The Fair Work Agency (FWA), launching in April 2026, is a central part of the Government’s Make Work Pay programme. It brings together the enforcement of key employment rights into one organisation, creating a single place where workers and employers can get clear support and action when needed. The Agency will oversee protections such as the National Minimum Wage, holiday pay, statutory sick pay and wider labour exploitation safeguards, and will have strong powers to inspect workplaces, review records and take action on behalf of staff. Joining the FWA now means stepping into an organisation at the moment it is being built. You will help shape how it operates, influence its culture and make a real difference to improving fairness and raising standards across the UK workforce. This is an exceptional opportunity to join the Fair Work Agency at a formative stage as our Head of Human Resources. Reporting to the Director of Corporate Services, you will lead the development of the Agency’s People Strategy and the underpinning plans that shape every aspect of our people services. As we build a new organisation with a new strategy, you will play a pivotal role in creating a modern, progressive HR function that enables our workforce to thrive and aligns fully with the FWA’s strategic ambitions. You will ensure our people are recognised and developed as our most valuable asset, embedding a culture that supports high performance, inclusion, wellbeing and organisational capability. Working collaboratively across the FWA, you will design and deliver innovative people strategies, policies, services and frameworks that strengthen the employee experience and support organisational growth. This role offers an exciting platform to influence the future shape of the FWA and to build the foundations of a People function that is strategic, trusted and impactful. Working closely with senior leaders, you will define long‑term people priorities, design organisational capabilities needed for the future and ensure HR services support a positive colleague experience and organisational performance. Part time working hours are available for this role. We can accept part time applicants who can commit to working a minimum of 30 hours over 4 days per week. The Fair Work Agency is looking for an inspiring and forward‑thinking Head of Human Resources to shape the people culture of a new organisation. This is a rare and exciting opportunity to join the FWA at the very beginning of its journey and build a modern, people‑centred HR function from the ground up. Reporting to the Director of Corporate Services, you will lead the development of an ambitious People Strategy and the underpinning plans that will define how we attract, develop, reward and support our people. You will create an inclusive and engaging employee experience, and ensure all people services are high‑quality, future‑focused and fit for purpose. Working closely with senior leaders, you will help shape the Agency’s culture, build organisational capability, and position our people as our most valuable asset. You will lead all employee relations matters, working with our recognised trade unions and key stakeholders to address issues and ensure effective engagement and consultation across HR policies and projects. This is an exceptional chance to make a lasting impact, influence the growth of a new public body, and champion the people who will deliver the FWA’s mission across the UK. Strategic People Leadership Operating as an active ambassador for the FWA; exploring new and innovative ways to solving challenges and seeking new opportunities in the way we work and how we can do things differently Develop and deliver a long-term People Strategy aligned to organisational priorities. Shape the strategic workforce plan, assessing future skills needs and organisational capability. Provide thought leadership on operating models, spans and layers, job design and workforce transformation. Resourcing & Talent Strategy Lead the organisation’s resourcing strategy, attracting, engaging and retaining a diverse workforce. Supporting talent management initiatives that develop the pipeline into all levels of the organisation. Oversee recruitment, talent pipelines, secondments, redeployment and contingent labour. Develop recruitment models tailored to specialist roles and organisational needs. People Operations Oversee People Operations, including HR advisory services and lifecycle processes. Drive improvements to HR workflows, processes and systems. Lead implementation of HR technologies and digital improvements. Learning and Development Develop learning and development strategies and interventions to support organisational capability Assess skills-based vs. job-based workforce models and implications for systems, career pathways and workforce planning. Partner across HR disciplines and change programmes to embed people-centred improvements. Data, Insight & Improvement Use people data and analytics to inform decision-making and improve HR services. Identify workforce risks, trends and opportunities and present evidence-based recommendations. Drive a culture of continuous improvement across all HR functions. Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement Lead high-performing teams across People Strategy, Resourcing and People Operations. Influence and advise senior leaders, shaping people-related decision-making. Build strong partnerships across HR, organisational leadership and external bodies. Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme Disability Confident About Disability Confident A Disability Confident employer will generally offer an interview to any applicant that declares they have a disability and meets the minimum criteria for the job as defined by the employer. It is important to note that in certain recruitment situations such as high-volume, seasonal and high-peak times, the employer may wish to limit the overall numbers of interviews offered to both disabled people and non-disabled people. For more details please go to Disability Confident .