Head of People Strategy

Job summary

Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to day life, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.

Defra Group is undergoing significant change and transformation to deliver better outcomes for the environment, deliver on our Spending Review commitments and improve our services to our customers in line.

Our people are at the heart of this journey across Defra Group, and within the HR function we have established a workforce transformation programme to work within the Change portfolio to drive this change. You will be the People Strategy lead, defining and shaping our collective approach, against the 4 pillars of our transformation programme.

These being:

• A smaller, sustainable and cost-effective workforce
• Cultivating the right skills and capabilities for the future
• Effective, agile and healthy organisation
• Place based organisation

As part of this approach you will be developing the thought-leadership in how we tackle some of the key people challenges, and shape the people strategy out to 2035 to address these areas. You will work across all HR functions and disciplines, to bring together a coherent set of priorities and principles, and partner with our strategic change portfolio to see these put into practice.

Job description

1. Set the Direction for Strategic Business Design – Shaping our workforce:

• Define how Defra Group’s capabilities, corporate functions, and organising principles must evolve for 2035.
• Work with the OD&D team to lead thinking on future operating models, including integration opportunities, ALB functional reviews, and Common Business Capabilities.
• Partner the Service Transformation Programme to provide high-level challenge, insight, and design expertise to senior leaders on future organisational direction.

2. Embed Strategic Job Design – Shaping our job roles of the future.

• Develop a “north star” vision for future Defra Group jobs in 2035.
• Map the journey and define the decision points required to move from the current state to the 2035 vision.
• Lead analysis on whether Defra should operate as a jobs-based or skills-based organisation, and define the implications for people, processes, systems, career models, and workforce planning.

3. Develop principles for future teams – Shaping how we organise and lead our teams.

• Lead thinking on spans and layers, future leadership models, and the relationship between people-team and bot-team leadership.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations for the future structure and shape of teams across Defra Group.
• Build healthy team indicators to identify teams which are struggling, work with business partners to shape interventions

4. Place-based Delivery and Thriving Communities – Where our people work.

• Partner with Property Optimisation Programme to design and articulate a forward-looking workforce location strategy.
• Develop an approach to workforce segmentation (e.g., specialists, hub/core, transition groups).
• Build a 10-year roadmap for managing the “transition” in a respectful, consistent, and strategically aligned way.

5. Strategic Leadership and External Influence.

• Maintain strong relationships with GPG, OGDs, and other external partners to ensure alignment, shared learning, and influence.
• Lead HR’s contribution into Defra Group Strategy.
• Shape and coordinate the Group’s contributions to cross-government people priorities and strategies.

6. Delivery Approach and Team Leadership.

• The role is responsible not only for creating strategy but for ensuring it is a living roadmap—continually tested, iterated, and delivered.
• You will work across all HR expert services and Business Partnering teams to develop an engaging Defra Group offer.
• This role has direct line management of 3 x G7s, with wider matrix management across project resources and expert services.

Person specification

Essential skills, qualifications and experience:

• Strong experience of developing and implementing people strategies, particularly in complex environments.
• Strong change management credentials with experience incorporating people, process and technology changes as part of wider organisational transformation.
• Leadership experience managing high-performing teams, and bringing together cross-functional workstreams.
• Advanced stakeholder management and consulting skills, influencing senior leaders and other key stakeholders.
• An analytical and data-driven mindset, able to develop insights and recommend options to address challenges.
• Ability to bring clarity and build momentum in a complex work environment whilst delivering tangible outcomes.
• Chartered Member of the CIPD or have proven equivalent experience.

Qualifications

Chartered Member of the CIPD or have proven equivalent experience.

Memberships

Certified Institute of Professional Development

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £67,730, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £19,621 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Ability and Experience.

Application

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a (Civil Service Verbal Test and Civil Service Numerical Test. If you successfully pass the tests, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application.

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23:55 on 9th March 2026. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Do not leave completing the tests until the last minute in case you experience any access or technical issues. There may not be technical support available after business hours and after 2pm on the closing date of 9th March 2026..

