Synergy HR Digital and Data Lead

On behalf of DEFRA, we are looking for a Synergy HR Digital & Data Lead (Inside IR35) for a contract until March 2027. This is a remote working role (flexibility required for travel on an ad-hoc basis).

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.

Job Purpose:

Defra Group HR is looking for a Synergy HR Digital and Data Lead to support the Digital and Data activities within the Synergy HR team. This is a contingent labour role at SEO-equivalent level, focused on project coordination, HR functional input, stakeholder engagement, query handling and readiness activity. The role will help make sure Digital and Data activity is planned, tracked and aligned with Synergy design requirements. It will work across HR, project delivery, business change, Finance, Commercial, Digital and Data, business representatives and HR subject matter experts to keep actions moving, test information, identify gaps and support issue resolution.

As Synergy HR Digital and Data Lead, the worker will provide working-level HR functional and technical support so that project activity is coordinated, actions are tracked, stakeholders are engaged and outputs are aligned with Synergy design requirements.

They will support the Synergy HR Lead, HR Subject Matter Experts and the Synergy HR team by maintaining clear visibility of progress, risks, issues, dependencies and next steps.

As a Synergy HR Digital & Data Lead, your main responsibilities will be to:

• Support delivery of Digital and Data activity such as Data quality reviews and Data Migration cycles through project plan updates, action tracking, RAID input, progress reporting and follow-up on agreed HR actions.
• Apply HR functional knowledge and Digital and Data understanding to help shape, test and challenge information being provided into the project.
• Support alignment between local activity, Synergy design principles and Digital and Data requirements.
• Act as a day-to-day working contact for stakeholders across HR, Finance, Commercial, Digital and Data, business representatives and HR subject matter experts.
• Triage queries, source answers, identify gaps or inconsistencies and route escalations to the right owners.
• Support relevant design squads, communities of practice, working groups and forums, including capturing and progressing actions.
• Review data submissions and data quality extracts, evidence and project outputs for completeness, consistency and alignment with Synergy design and Digital and Data requirements.
• Support readiness for later implementation phases by clarifying requirements, roles, expectations, risks and dependencies.
• Identify risks and issues early, propose practical options and escalate where decisions or senior steers are needed.

Essential:

• Experience working in a HR, digital, data, transformation or programme delivery environment.
• Experience coordinating input from multiple stakeholders, tracking actions and managing dependencies in a complex delivery environment.
• Ability to gather, test and quality assure information, data, insight and evidence from subject matter experts and turn it into clear project inputs.
• Ability to analyse complex information, identify gaps or inconsistencies, and set out practical options, risks and recommendations clearly.
• Strong organisation and communication skills, including the ability to work at pace, manage competing priorities and keep clear records of actions, decisions, assumptions and risks.
• Working knowledge of HR processes and the interdependencies between HR policy, operational delivery, data, organisation structures and systems.
• Working knowledge of Digital and Data concepts, including how position, job catalogue, organisation structure and workforce data interact in an HR transformation context.
• Understanding of programme delivery methods, including action tracking, RAID management, delivery planning, governance and readiness activity.

Desirable:

• Awareness of Oracle Fusion or a comparable cloud Enterprise Resource Planning or Human Capital Management system would be beneficial, but is not proposed as mandatory for this role.

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".