HR Case Manager

On behalf of Defra, we are looking for a HR Case Manager x 3 (Inside IR35/PAYE) until end of March 2027 contract based REMOTELY.

In the Defra group, we deal with a vast range of issues that profoundly impact on people’s lives. We are responsible for England’s environment, our countryside and rural economy, the food and farming sectors and have lead responsibility for protection from a wide range of natural threats and hazards. We have developed a set of three strategic objectives covering our policy outcomes and corporate objectives. These objectives help us to deliver our ambitious vision to build our green and healthy future and provide a framework for all the important work we carry out.

Our objectives are:

• To pass on to the next generation a natural environment protected and enhanced for the future. 
• To lead the world in food, farming, and fisheries with a sustainable model of food production. 
• To be an outstanding organisation focused on making a difference, with world class delivery capability.

Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs www.gov.uk. 

25 Year Environment Plan - GOV.UK www.gov.uk .

As a HR Case Manager, your main responsibilities will be:

• Manage complex employee relations cases, including misconduct, grievances.
• Provide expert HR advice and coaching to managers and senior leaders. 
• Assess risks and evidence to support fair and legally compliant outcomes. 
• Work with key stakeholders, including HR, Legal and external providers. 
• Analyse casework trends and identify service improvement opportunities. 
• Develop HR guidance, templates, tools and manager resources. 
• Support implementation of the Worker Protection Act and related training. 
• Contribute to continuous improvement of HR casework services.

Essential:

• Candidates should have significant experience of managing complex and high-risk HR casework, with a strong understanding of employment law, HR policy and the legal, reputational, safeguarding and organisational risks associated with sensitive cases. 
• They will need strong analytical and professional judgement, with the ability to assess evidence, identify risks and provide clear, proportionate and defensible advice and recommendations. 
• Excellent written and verbal communication, coaching and stakeholder-management skills will be important, including the confidence to work with and appropriately challenge senior leaders and stakeholders. 
• Candidates should also have experience of planning and delivering HR services, improvements or targeted interventions, translating identified business needs, casework insights and emerging trends into practical solutions. 
• They should be able to plan activity, identify priorities and stakeholders, develop appropriate interventions and support implementation, while considering how improvements can be embedded into the wider service.
• They should be able to use casework data, customer feedback and lessons from complex cases to identify themes and opportunities for improvement, and contribute to the development of practical tools, guidance, learning or other interventions that improve manager capability and customer outcomes. 
• Candidates will also need excellent organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, take ownership of work and deliver at pace, while working collaboratively and flexibly across HR and the wider business. CIPD Level 5 or equivalent relevant experience.

Please be aware that this role can only be worked within the UK and not Overseas.

Disability Confident 

As a Disability Confident employer, Defra encourage applications from disabled and neurodivergent candidates. Applications from candidates who identify as having a disability and meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance. 

Armed Forces Covenant 

As a signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, Defra welcome applications from veterans, service leavers, reservists and military spouses or partners. Applications from eligible candidates who meet the essential criteria for the role will be prioritised for review. Where application volumes are high, additional role-specific and desirable criteria may be applied as part of the shortlisting process which may include holding active security clearance.

In applying for this role, you acknowledge the following "this role falls in scope of the Off Payroll Working in the Public Sector legislation. Any rates of payment quoted will reflect the gross rate per day for the assignment and will be subject to appropriate taxes and statutory costs. As such the payment to the intermediary and your income resulting from this contract will be different".