Our HR Function plays a critical role within Defra Group. We are responsible for developing and delivering the Group People Strategy and Plan to build and sustain a high performing workforce, empowered to deliver against our organisational priorities in an inclusive, ambitious and engaging environment.
To deliver our professional and expert end-to-end HR service, Defra Group HR partners with Defra, Rural Payments Agency, Environment Agency, Animal & Plant Health Agency, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, and Natural England, as well as many other delivery partners, which includes Civil Service and public service bodies.
The HR function is structured across 3 pillars of delivery: HR Business Partnering, HR Expert Services and HR Operations. This role sits within HR Digital and Automation in the wider HR Operations space and has a specific focus on reporting, governance and delivery assurance within the wider Synergy Programme.
This post reports to the G6 HR Senior Programme Manager and is one of two G7 roles within the HR Synergy delivery team. The role owns the HR Synergy delivery roadmap and planning architecture - the forward-looking view that shows where HR is heading, what the major decision points are, and how delivery is sequenced. Because Synergy is the dominant transformational programme for HR, this roadmap serves as the primary reference point that the Change Portfolio Lead and other HR programmes use when aligning their own plans to Synergy's transformational timeline.
The post-holder will lead the development and maintenance of the HR Synergy delivery roadmap - a rolling view showing minor and major Target Operating Model inflection points, interim state transitions, readiness milestones, and go-live decision points. They will map the major decisions on the horizon, including Synergy go-live timing considerations, readiness change requirements, and interim versus end-state TOM transitions, ensuring these are visible and flagged in good time for senior decision-making.
Critically, the role also provides assurance over the Business Change Management support HR receives from the team, acting as the day-to-day HR counterpart to the BCM function at G7 peer level, monitoring the quality of change impact assessments, readiness activities, and stakeholder engagement, and identifying where support falls short.
Synergy is a major GMPP cross-government programme with a budget of approximately £300 million, delivering digital transformation across DWP, Home Office, MoJ and Defra. Within Defra group, the programme will fundamentally reshape how HR services are delivered to core Defra and seven Arms' Length Bodies, ultimately affecting over 30,000 employees.
Synergy's Mission:The mission is to simplify and enhance the delivery of corporate services in government with an outcome to make working lives easier. This results in crucial support which delivers crucial services through the provision of smarter, faster, and more intuitive systems designed around user needs.
Synergy's Objectives:The post-holder will take a senior role in the delivery of Synergy for Defra HR. This will include both line management and deputising for G6/DD at regular times, as well as being a visible 'Face of Synergy' within Defra and across government.
Proud member of the Disability Confident employer scheme
Company: Government Recruitment Service Salary: £56,375 - £69,105 Hours: Full-time Location: York Job type: Permanent Posting date: 21 Aug 2026 Closing date: 30 Aug 2026
About Disability Confident Disability Confident is a government scheme. It encourages employers to recruit and retain disabled people and those with long term health conditions.
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