to set your own direction, influence decisions and thrive whilst managing a dynamic and challenging workload, welcoming a level of autonomy to your role.

You’ll have exceptional interpersonal skills and be able to communicate complex information to others, with the capability to provide guidance and information to inform decisions at all levels of the business. This is a fantastic opportunity to work in a team who pride themselves on their ability to make a difference and an unrivalled level of collaboration within the wider business.

How to Apply

👉 Read the full description and apply at CS Jobs using the link provided.

This vacancy closes at 23:55 on Sunday 1st March 2026