Head of Support Services

Head of Support Services

Salary £70,000 pa - Full-time Senior Leadership Role

We are seeking an experienced Head of Support Services to provide strategic and operational leadership across HR, Payroll, and Recruitment within a regulated healthcare environment. This senior role is pivotal in ensuring compliant, efficient, and data-driven people services that support safe staffing, strong colleague experience, and high-performing operations. Reporting to the Managing Director, you will lead and develop multi-disciplinary teams, drive workforce strategy, and ensure robust governance across people operations. You will act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and the Board, supporting organisational growth, workforce stability, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead HR, Payroll, and Recruitment functions, setting clear objectives and service standards.
• Develop and deliver a people operations strategy aligned to business goals.
• Oversee complex employee relations casework and ensure legal compliance.
• Lead end-to-end recruitment strategy, ensuring safe recruitment and audit readiness.
• Provide senior oversight of payroll accuracy, controls, and statutory compliance.
• Establish people data dashboards and workforce reporting (turnover, absence, time-to-hire, etc.).
• Drive process improvement, system effectiveness, and multi-site standardisation.
• Partner with Finance, Operational Leaders, and the Board on workforce planning and risk.

About You

• CIPD Level 5 minimum (Level 7 desirable).
• Significant HR leadership experience in a multi-site environment.
• Strong knowledge of UK employment law and HR governance.
• Proven experience leading and developing teams.
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to translate insight into action.
• Experience in healthcare or other regulated settings desirable.
• Payroll oversight experience or strong collaboration with Finance preferred.

Key Measures of Success

• Improved time-to-hire and retention.
• Reduced agency usage.
• High payroll accuracy and audit compliance.
• Reduced absence rates.
• Positive manager satisfaction and service performance.

You will be a credible, values-led leader with integrity, sound judgement, and the ability to influence at senior level. A flexible and collaborative approach is essential.

If you are looking for a strategic leadership opportunity please contact or call Lily on .