People Operations Lead

We offer great flexible working opportunities, and have offices in Belfast, Cardiff and York. Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not overseas. Travel within the UK will be required on an occasional basis, possibly with overnight stays.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is a non-ministerial department of over 1600 people. We play a critical role in protecting public health and consumers’ wider interests in food across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our vision is an important one - to drive change, delivering “food you can trust” and working towards a healthier and more sustainable food system.

Are you ready to lead a dynamic team at the heart of the FSA? We’re looking for an experienced and inspiring People Operations Lead to help shape the future of our newly formed People Operations function.

At the FSA, we’re proud of the impact we make every day. Our People Operations team is central to that mission – delivering exceptional, customer-focused support across the full employee lifecycle. From onboarding to payroll, from first line policy advice to system development, we keep the FSA running smoothly and our people supported.

As Our New People Operations Lead, You’ll:

• Lead a large, collaborative team through a period of exciting transformation
• Drive the development of our HR systems and processes to meet evolving customer needs
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, wellbeing, and inclusivity
• Build strong relationships across the agency to deliver strategic people priorities
• Be a visible, confident leader who brings people together to get things done

We’re Looking For Someone With:

• Extensive experience in people operations and employee lifecycle delivery
• A track record of leading high-performing teams and managing resources effectively
• Expertise in HR systems development and data integrity
• Excellent communication and influencing skills
• MCIPD or Level 5 Associate Diploma in People Management

If you’re passionate about people, thrive in a fast-paced environment, and want to make a real difference – we’d love to hear from you.

Working pattern guidance:

Applicants who wish to work compressed hours are welcome to apply - however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

Qualifications:

• MCIPD OR Associate Diploma level 5 Qualified

Technical skills:

We will assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

• MCIPD OR Associate Diploma level 5 Qualified and the commitment to achieving Chartered Membership within 12 months
• Thorough understanding of employment legislation and how this directly links to people operations, with in-depth knowledge of HR policies and processes.

Alongside your salary of £56,037, Food Standards Agency contributes £16,233 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides. Our candidate pack details the benefits that the FSA has to offer.

Selection process details:

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Ability, Experience and Technical skills. Full details of the selection process are detailed in the attached candidate pack.

Application and shortlisting:

You will be asked to provide personal details (not seen by the Panel) and to confirm your eligibility to apply for the role.

Ability:

You will be asked to complete an online test and, if successful, will proceed to the rest of the application.

Technical:

You will be asked a question to confirm that you meet the Technical requirements of the role. MCIPD OR Associate Diploma Level 5. If you cannot answer yes to this question – you will not be able to proceed further with your application.

You will then be asked to complete an application which will be used to assess you against the following essential criteria.

Experience:

Essential criteria:

• Extensive experience of working in a people operations environment responsible for the delivery of the full employee life cycle.
• Experience in the development of HR systems.
• Previous experience of leading a people operations function, actively and effectively manage workload and resources to drive delivery, while being inclusive and prioritising team wellbeing.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to influence and engage, to bring together individuals from across the business to deliver key objectives.

Technical:

MCIPD OR Associate Diploma level 5 Qualified and the commitment to achieving Chartered Membership within 12 months. Thorough understanding of employment legislation and how this directly links to people operations, with in-depth knowledge of HR policies and processes.

Interview:

If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in which we will assess you against the following Experience / Technical requirements of the role.

Assessment exercise:

As part of the interview process, you will be asked to take part in a Staff Engagement Exercise and undertake a briefing exercise. Further information will be provided to you in the invitation to interview email.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):

You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application or used during interview, including your CV and any statements or examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Expected Timeline:

Advert closes: 23rd June 2025. Sift: Expected to take place week commencing 23rd June. Staff engagement exercise and final panel interview: Expected to take place week commencing 7th July and 14th July. Interviews and Staff Engagement Exercise will be held remotely via MS Teams.

Childcare Vouchers:

Any move to the Food Standards Agency from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare.

Reserve List:

A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made. Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

Visa Sponsorship:

Please note that the FSA does not hold a licence to sponsor any visa applications and we are unable to provide any advice about visas. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security:

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Nationality requirements:

This Job Is Broadly Open To The Following Groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Working for the Civil Service:

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants. We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities.

Diversity and Inclusion:

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found.

Contact point for applicants:

Job Contact: Name: Nicky Allen Email: nicky.allen@food.gov.uk

Recruitment team Email: hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk