Head of Workforce Management

Head of Workforce Strategy, Planning & Payroll Governance

Location: Home Based (UK) with occasional travel
Salary: Competitive + Benefits

Shape the future of workforce strategy across one of the UK's largest public service businesses.

At Serco, our people are at the heart of delivering essential public services. We're looking for an experienced workforce leader to define and deliver the workforce strategy across our Justice & Immigration business.

Reporting to the Operations Director (Support Services), you'll provide strategic leadership for workforce planning, labour productivity, workforce analytics and payroll governance across a complex operational portfolio. Working closely with senior leaders across Operations, HR, Finance and Transformation, you'll ensure our workforce capability supports operational excellence, contractual performance and long-term business growth.

This is an opportunity to influence business decisions at executive level while leading transformational programmes that improve workforce effectiveness, governance and employee experience.

What you'll be doing

As Head of Workforce Strategy, Planning & Payroll Governance, you'll:

• Develop and deliver the workforce management strategy across the Justice & Immigration Business Unit.


• Lead long-term workforce planning aligned to operational demand, contract requirements and future business growth.


• Drive workforce optimisation, labour productivity and resource planning initiatives that improve operational performance.


• Build workforce forecasting, scenario planning and workforce analytics capabilities that support strategic decision making.


• Own the Business Unit's payroll governance framework, ensuring robust controls, compliance and service performance.


• Provide executive oversight of payroll governance, assurance, risk and continuous improvement.


• Lead workforce transformation programmes, identifying opportunities to simplify, standardise and automate workforce and payroll processes.


• Develop the strategic roadmap for workforce systems, data and digital capability.


• Use workforce intelligence and performance insight to influence executive decision making and financial planning.


• Establish governance frameworks, performance measures and assurance processes across workforce management and payroll.


• Build strong partnerships across Operations, HR, Finance, Payroll and Transformation teams to deliver sustainable business improvements.

What you'll bring

We're looking for a strategic leader with experience operating in large, complex organisations.

You'll have:

• Significant experience leading workforce strategy, workforce planning or workforce management functions.


• A strong track record of delivering workforce transformation, productivity improvement and organisational change.


• Experience developing governance and assurance frameworks within operational environments.


• Strong commercial awareness with an understanding of labour productivity, workforce economics and financial performance.


• Experience using workforce analytics and data to influence senior business decisions.


• Exceptional stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence executive leaders.


• Experience leading cross-functional programmes across Operations, HR, Finance and Transformation.


• Degree-level education or equivalent professional experience. Relevant Workforce Management, HR, Payroll or Operational Excellence qualifications would be advantageous.

Why Serco?

At Serco, you'll have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by helping deliver services that improve the lives of millions of people every day.

We offer:

• Competitive salary


• Company car or cash allowance


• Bonus opportunity


• Private healthcare


• Pension and life assurance


• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays


• Flexible and hybrid working where appropriate


• A range of employee wellbeing and development programmes

About Serco

Serco delivers essential services across Defence, Justice & Immigration, Transport, Health and Citizen Services. Every day, our colleagues support governments and organisations to deliver better outcomes for the communities they serve.

Join us and help shape the future of workforce strategy within one of our most operationally diverse business units.

A little bit about us:
At Serco, everyone plays a vital part in delivering essential public services that make a real difference. As a global team of 50,000 people across Defence, Transport, Justice, Immigration, Healthcare, Leisure and Citizen Services, we’re united by a shared purpose: to improve the services that communities rely on. Guided by our values of Trust, Care, Innovation and Pride, our people make meaningful impact, every single day.

Our inclusive recruitment commitment:
We prioritise your skills and potential. As a Disability Confident Leader, the Top Great British Employer of Veterans 2026, and a Gold Inclusive Employer Standard holder, we champion equal opportunities for all. We offer flexible and hybrid working where possible and make reasonable adjustments throughout recruitment and employment.

• Guaranteed Interview Scheme: Applicants with disabilities, veterans and people with convictions, who meet the minimum job criteria, are guaranteed an interview. Simply opt into the relevant scheme on the application form.


• Ban The Box: We also support fair access for those with unspent criminal convictions through our ‘Ban the Box’ pledge (some roles may have security exemptions).

For support with your application, please contact [email protected].

Let’s impact a better future, together. Apply today.