People Impacts and Delivery Lead

Job summary

At DSIT we’re all about improving people’s lives by maximising the potential of science & technology.

We accelerate innovation, investment and productivity through world-class science, research and development.

We use technology for good by ensuring new and existing technologies are safely developed and deployed across the UK, with the benefits more widely shared.

We are driving forward a modern digital government which gives citizens a more satisfying experience and their time back.

We do all this to enable the Government’s 5 national missions: kickstarting economic growth, making Britain a clean energy superpower, taking back our streets, breaking down barriers to opportunity and building an NHS fit for the future.

Above all, we focus on improving people’s lives. Whether it’s researching new treatments for disease, developing better batteries, reducing burdens through better public services, keeping children safe online, and much more, outcomes for citizens are at the heart of what we do.

Our Inclusive Environment

We offer flexible working benefits, employee well-being support and a great pension. We are enormously proud to be a Disability Confident Leader employer. We support candidates with adjustments throughout our recruitment process. Information about disability confidence and just some examples of the adjustments that you can request can be found in the reasonable adjustment section below.

Please note

Former DSIT recruitment campaigns are continuing as usual, but candidates should be aware that following the Government’s announcement on the changes to some civil service departments, roles will be subject to the machinery of government moves and will ultimately be in one of the new departments. We will provide more information if you are selected for a role. This work remains of high importance to the civil service, and we thank you for your continued interest.

Job description

The Matrix Programme is a transformation initiative involving 7 Departments (listed at end). It is a unique cross-government collaboration that will unlock simpler, better, and more joined up working by bringing together the systems, processes, and ways of working for key government functions such as HR, Finance or Procurement, commonly known as Shared Services.

The Programme is part of the Shared Services Team within DSIT, a fantastic team passionate about improving the existing shared services experience for DSIT and its partners, whilst working to deliver the strategic objectives of the Government Shared Services Strategy, which are:

1. Better experience for all users - intuitive systems that are easy to use and mobile-enabled.

2. Efficiency and value for money - better systems and services which support productivity and seek to reduce costs.

3. Standardised processes and data - support interoperability, making it easier to understand and compare corporate data.

Over the coming months we’ll be preparing to roll out Neo, our powerful new HR and Finance technology and service for the Matrix cluster - driving a more modern, digital government. Neo is a cloud-based system, powered by Workday that will replace legacy HR and finance technology and offline processes. Designed to streamline administrative activities and promote intuitive self-service, Neo is enabling time back to focus on what we value the most – serving the public. Moreover, Neo’s adoption means we are harnessing the power of shared technology at scale. This unified way of working delivers better, more accurate data - eliminating errors, creating one trusted source of truth and accurate reporting. Neo is more than just a new system; it’s enabling us to be data-led, to work smarter, respond faster and deliver services that truly meet the needs of the public.

The Departments forming the Matrix Programme include: Cabinet Office (CO), Department for Science Innovation and Technology (DSIT), Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS), Department for Business Trade (DBT), Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), Department for Education (DfE), and His Majesty's Treasury (HMT).

The People Impacts and Delivery Lead role will form part of the core Matrix programme team, working with and on behalf of seven departments across the cluster to deliver the introduction of modern technologies, services and ways of working. As we prepare to onboard departments to the new service, we are looking for an established HR professional, knowledgeable and experienced in Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment (TUPE) and Cabinet Office Statement of Practice (COSoP) transfers to work as part of a small team to lead and guide the delivery of the people impacts of a major change programme, ensuring that staff transfers are managed effectively, sensitively and in line with best practice. You will support, guide and enable Departmental Teams to deliver the change that is necessary to support Programme timescales and standards.

You will have the opportunity to take ownership of significant pieces of work and develop your expertise within wider HR specialisms. The role offers strong development potential, including exposure to programme governance, working with cross government HR networks and involvement in major programme decision-making, making it well suited to someone looking to broaden their experience in large scale transformation and people impact delivery.

You will work directly with departments to support their readiness for change and the transition of staff into the Neo Centre Office (NCO) and UKSBS. Working within the HR Assurance Team, you will collaborate closely with stakeholders across the programme, including the core Programme Team, departmental HR and Employee Relations leads, Integrated Corporate Services and UKSBS, helping to ensure a consistent and effective approach to people transition across the cluster.

Person specification

You will:

• Act as the skilled point of reference on staff transfers (TUPE/COSoP), ensuring that people impacts are managed sensitively and in line with best practice and legal requirements. You will know when and where to support, intervene, consult and seek legal guidance in support of the Departmental teams who will themselves deliver the staff transfers.
• Work with departmental HR, Employee Relations and Change teams to develop and implement tailored people transition plans.
• Provide advice and briefing to senior stakeholders on people impacts, including consultation requirements and approach to workforce changes.
• Represent the programme at governance forums, working groups and stakeholder meetings, ensuring people impacts are clearly understood and appropriately managed. You will be comfortable mediating effective delivery outcomes amongst stakeholders with occasionally differing timelines and agenda.
• Work closely with the programme Employee Relations & HR Lead to manage any employee relations issues arising from TUPE/COSoP transfers.
• Lead the development of consultation and engagement materials for staff, trade unions and wider stakeholders, working across departments and the programme team.
• Manage the broader People Transition and HR assurance workplan, tracking progress, managing risks and issues, and ensuring alignment with wider programme activity.
• Lead preparation for key governance forums, (including HR Director-level meetings), ensuring papers, briefings and decisions are well managed and supported.
• Build and maintain strong relationships across departments and clusters, ensuring a consistent and coordinated approach to people impacts.
• Provide wider HR expertise and support across the Matrix HR Assurance Team, contributing to the successful delivery of programme outcomes.

Essential Criteria

• We are looking for someone with proven experience leading Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations (TUPE) and Cabinet Office Statement of Practice (COSoP) activity.
• You will bring a strong, practical understanding of UK employment law, as it applies to TUPE and COSoP regulations and experience of managing transfers against critical delivery timelines, including escalating risks through formal governance structures.
• We are looking for someone who is a strong collaborator, with the ability to influence at all levels with credibility and confidence to deliver effectively whilst maintaining good relationships.
• You should have already achieved or be working towards MCIPD membership.
• You must be able to demonstrate experience working across complex stakeholder landscapes.
• You will have a good working understanding of trade union consultation and negotiation requirements.
• Candidates will have strong reporting skills, with a keen eye for detail, ensuring effective and efficient reporting of activity whilst suggesting mitigations for obstacles and blockers.
• You must be skilled in risk management, proactively anticipating potential issues, and developing contingency plans.​
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Desirable Criteria

• You will possess HR experience and expertise (ideally across a range of specialisms) with the ability to confidently speak and advise on wider HR / people matters.
• Ability to work in a rapidly evolving, ambiguous environment, with shifting priorities.

Memberships

Achieved or be working towards MCIPD membership.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £56,850, Department for Science, Innovation & Technology contributes

£16,469 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology offers a competitive mix of benefits including:

• A culture of flexible working, such as job sharing, homeworking and compressed hours.
• Automatic enrolment into the Civil Service Pension Scheme , with an employer contribution of 28.97%.
• A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by 1 day per year up to a maximum of 30.
• An extensive range of learning & professional development opportunities, which all staff are actively encouraged to pursue.
• Access to a range of retail, travel and lifestyle employee discounts.

Office attendance

The Department operates a discretionary hybrid working policy, which provides for a combination of working hours from your place of work and from your home in the UK. The current expectation for staff is to attend the office or non-home based location for 40-60% of the time over the accounting period.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window) , and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Please use your personal statement (in no more than 750 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essent