While the tests should work on most operating systems and modern browsers with a good internet connection, we cannot guarantee that every combination will work. At the beginning, the test will check which browser you are using, and alert you if it is likely to be incompatible.

It is highly recommended that you complete the online tests on a desktop computer, not a mobile phone or tablet.

Please note that online tests associated with this vacancy are not subject to time limits; for further information visit the Reasonable adjustments for online tests - a candidate guide

Our online test supplier will be performing scheduled maintenance between 1 p.m. and Midnight on 1st March 2026. You will be unable to access tests during this period.

If you are in the middle of a test when the maintenance begins, your progress will be paused. You will be able to resume your test from where you left off via your application centre once the downtime has ended. Please note that you will not be able to launch any new tests while the system is offline.

If you are successful as this stage you will be invited to submit a full application; you will then need to provide a CV and Personal Statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

The CV should cover your previous employment history.

The Personal Statement should be no more than 750 words and demonstrate how you meet the Essential Skills and Experience criteria outlined in the Person Specification section in the job advert.

Sift

We will conduct the sift against your CV and Personal Statement. A score of 1-7 will be provided for each element. Where a high number of applications are received we may conduct an initial sift on the Personal Statement only, those who meet the bar for Personal Statement only will then be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to interview.

Personal Statement Guidance

When completing your Personal Statement, please read and understand the Person Specification thoroughly, as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Please ensure you evidence the key personal qualities and experiences that align with the criteria. Consider the Job Description and look to demonstrate how your previous experience may align with the expectations and be applicable to the role. The written evidence you provide must relate to your own experiences. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. Your Personal Statement will be assessed and scored out of 7 aligned to Success Profile experience scoring rating.

We encourage you to use the full 750-word allowance of the Personal Statement but not to exceed.

You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several essential criteria.

For further guidance and information on how to construct your application (CV and Personal Statement), you are encouraged to visit the Civil Service Careers website. How to write your CV , Civil Service Careers

Interview

If you are invited to interview, Experience and Behaviours will be tested.

The following Behaviours will be assessed at interview:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing

There will be a pre-prepared presentation to be focused on the delivery of a people strategy in a complex organisation. Further details will be provided if you are successful at sift.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Your interview will be conducted virtually via MS Teams.

Further Information

Location

As part of the pre-employment process for this post, successful candidate(s) will be able to agree a contractual workplace from those locations listed in this advert. The agreed contractual workplace is then the substantive and permanent place of work for the successful candidate(s).

Where the location is ‘National’ the successful appointee should discuss and agree an appropriate contractual location in line with both Defra’s location policy and site capacity, prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

Successful applicants currently employed by the hiring Defra organisation for this post may choose to remain in their current contractual location or may choose to change contractual location to one of those listed above. This should be discussed and agreed prior to proceeding with pre-employment processes.

The agreed amount of time spent at a workplace for this post will reflect the requirement for Civil Servants to spend at least 60% of their working time in an organisation workplace with the option to work the remaining time flexibly from home. Working time spent at a workplace may include time spent at other organisational locations including field-based operational locations, together with supplier, customer or partner locations. This is a non-contractual agreement which is consistent with common Civil Service expectations.

Travel costs to non-contractual workplaces will be subject to departmental travel and subsistence policies. Travel costs to contractual workplaces are the responsibility of the employee.

The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time.

Defra includes the core department, APHA, RPA, Cefas and VMD.

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Reserve List

A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made.

Near Miss Candidates

Candidates who are judged to be a near miss at interview may be considered for other positions in Defra which may be at a lower grade but have a potential skills match.

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to Defra from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

Internal Fraud Database Check

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Vetting

Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Reasonable Adjustment

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 need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

Contact Government Recruitment Service via defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Accessibility

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'Contact point for applicants' section.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Feedback

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

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

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

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).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : HR Resourcing Delivery Team
• Email : HRResourcingDelivery@Defra.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact Government Recruitment Services via email: defrarecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: here

Attachments

Candidate Information Pack FINAL Opens in new window (pdf, 1804kB)