Oxfordshire County Council

Head of HR Operations

The closing date is 25 November 2025

Job summary

Your effective coaching and mentoring style will ensure that your team can learn from the breadth of your experience. The scale of this role cannot be underestimated, with a very busy recruitment team, building new systems and processes, driving both the use of AI and data and insights, dashboards and reporting as well as establishing an effective help desk all with a focus on driving manager self-service to be fit for the future. Your insights into the effective management and delivery of employee relations will ensure that our people are supported, understand what is required of them and our managers lead with a focus on getting the best from our employees. This means thinking differently about our approach to employee relations, ensuring that mediation and informal resolution are used effectively to help build trust and positive working relationships.

Main duties of the job

We are gearing up for Local Government Reorganisation and doing things differently will mean modernising everything that we do and everything that we deliver and truly putting people at the heart of our organisation. This role is not just an ordinary Head of HR Operations, you will be a key member of the HR leadership team and exposed to decision making at the highest levels of the organisation. You will shape and influence the strategic focus and provide insights into HR operations to become an effective partner to the organisation. Working alongside the HR Director you will ensure that HR solutions are recognised as modern, effective and innovative.

About us

For more details about the role, please refer to the attached information pack. Its designed to give you a real sense of what its like to work at Oxfordshire County Council, outline the role in detail, and help you prepare a strong application. Youll also find the job description and our People and Culture Strategy included.

Details

Date posted

13 November 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£85,682 to £96,260 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

VP531635B7

Job locations

Oxford

OX1 1ND


Job description

Job responsibilities

Do you believe in delivering dynamic HR services and doing things differently to achieve great impact on your organisation?

We are looking for a forward-thinking seasoned Human Resources (HR) professional who can challenge the status quo and understands the complexities of HR operations in a very large organisation.

We are gearing up for Local Government Reorganisation and doing things differently will mean modernising everything that we do and everything that we deliver and truly putting people at the heart of our organisation. This role is not just an ordinary Head of HR Operations, you will be a key member of the HR leadership team and exposed to decision making at the highest levels of the organisation.

You will shape and influence the strategic focus and provide insights into HR operations to become an effective partner to the organisation. Working alongside the HR Director you will ensure that HR solutions are recognised as modern, effective and innovative.

Your effective coaching and mentoring style will ensure that your team can learn from the breadth of your experience.The scale of this role cannot be underestimated, with a very busy recruitment team, building new systems and processes, driving both the use of AI and data and insights, dashboards and reporting as well as establishing an effective help desk all with a focus on driving manager self-service to be fit for the future.

Your insights into the effective management and delivery of employee relations will ensure that our people are supported, understand what is required of them and our managers lead with a focus on getting the best from our employees. This means thinking differently about our approach to employee relations, ensuring that mediation and informal resolution are used effectively to help build trust and positive working relationships.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Jan Cox (Interim Head of HR Operations) on janet.cox@oxfordshire.gov.uk

For more details about the role, please refer to the attached information pack.Its designed to give you a real sense of what its like to work at Oxfordshire County Council, outline the role in detail, and help you prepare a strong application. Youll also find the job description and our People and Culture Strategy included.

Join the team and make an impact.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Do you believe in delivering dynamic HR services and doing things differently to achieve great impact on your organisation?

We are looking for a forward-thinking seasoned Human Resources (HR) professional who can challenge the status quo and understands the complexities of HR operations in a very large organisation.

We are gearing up for Local Government Reorganisation and doing things differently will mean modernising everything that we do and everything that we deliver and truly putting people at the heart of our organisation. This role is not just an ordinary Head of HR Operations, you will be a key member of the HR leadership team and exposed to decision making at the highest levels of the organisation.

You will shape and influence the strategic focus and provide insights into HR operations to become an effective partner to the organisation. Working alongside the HR Director you will ensure that HR solutions are recognised as modern, effective and innovative.

Your effective coaching and mentoring style will ensure that your team can learn from the breadth of your experience.The scale of this role cannot be underestimated, with a very busy recruitment team, building new systems and processes, driving both the use of AI and data and insights, dashboards and reporting as well as establishing an effective help desk all with a focus on driving manager self-service to be fit for the future.

Your insights into the effective management and delivery of employee relations will ensure that our people are supported, understand what is required of them and our managers lead with a focus on getting the best from our employees. This means thinking differently about our approach to employee relations, ensuring that mediation and informal resolution are used effectively to help build trust and positive working relationships.

For a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Jan Cox (Interim Head of HR Operations) on janet.cox@oxfordshire.gov.uk

For more details about the role, please refer to the attached information pack.Its designed to give you a real sense of what its like to work at Oxfordshire County Council, outline the role in detail, and help you prepare a strong application. Youll also find the job description and our People and Culture Strategy included.

Join the team and make an impact.

Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential

  • Please refer to job description above

Desirable

  • Please refer to job description above
Person Specification

General Requirements

Essential

  • Please refer to job description above

Desirable

  • Please refer to job description above

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

Oxfordshire County Council

Address

Oxford

OX1 1ND


Employer's website

https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Oxfordshire County Council

Address

Oxford

OX1 1ND


Employer's website

https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Recruiter

Harry Bradbury

VP531635B7.1286@vacancyposter.com

01865816000

Details

Date posted

13 November 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£85,682 to £96,260 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

VP531635B7

Job locations

Oxford

OX1 1ND


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