Head of HR Operations

Job introduction

Job title: Head of HR Operations

A bit about us:

Liverpool is home to vibrant, energetic, and engaged communities, people who take real ownership of their local area and are passionate about making our city a better place. We've got ambitious targets to meet by 2025 and we need people who are driven, dynamic and ready to deliver the very best for our communities. Public service is more important than ever, and this role represents a real opportunity to make a difference to our communities by transforming the way we work and placing our residents at the heart of everything we do.

Working at Liverpool City Council provides an opportunity to contribute to your community and make a positive impact on the lives of residents. Our values shape how we work to deliver public services, and how we communicate with the residents we serve. We care about the best outcomes for local people, through our public services.

We are proud of our world-famous thriving city with its rich culture, as well as affordable housing, good schools, beautiful green spaces – there’s really something for everyone!

The role:

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Liverpool City Council as our Head of HR Operations. This is a key strategic role within our People and Organisational Culture Team, focused on leading and driving forward all things HR in relation to our People Plan. As Head of HR Operations, you will lead the design and implementation of effective HR service delivery models, ensuring high quality, customer-focused support for managers and employees across Liverpool City Council.

Contributing to the delivery of the overall Council Plan, the Head of HR Operations role will provide strategic leadership to the HR operations function, driving organisational performance, ensuring compliance with employment legislation, and ensuring the Council attracts and retains a diverse workforce whilst fostering a culture of innovation, equality, diversity, inclusion, and employee wellbeing.

As Head of HR Operations, you will be responsible for the overall delivery of the following functions:

• HR Operations – oversee all aspects of HR operations, including recruitment, employee relations, and HR business partnering, ensuring that HR policies and procedures are up-to-date, compliant with employment law, and reflective of best practices
• Workforce Planning and Development – lead workforce planning initiatives to address current and future staffing needs using data and insight to evidence strategies
• Recruitment and Retention – lead recruitment and retention strategies/policies that support the Council’s ambition to be an employer of choice with a diverse workforce, reflective of communities we serve
• Employee Relations and Engagement – oversee complex employee relations cases, ensuring both the fair and consistent application of policies and that the Council meets all legal responsibilities for consultation with trade unions, as well as actively promoting positive employee relations and best practice
• Change Management – lead and support organisational change programmes, including restructures and transformation projects, ensuring effective consultation and communication processes
• Compliance and Risk Management – ensure compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements related to employment law, safeguarding, and data protection
• Performance Management and Reporting – monitor and report on HR performance metrics, ensuring the continuous improvement of HR services
• Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) – champion EDI principles across the workforce, ensuring policies and practices are both inclusive and accessible

Our offer to you:

• At least 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays rising to 32 after 5 years’ service (pro rata if part time) - option to purchase further days
• Agile working (role dependent) - a “Flexibility First” approach to agile working, where flexibility is the norm rather than the exception
• Part of the Local Government Pension Scheme – option to join the AVC Scheme
• Progression - opportunities and training through a wide range of high quality learning
• Health and Wellbeing - offer including Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to Work and Travel Pass Schemes
• Drive Time – a salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Family friendly policies with enhanced leave
• Discounted Gym Memberships
• Employee Volunteering Scheme
• Medicash

Next steps:
Closing date: midnight on Friday 3 October 2025
Shortlisting date: W/C 6 October 2025
Interview date: W/C 13 October 2025
Interview format: face-to-face, competency-based interview; you may also be required to deliver a presentation

We reserve the right to close vacancies earlier than the specified date should we receive sufficient applications. If interested, please complete an application as early as possible.

Please note: this vacancy is classified as a politically restricted position.

If you would like any further information or an informal discussion, please contact Claire Harris, Talent and Attraction Lead, at claire.harris@liverpool.gov.uk.

Watch our recruitment video and see what life is like working at Liverpool City Council.

Liverpool City Council is committed to fostering a workforce representative of the communities we serve. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we believe in appointing candidates based on their skills, experience, qualifications, and abilities. To support this commitment, we guarantee an interview to candidates from under-represented groups who meet the minimum essential criteria for the role.

If you require any reasonable adjustments in line with the Equality Act 2010, such as an application form in a different format or additional time to complete your application, please contact us at recruitment@liverpool.gov.uk.

Although we advertise on Jobs Go Public, and other websites, your application process will be directed to our Tribepad system. Please note that all communication regarding your application for this post will be sent to the email address that you have registered on Tribepad, including your invite to interview if you are shortlisted. Please check your emails regularly, including Spam/Junk, after the closing dates for notifications. Please ensure you complete your full profile, work and education history in Tribepad.

Eligibility to work in the UK will be verified in the final stages of the selection process. All candidates must either already have a right to work in the UK before commencing employment or meet the Home Office criteria for Visa sponsorship. Candidates who require sponsorship should evaluate the Home Office eligibility criteria for a Skilled Worker visa before applying.

This is not legal advice, and we advise you to seek your own independent legal advice tailored to your own personal circumstances.