HR & Payroll Services Functional Lead.

HR & Payroll Services Functional Lead

Location: Remote (with occasional UK-wide travel)

Type: Permanent

Salary: Competitive Benefits

Sector: Public Sector / Government Services / Digital Transformation

Are you an experienced HR & Payroll shared services leader with deep expertise in service design and delivery?

We're partnering with a major digital transformation programme delivering critical operational services to a large UK public sector client, and this role sits at the heart of its success.

We're looking for a HR & Payroll Services Functional Lead to lead the design, implementation, and transition of a scalable, user-centric HR and Payroll service model as part of a large-scale, multi-phase programme of service insourcing and transformation.

What You'll Be Doing

As the HR & Payroll Functional Lead, you will:

• Lead the creation and delivery of end-to-end service design for HR & Payroll across all phases of the programme
• Shape a high-level operating model aligned with client expectations, technical capabilities, and third-party providers
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team of analysts, SMEs, and client stakeholders to iterate and finalise the service blueprint
• Ensure alignment between service design, ERP system capabilities (e.g., Oracle), and the internal delivery model
• Oversee the development of Standard Operating Procedures and ensure these inform training, testing, and operations planning
• Drive the execution of test strategies and transition activities including service dress rehearsals, parallel run exercises, and live cutover
• Support service stabilisation (hypercare) post-go-live and act as a key point of escalation for issue resolution

Key Responsibilities

• Lead service design for HR & Payroll that balances user needs, compliance, and delivery capability
• Act as a subject matter expert in workshops with the client, third parties, and delivery teams to align service components
• Facilitate service forums and ensure collaborative input from stakeholders on evolving service designs
• Minimise bespoke developments by aligning to "out-of-the-box" solution capabilities wherever possible
• Ensure service design incorporates accessibility standards and government best practices (GDS methodology)
• Support test planning (UAT, BAT) and contribute to training and knowledge transfer materials
• Assist in early operational support including hypercare and floor-walking to ensure smooth adoption of the new service

About You

Essential Experience:

• 5-8 years of hands-on experience in HR & Payroll service design within large-scale shared services or transformation programmes
• Experience leading multi-party, client-facing implementations in a complex, regulated environment (e.g., public sector or government)
• Strong knowledge of service operating models, transition planning, and testing in ERP environments
• Demonstrable experience with Government Digital Service (GDS) methodology and user-centred service design principles
• Skilled in negotiating with stakeholders, facilitating alignment across clients, delivery teams, and technology partners
• Ability to manage phased transitions and adapt service designs for interim or evolving operational states
• Experience participating in or leading design authority and governance forums

Desirable:

• Involvement in the design or implementation of Oracle Fusion ERP solutions
• Strong appreciation of UX, WCAG 2.2 accessibility standards, and inclusive service delivery
• Familiarity with tools such as Wave (for accessibility testing)
• Experience delivering services with major global consulting or system integration partners

Additional Information

• Please note - this role requires active or full eligibility for Security Clearance (Level 2)
• Remote-first role with occasional UK-wide travel to support programme milestones