HR / Project Manager

On behalf of Food Standards Agency we are looking for an HR / Project Manager - (Inside IR35) for a 5-month contract based REMOTELY

We are seeking an experienced HR professional to lead the delivery of key HR systems and process improvements, including the implementation of a new Applicant Tracking System (ATS) and candidate sifting capability, alongside wider enhancements across our existing platforms.

This is a fast-paced, delivery-focused role requiring a proactive self-starter who can establish structure from the outset and drive progress at pace. The successful candidate will lead the programme from initiation through early delivery, ensuring a well-governed, efficient rollout that delivers tangible improvements to recruitment outcomes, candidate experience, and operational efficiency.

You will act as the bridge between HR, ODD, procurement, and external suppliers, ensuring that solutions are fit for purpose, aligned to business needs, and deliver value for money.

As a HR / Project Manager - (Inside IR35), your main responsibilities will be:

• Lead the full lifecycle delivery of the ATS and sifting tool implementation, from initiation and design through to testing, implementation, and early live operation.
• Establish and drive programme structure including plans, governance, timelines, RAID logs, and reporting.
• Define and maintain a clear delivery roadmap, ensuring alignment with wider HR and organisational priorities.
• Proactively identify and remove blockers, managing risks, dependencies, and issues to ensure delivery to time and budget.
• Support the development of a process improvement culture in HR and provide the tools and evidence needed to support and drive opportunities.
• Work with subject matter experts in the team to design and implement future-state processes aligned to best practice, ensuring simplicity, standardisation, and scalability.
• Embed a mindset of “adopt not adapt”, maximising value from Workday and third-party solutions.
• Ensure end-to-end process alignment across recruitment, HR operations, and candidate experience.
• Support the development of a forward-looking HR systems roadmap, particularly in relation to recruitment, HR operations and automation.
• Work closely with our ODD team, Workday and external suppliers to define requirements, shape solutions, and oversee delivery.
• Lead the procurement and onboarding of ATS/sifting solutions, working in partnership with finance, commercial and ODD teams.
• Work with our HR Product Manager to manage third-party relationships, ensuring strong performance, clear accountability, and delivery against contractual outcomes.
• Support configuration discussions and ensure business requirements are accurately translated into system solutions.
• Establish robust governance and assurance frameworks to monitor delivery, risks, and performance.
• Implement mechanisms to track benefits, costs, and service improvements, ensuring value for money.
• Develop and maintain a forward look of system and process changes, ensuring alignment and visibility across stakeholders.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement, using data and insight to identify and prioritise enhancements.
• Build strong, credible relationships across HR, IT, finance, procurement, and senior leadership.
• Act as a trusted advisor, providing clear direction and challenge to drive decision-making.

To be considered for this role, please ensure your CV evidences the following essential criteria.

Essential

• A solid understanding of HR systems architecture, integrations, and data flows.
• Systems Delivery experience
• Demonstrable experience delivering HR systems implementations or transformation programmes.
• Experience of delivering Applicant Tracking System (ATS) in a Project environment
• Experience of working to tight timescales
• Experience of system implementation
• Confidence working with technical teams and vendors without being the subject matter expert.
• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to influence and engage, to bring together individuals from across the business to deliver key objectives.

Desirable

• Experience of waterfall, agile and hybrid delivery methodologies
• Understanding of how to maximise value from existing platforms through configuration and process design.
• Understanding of end-to-end recruitment processes and candidate journeys.
• Working knowledge of Workday, particularly in recruitment, integrations or optimisation

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

Disability Confident 

As a Disability Confident employer,Food Standards Agency 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, Food Standards Agency 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".