Head of Payroll & Recruitment

Main Accountabilities:

·       Leadership

As a senior leader within the council, the postholder will take collective responsibility for driving cross‑council initiatives, ensuring that change is embedded in a sustainable and effective way, while providing visible corporate leadership that enables staff to understand and contribute to the organisation’s strategic objectives. The role will lead and be accountable for the delivery, performance and continuous improvement of the service, directing activity both internally and externally, translating strategic priorities into clear operational plans, and fostering a high‑performing culture built on professionalism, capability, accountability and consistent standards.

·       Resources/Financial Management

Lead and hold accountability for robust financial management across the service, driving effective budget control and ensuring the council consistently achieves value for money from its expenditure. Champion and drive the development of outcome‑focused commissioning and commercial approaches, identifying and delivering opportunities that improve efficiency, strengthen accountability for outcomes, and support the council’s wider financial and service delivery objectives.

•             Service leadership and Management

Lead and hold accountability for the effective leadership and performance of the service, setting clear standards, expectations and direction to drive delivery and continuous improvement. Provide strong, visible leadership that builds capability, develops professional expertise and fosters a high‑performing culture characterised by accountability, consistent standards and a proactive, “can‑do” approach.

• Strategy Development

Lead the development and delivery of a clear strategic direction for the service, aligning service priorities with the Council’s wider objectives and future challenges. Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to innovate, modernise and enhance service delivery, embedding a culture that values efficiency, performance, adaptability and sustainable outcomes.

·         Partners and stakeholders

Build and maintain effective working relationships with internal stakeholders, local partners and relevant external organisations to support the delivery of high‑quality HR operational services. Engage and influence across the Council to ensure alignment between HR Operations and service needs, fostering collaborative working that supports joined‑up service delivery, improves efficiency and contributes to reducing organisational demand.

• Business Change

Lead and drive the delivery of change and improvement activity across the service, implementing and embedding effective ways of working that enhance performance, efficiency and customer experience. Actively contribute to the development of a positive and consistent corporate culture by aligning service delivery with organisational priorities and identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and support cost savings.

• Compliance

Lead and hold accountability for compliance within the service, ensuring all activities operate in line with the Council’s Constitution, Standing Orders, financial regulations, health and safety requirements and safeguarding responsibilities. Own the management of risk and performance within the service, ensuring robust systems, controls and governance arrangements are in place and operating effectively.

• Equality and Diversity

Uphold and promote the aims of the council’s equality and diversity policies to ensure non

Discriminatory practices in all aspects of work, and that diversity is embedded in everything,

from workforce planning and policy development to service delivery.

Specific responsibilities 

• Lead and hold full accountability for Payroll and Recruitment , setting clear direction, priorities and performance expectations; notably to support Executive areas to workforce plan effectively and reduce reliance on interims.
• Working within a tight budget envelope, developing an employee value proposition, supporting the recruitment and retention of staff.
• Own service delivery, performance outcomes and customer experience across payroll, recruitment and employee lifecycle services, ensuring consistent, high‑quality and efficient delivery.
• Drive continuous service improvement, embedding best practice, strengthening operational discipline and delivering measurable gains in efficiency, consistency and quality.
• Hold full accountability for the delivery of payroll services, ensuring accuracy, timeliness and full compliance with all statutory, regulatory and audit requirements.
• Own the payroll control environment, proactively managing risk, strengthening governance and safeguarding financial integrity.
• Lead the ongoing modernisation and optimisation of payroll systems and processes to improve efficiency, reduce manual intervention and enhance resilience.
• Lead and direct the recruitment service, owning end‑to‑end delivery from attraction through to onboarding. Drive recruitment strategies that align with workforce planning priorities, reduce reliance on agency and interim staffing, and improve organisational capability.
• Hold accountability for recruitment performance, ensuring pace, quality and responsiveness, and embedding a culture of ownership and delivery within the service.
• Lead talent and capability development across Payroll and Recruitment, proactively identifying skills gaps, building internal capability and developing succession pipelines to ensure sustainable, high‑quality service delivery.
• Provide strong, visible leadership across the Payroll and Recruitment teams, holding accountability for performance, capability and delivery. Set clear expectations, standards and objectives, actively managing performance to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Lead workforce planning within the service, ensuring resources are effectively deployed, capability is developed and delivery is sustainable.
• Lead the operational delivery of HR strategy, translating council priorities into effective and deliverable service plans.
• Drive transformation across Payroll and Recruitment, embedding improved ways of working that enhance efficiency, service quality and employee experience.
• Shape and implement demand management approaches that reduce pressure on HR services and enable focus on higher‑value activity.
• Own the design, development and optimisation of HR operational systems, including payroll and recruitment platforms, driving digital and process transformation, increasing automation, self‑service and system integration to improve efficiency and user experience.
• Lead the commissioning, procurement and management of external suppliers, holding full accountability for contract performance, delivery and value for money. Drive commercial approaches that improve outcomes, reduce cost and ensure the effective delivery of HR services, whilst managing supplier relationships to ensure performance standards are met and risks are mitigated.
• Own governance, risk and compliance , ensuring all activity aligns with statutory, regulatory and organisational requirements. Actively identify, assess and mitigate risk, particularly in relation to payroll and recruitment services, maintaining robust control environments and assurance mechanisms. Provide clear and timely assurance to the Director of HR on service performance, compliance and risk.
• Act as the senior operational HR lead for payroll and recruitment services, providing clear leadership and direction across the council, Influencing and constructively challenging senior stakeholders to drive effective decision‑making and impro