At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead HR operations, ensuring efficient support for managers and employees throughout the employee lifecycle.
- Company: Join Chesterfield Borough Council, a supportive and community-focused organisation.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive leave, pension scheme, and staff discounts.
- Other info: Great career growth opportunities in a friendly team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by improving HR services and supporting your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in HR operations and strong leadership skills required.
The predicted salary is between 41771 - 45091 £ per year.
Salary details: £41,771 to £45,091 per annum
Job term: permanent
Appointment type: full time
Hours: 37 hours per week
Location: Town Hall with hybrid working (2 to 3 days per week in the office)
Department: Human Resources
Candidates must possess the necessary right to work authorisation to enable them to work for Chesterfield Borough Council. Regrettably, we are unable to provide sponsorship or assume sponsorship of an employment visa at this juncture.
About the role
Join Chesterfield Borough Council as our HR operations manager and play a key role in delivering a high-quality, responsive HR service. You’ll lead the day-to-day operation of core HR processes and provide excellent support to managers and employees ensuring our systems, data, payroll interfaces and ways of working are efficient, compliant and customer focused.
Responsibilities
- Manage the end-to-end delivery of HR operational services, ensuring timely, accurate and consistent support across the employee lifecycle.
- Lead and develop the HR operations team, oversee service standards and workload planning, and drive continuous improvement making it easier for managers and employees to do the right thing, first time.
- Lead the day-to-day delivery of HR operational services, ensuring responsive, accurate and customer-focused support for managers and employees.
- Oversee core HR processes across the employee lifecycle (including onboarding, contract changes and leavers), maintaining high standards of accuracy, confidentiality and compliance.
- Manage HR systems, data quality and management information, using insight to improve service performance and support good decision-making.
- Maintain effective working relationships with payroll and key stakeholders to ensure smooth end-to-end processes and timely resolution of queries.
- Lead, coach and develop the HR operations team, embedding clear ways of working, service standards and a culture of continuous improvement.
About you
You’ll be an organised and service-driven HR professional who enjoys improving how things work. You’ll be confident leading a team, setting clear priorities and ensuring high-quality, consistent outcomes balancing pace with accuracy, customer care and attention to detail.
Significant experience in an HR operation, HR advisory or shared services environment, with a track record of delivering high-quality HR processes and customer service.
Proven ability to lead, develop and motivate a team, manage competing priorities and maintain service standards under pressure.
Strong working knowledge of HR systems and data management, with experience improving processes, guidance and user experience.
Excellent attention to detail, with confidence producing and using management information to monitor performance, identify issues and drive improvements.
Why join us?
This is a great opportunity to lead a core service that supports every part of the organisation. You’ll work with a friendly team and a wide range of colleagues to improve service delivery, streamline processes and strengthen confidence in HR support with visible impact for employees, managers and the communities we serve.
As an employee of Chesterfield Borough Council, you will have access to a variety of employee benefits including hybrid working, competitive leave entitlement, the local government pension scheme and access to a range of staff discounts and flexible benefits schemes.
How to apply
Interested candidates should initially apply with their CV and a covering letter stating the job title, and clearly demonstrating suitability and experience for the role. Please send it to hrjobs@chesterfield.gov.uk no later than the closing date shown below. If you don't already have a CV you can use our template below. We also have advice about how to write your cover letter.
Closing date: 17 May 2026
Provisional interview date: week commencing 25 May 2026
HR Operations Manager in Chesterfield employer: Chesterfield Borough Council
Contact Detail:
Chesterfield Borough Council Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HR Operations Manager in Chesterfield
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees at Chesterfield Borough Council on LinkedIn. A friendly chat can give us insider info about the HR operations manager role and might even lead to a referral.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by practising common HR scenarios. Think about how you’d handle onboarding or resolving payroll issues. We want to show that we can think on our feet and provide top-notch support!
✨Tip Number 3
Research the council’s recent projects or initiatives. Knowing what’s happening in Chesterfield will help us tailor our answers and demonstrate our genuine interest in improving HR services.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure our application gets noticed. Plus, we can keep track of our progress and any updates directly from there.
We think you need these skills to ace HR Operations Manager in Chesterfield
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the HR Operations Manager role. Highlight your relevant experience and skills that match the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Be sure to mention specific examples from your past that demonstrate your ability to lead and improve HR processes.
Showcase Your Team Leadership Skills: Since this role involves leading a team, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. Share stories about how you've motivated and developed your team in previous roles. We love seeing candidates who can inspire others!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s super easy, and you’ll be able to keep track of your application status. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to join us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Chesterfield Borough Council
✨Know Your HR Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your HR knowledge, especially around operational processes and compliance. Familiarise yourself with the employee lifecycle and be ready to discuss how you've improved HR services in your previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As an HR Operations Manager, you'll need to lead a team effectively. Prepare examples of how you've motivated and developed your team in the past. Highlight any specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them to maintain service standards.
✨Be Data Savvy
Since the role involves managing HR systems and data quality, be prepared to talk about your experience with HR metrics and management information. Think of instances where you've used data to drive improvements or make informed decisions.
✨Demonstrate Customer Focus
This position requires a strong customer service mindset. Be ready to share examples of how you've provided excellent support to managers and employees. Discuss how you handle queries and ensure a smooth end-to-end process for HR services.