People Operations & Payroll Team Leader

Job summary

We have a fantastic opportunity for an experienced HR & Payroll team leader in our People function, which delivers end to end employee lifecycle services and advice guidance and support to managers. We are going through a period of both growth and transformation, and this role will play a key role in delivering the core People services we need to support that growth and change.

The successful candidate will have responsibility, with the direction of the People Ops manager, for managing the People Operations & Payroll transactional services team, ensuring the effective delivery of the transactional elements people operations service. You will manage and support our team who are the first point of contact for all initial People and Payroll queries. Day to day you will ensure delivery of high quality and efficient services including the Payroll & People Operations Helpdesk, employee onboarding, employee lifecycles processes and our HR Information System.

To be successful in this role you will be suitably qualified and have a well developed understanding of keys areas of people and payroll administration and UK legalisation. In addition you will have:

• A successful track record of delivering people or payroll transactional services in conjunction and collaboration with internal stakeholders
• Demonstrable experience of successfully delivering an operational people and/or payroll service in collaboration with an outsourced payroll provider.
• Experience of delivering process and system improvements
• Experience of successfully organising and directing the work of a small team.
• Demonstrable working knowledge of HR Information and Payroll systems

If you feel you are the ideal candidate for this role, please download the attached job description to find out more.

Closing date: 10th September 2026
Interview date: w/c 21st September 2026

Note: Following unprecedented levels of interest in our vacancies, we reserve the right to close the role early. We intend on closing this role immediately if / when we receive 100 applications. We therefore strongly recommend that you apply as soon as possible.

The postholder should strive at all times to adhere to the Housing Ombudsman Service values of learning, excellence, openness, and fairness.

HOS is committed to equality of opportunity in all its practices, policies, and procedures. It is our intention to promote a working environment that is free from harassment, bullying, victimisation or discrimination, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We expect all staff to behave respectfully with courtesy and consideration, whilst carrying out their duties.

At HOS we have a Conflicts of Interest policy, designed to protect the integrity of the HOS decision-making process, to enable our stakeholders to have confidence in our integrity, and to protect the reputation of staff and non-executive members. All new staff and non-executive members of HOS should declare immediately and take actions to avoid any conflict of interest

If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, please email recruitment@housing-ombudsman.org.uk

Job description

The HR & Payroll team leader role sits within the People function of the Housing Ombudsman Service which is responsible for delivering end to end employee lifecycle services and advice guidance and support to managers.

The postholder will have responsibility with the direction of the People Ops manager for line managing the People Operations & Payroll transactional services team, ensuring the effective delivery of the transactional elements people operations service.

Person specification

To be successful in this role you will be suitably qualified and have a well developed understanding of keys areas of people and payroll administration and UK legalisation. In addition you will have:

• A successful track record of delivering people or payroll transactional services in conjunction and collaboration with internal stakeholders
• Demonstrable experience of successfully delivering an operational people and/or payroll service in collaboration with an outsourced payroll provider.
• Experience of delivering process and system improvements
• Experience of successfully organising and directing the work of a small team.
• Demonstrable working knowledge of HR Information and Payroll systems

Benefits

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension

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

If you feel you are the ideal candidate for this role, please download the attached job description to find out more.

Closing date: 10th September 2026
Interview date: w/c 21st September 2026

Note: Following unprecedented levels of interest in our vacancies, we reserve the right to close the role early. We intend on closing this role immediately if / when we receive 100 applications. We therefore strongly recommend that you apply as soon as possible.

The postholder should strive at all times to adhere to the Housing Ombudsman Service values of learning, excellence, openness, and fairness.

HOS is committed to equality of opportunity in all its practices, policies, and procedures. It is our intention to promote a working environment that is free from harassment, bullying, victimisation or discrimination, where everyone is treated with dignity and respect. We expect all staff to behave respectfully with courtesy and consideration, whilst carrying out their duties.

At HOS we have a Conflicts of Interest policy, designed to protect the integrity of the HOS decision-making process, to enable our stakeholders to have confidence in our integrity, and to protect the reputation of staff and non-executive members. All new staff and non-executive members of HOS should declare immediately and take actions to avoid any conflict of interest

If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, please email recruitment@housing-ombudsman.org.uk

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.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.

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

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 : Recruitment
• Email : recruitment@housing-ombudsman.org.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@housing-ombudsman.org.uk

Further information

Housing Ombudsman

Attachments

People Operations & Payroll team leader Opens in new window (docx, 77kB)