At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HR Operations, ensuring a seamless colleague experience from hire to retire.
- Company: Join Sysco GB, a leader in food distribution with a focus on HR transformation.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, car allowance, bonus scheme, private healthcare, and flexible work options.
- Other info: Opportunity for growth and to influence company culture as part of a dynamic team.
- Why this job: Shape the future of HR while working in an inclusive, fast-paced environment that values innovation.
- Qualifications: Proven HR leadership experience, especially in operations or shared services, with strong Workday knowledge.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Job Description
Director of HR Operations
Location:Home based with travel to sites and Ashford Customer Support Centre
Package:Competitive salary, car allowance, bonus scheme, private healthcare, and more
Be part of whats next at Sysco GB.
At Sysco GB (Brakes, Fresh Direct, KFF & Medina), weve laid the foundations of a bold HR transformation, investing heavily in people, process, and platforms. With the successful global implementation of Workday, were ready to shift from build to scale. As our Director of HR Operations, youll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of colleague services for our 8,500+ colleagues nationwide.
Reporting directly to the GB HR Director, youll lead a talented team of 25 acrossHR Administration, Payroll, People Analytics & Systems,
Your impact:
As Director of HR Operations, you will:
- Lead & inspirethe HR Operations function to deliver a streamlined, digitally enabled, colleague first experience across the entire hire-to-retire lifecycle
- Champion service deliverythrough continuous improvement, simplification and automation, leveraging our global Workday platform by owning and optimising core HCM processes and user adoption across the GB business
- Accountable for end-end payroll operations across GB, ensuring accurate and timely colleague pay across multiple sites, while maintaining full compliance with legal, regulatory and audit requirements
- Drive shared services maturity, embedding best-practice operations, robust SLA governance and scalable service models that support our fast-moving, customer-centric business
- Optimise people systems, data and insights, ensuring timely, trusted analytics inform decision-making across all levels of the organisation, driving smarter workforce planning and improved business outcomes
- Champion continuous improvement, streamlining policies, simplifying processes and digitising manually tasks to free up HR capacity and improve turnaround times
- Drive operational excellence, leading strong governance across SLAs, KPIs, service quality and risk management, ensuring compliance and consistency in every interaction
- Collaborate cross-functionally, working closely with HR Business Partners, Centres of Excellence, Technology, Change, PMO, Finance and IT to deliver HR programmes and innovation
- Lead HR project delivery, ensuring change is well-executed, people centred and delivers tangible business impact and support transformation, ensuring the function is agile and change ready as the wider business evolves and scales
- Strengthen operational compliance, embedding consistent policies, employment practices and controls in partnership with our CoEs and Legal teams
- Represent HR Operationson key steering groups and external forums, helping shape the broader people agenda across Sysco GB and Sysco International
What youll bring:
Youre a delivery focussed leader with a strong operational expertise and an eye on the future. You will bring:
- Proven leadership in HR Operations or Shared Services functions at scale, ideally within high-paces, multi-site or matrixed environments (experience in retail, distribution, logistics, or FMCG a plus)
- Deep, hands on experience with Workday HCM, with a track record or successfully embedding and optimising system processes, configuration, reporting and user experience (knowledge of Time Tracking and Payroll modules are advantageous)
- Proven experience in end-to-end payroll operations, with a deep understanding of statutory requirements, tax regulations and audit controls (SAP knowledge highly desirable)
- Commercial acumen, influencing skills and the confidence to operate at both strategic and tactical levels
- Demonstrated success inleading operational teams through transformation, with the ability to embed and sustain change
- Inspirational people leadership, coaching and motivating and growing teams while embedding a high performance, customer focused culture
- A modern, progressive HR mindset, always seeking smarter ways to deliver value through digital, data and design thinking
- Resilience, pace and a passion for getting things done well in complex and evolving environments
- Sound understanding of UK employment law, contracts, policy governance and audit/ risk mitigation
Why Sysco GB?
