R2R103653 - Senior HR Lead - Transactional Services in Southend-on-Sea

Your New Organisation

Southend on Sea City Council is a Unitary local authority, providing vital services to meet the needs of the local community. We employ around 1,800 staff who are working alongside our partners and local communities to deliver the city vision and make lives better for the people of Southend. Working for Southend on Sea City Council offers a challenging and rewarding career in local government within a collaborative and innovative environment, with the benefit of flexible working practices to support a positive work life balance. As a Unitary Authority we are responsible for all local government functions ranging from social services, transport, public health and parks through to planning, trading standards, community safety and education, so we offer a wide range of career opportunities. The diversity of our economy and communities and investment in a number of exciting regeneration projects makes our Council a great place to work, learn and make a difference.

Your new role

Are you ready to lead transformative change at the heart of a dynamic organisation? We’re seeking an experienced Senior HR Transformation Consultant to provide strategic oversight and delivery support across several high impact workstreams. This is a unique opportunity to influence leadership culture, modernise operational processes, and drive digital transformation. The contract is being offered on a flexible (minimum 2 days a week) and temporary basis (minimum 3 months). This consultancy role will provide strategic oversight and delivery support across several critical initiatives, including leadership transformation, ERP implementation, extension of the recruitment contract, and data insights integration. You will work closely with the Head of People & Organisation Culture and the wider HR leadership team to ensure alignment with organisational priorities and cultural change objectives. You’ll guide leadership transformation, advise on operational service redesign, and lead the HR workstream of our ERP transformation programme, ensuring seamless integration with business-as-usual operations. You will also champion operational excellence by improving HR processes such as onboarding, payroll, compliance, and administration—introducing automation, data-driven insights, and streamlined workflows to enhance service delivery. Your expertise will be critical in planning and implementing transitions across multiple service areas, supporting change management and stakeholder engagement. Additionally, you will oversee the evolution of data and analytics functions, enabling smarter, evidence-based decision-making and driving continuous improvement.

What you’ll need to succeed

To thrive in this role, you’ll need a proven track record in leading strategic HR and operational transformation programmes, ideally within local government or complex public sector environments. Strong project management experience, particularly in ERP or digital transformation, is essential, along with deep knowledge of HR operations and the ability to combine analytical, technological, and leadership skills. Experience in procurement strategy and contract management, coupled with excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing ability, will set you apart. Professional standing as a Chartered Fellow of CIPD or equivalent is required.

What you need to do now

If you are interested in this role, please click 'apply online' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV. Please note: Applications for this vacancy may close prior to the date advertised above so you are advised to apply as soon as you are able to. The Council is an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications, regardless of race, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment, marital or civil partner status, pregnancy or maternity, age or religion or belief.