JOB PURPOSE

Lead the end-to-end delivery of a complex HR system implementation project by managing all phases of the project lifecycle and collaborating with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring the organisation secures a cost-effective, sustainable solution that enhances operational effectiveness across multiple functions and supports future workforce management needs

DIMENSIONS

This role will:

• not have direct reports
• not hold a budget; it will manage a project budget of circa £1 million
• plan several months ahead and align with a longer-term strategic plan
• be predominantly office based with hybrid working options

MAIN ACCOUNTABILITIES OF THE POST

Lead the end-to-end HR systems transformation project, from business case development and procurement through to implementation and optimisation, establishing effective governance and oversight to deliver an integrated system that meets organisational requirements.

Manage project budgets, resources and third-party contracts throughout the project lifecycle by monitoring expenditure, forecasting costs and assessing resource requirements, ensuring effective financial control to mitigate risk, maximise return on investment and support successful project delivery.

Manage the procurement, evaluation and selection of an appropriate HR system by developing robust requirement specifications, supporting the tender processes, managing risks and dependencies and leading contract mobilisation to ensure value for money.

Establish best practice governance and maintain programme governance frameworks, including reporting, decision-making and escalation processes throughout the project lifecycle by identifying, assessing and mitigating risks, issues and dependencies to ensure effective programme control, minimise disruption and support successful delivery.

Lead the implementation of an in-house payroll solution as part of the HRIS system, ensuring alignment with HR processes, organisational requirements and the overall system transformation programme by ensuring payroll operations, controls and system functionality are compliant, efficient and aligned with legislative requirements and organisational needs to enable a smooth transition and sustainable service delivery.

Collaborate with HR and IT teams to lead data migration, system testing and business readiness activities during the transition to a new integrated HR and payroll system, ensuring data quality and integrity are maintained to support a seamless implementation, successful go-live and minimal operational disruption

Lead the development and delivery of communication, training and stakeholder engagement activities by creating user guides, reference materials and process documentation, ensuring successful adoption of new HR systems, building user confidence and enabling the effective and sustainable use of new processes and technology across the organisation.

Build and maintain effective relationships with senior internal and external stakeholders by providing regular programme updates, managing expectations and securing engagement, ensuring successful project delivery, organisational buy-in and long-term adoption of outcomes.

Maintain effective relationships with system suppliers by managing ongoing service delivery, resolving issues and driving continuous system improvements, ensuring the HR system remains reliable, efficient and aligned with organisational needs following implementation.

WORK CONTEXT

The People and Culture directorate provide a range of people focused support services to the wider business that include recruitment, people services, EDI and ongoing development. This role will provide support and project guidance and management for a new HR systems incorporating HR and Payroll.

AUTONOMY AND DECISION-MAKING

The role will follow company policies and procedures and write project processes.

Decisions this role will make:

• Define project scope, priorities and implementation approach
• Determine how HR processes, workflows, security roles, reporting structures, and user permissions should be configured within the system
• Project risks, issues, and stakeholder change requests, making informed decisions to minimise disruption, maintain project objectives.

Decisions this role will refer:

• Additional project budget sign off
• Approval for out of scope task

MAIN AREAS OF DIFFICULTY

• Leading a large-scale system implementation and upgrade involving complex integrations with payroll, recruitment, learning, people management, and other business systems.
• Making decisions in situations where requirements, resources, or organisational priorities may change during the project lifecycle.
• Managing significant data migration, cleansing, and governance activities while ensuring compliance with data protection legislation and information security requirements.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED FOR THE POST

Essential:

• Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience in HR, Project Management, Business Change or a related discipline.
• Recognised project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2 Practitioner, APMP, MSP, Agile Practitioner, or equivalent).
• Proven experience leading large-scale HR systems implementation or transformation projects from initiation through to delivery, including procurement and supplier management negotiations experience
• Knowledge of UK employment legislation, GDPR requirements, payroll processes and HR/payroll system interfaces.
• Proven experience of translating business and HR requirements into technology solutions, delivering complex HR projects and change programmes, including governance, risk, budget and benefits realisation.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication and facilitation skills, with a track record of delivering projects on time, within budget and present and facilitate effectively across a range of audiences
• Effective stakeholder management skills, with experience of engaging, influencing and building effective relationships across a range of stakeholders, including Trade Unions.

Desirable:

• Welsh language skills