Weve laid the foundations for a modern HR function, digitally enabled, colleague focused and fit for the future. With Workday now in place and a culture built on inclusion, pace and performance, were ready to take HR and the business, from good to great. This is your opportunity to shape what comes next. The scope of this role may evolve over time, with opportunities to take on broader responsibilities in line with business needs an priorities.
We offer flexibility, autonomy and a package designed to reward you, plus award-winning food at near cost price, an inclusive team and a business that believes everyone should have a seat at the table, belong and thrive.
We dont want you to fit our culture, we want you to help shape it.
Director of HR Operations (Ashford) employer: Brakes
At Sysco GB, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that champions flexibility, autonomy, and inclusivity. As the Director of HR Operations, you will lead a talented team in a digitally enabled environment, with ample opportunities for professional growth and development, all while enjoying a competitive salary package and unique benefits like award-winning food at near cost price. Join us in shaping the future of HR and making a meaningful impact across our 8,500+ colleagues nationwide.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Director of HR Operations (Ashford)
✨Join HR Networks
Get involved in HR-specific communities, like the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and local HR meetups. This is a fantastic way to connect with industry professionals and learn about job openings before they even hit job boards!
✨Make Your Presence Known
Attend HR conferences and workshops in your area to network with potential employers. Don't be shy—introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and let them know you're keen on a full-time role in HR. Who knows, you might just land a friendly face at Brakes!
✨Leverage Your University Connections
If you’re a recent grad or still in uni, tap into your career services and alumni network. Many universities have connections with companies looking for HR talent, so get those leads and apply through our website for a smoother application process.
✨Showcase Your HR Passion
Create content around HR topics you’re passionate about, like employee engagement or diversity initiatives. Share articles or insights on LinkedIn to demonstrate your knowledge and get noticed by recruiters. It’s a subtle yet effective way to show you’re the right fit for a full-time role at Brakes.
We think you need these skills to ace Director of HR Operations (Ashford)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your HR Skills:When you’re crafting your CV, make sure you highlight specific HR skills that are relevant to the role at Brakes. Include any experience with recruitment processes, employee relations, or performance management, and don’t forget to mention your familiarity with HR software or tools that could give you an edge.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine, so tailor it to Brakes and the specific HR role. Highlight your passion for people management and how your unique approach can help foster a positive workplace culture. Be sure to sprinkle in examples from your past experiences that illustrate your problem-solving abilities and interpersonal skills.
Include Relevant Certifications:If you’ve got any HR certifications or relevant training under your belt, be sure to showcase them! These qualifications can really set you apart from other candidates when applying for this full-time HR position at Brakes. List them prominently on your CV to catch the hiring manager's eye.
Align with Company Culture:Make sure your application speaks to Brakes's values and culture. Research the company and align your experiences or values with what they stand for. This will show them that you're not only a fit for the role but also for the overall vibe of the team and organisation.
How to prepare for a job interview at Brakes
✨Brush Up on HR Best Practices
As you're diving into human resources, it’s crucial to be well-versed in the latest HR practices and legislation. Get familiar with key topics like employee engagement, talent acquisition, and diversity initiatives, as these could easily pop up in your interview with Brakes.
✨Know Your Recruitment Tools
Most HR roles involve using various recruitment tools and ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems). Make sure you can comfortably discuss platforms like Workday or Greenhouse. If you've had direct experience, share those examples; if not, show your eagerness to learn!
✨Highlight Your People Skills
A full-time HR role at Brakes will require strong interpersonal skills. Prepare to share stories that demonstrate how you’ve successfully navigated conflicts or supported team members in past experiences. Authenticity goes a long way in this field.
✨Stay Current with HR Trends
Being up to speed with current HR trends, like remote working protocols or mental health initiatives, can set you apart. Be ready to discuss how these trends could impact Brakes and how you would contribute to adapting HR strategies.
