Role: Head of Strategic Workforce Planning
Department: HR & Learning
Location: Carbrook
Salary: £62,123 - £68,319
Hours: 37
Contract Type: Temporary until 31st December 2027
In this role you will:
Lead a customer-focused Strategic Workforce Planning function, supporting all Districts and Departments across SYP to deliver their people agenda, in line with the force People Strategy. You will be instrumental in leading cultural change both within the HR team and wider organisation and you will be an empowered, integral member of the HR and Learning Leadership Team, reporting directly to the Head of HR and Learning.
Support the Head of HR and Learning in delivery force objectives relating to workforce planning and strategy.
Provide specialist workforce planning advice and guidance to the Senior Leadership Team and other internal and external bodies including SYMCA.
Work closely with HR and learning colleagues to engender a ‘one team’ approach to all people matters. You will offer invaluable, quality strategic advice at a senior level and will ensure delivery of an effective HR service and provide a strong leadership to motivate, coach and support the team to deliver all key people policies, practices and services with a keen focus on continual improvement, particularly in relation the customer journey.
Lead continuous improvements for the HR and Learning service, maintaining strong working relationships with key stakeholders across SYP, while heavily promoting the transformation of all resourcing activity, enhancing systems to self-serve, streamlining processes and increasing knowledge across the Force.
Embrace ORACLE and Duties system to provide the most efficient and effective workforce plan from both a strategic and tactical perspective.
Skills and experience:
Skills and experience as documented in the role profile need to be evidenced in your application to be considered for interview
For more detailed information relating to the role, skills and experience for this role, please click here to view the role profile
What we offer:
We offer generous entitlements and supportive policies to enable a better work-life balance, some of which are listed below:
Eligibility:
Applicants must meet the minimum requirement checkable history criteria, which must be taken into account for individuals applying to work with South Yorkshire Police in any capacity. A minimum checkable history of 5 years is required for this role and successfully undergoing recruitment vetting procedure is a pre-requisite of employment with South Yorkshire Police.
Appearance & Standards:
South Yorkshire Police is committed to striking a proportionate balance between self-expression and the need to maintain role sensitive professional standards in dress and appearance. Officers, staff, and volunteers of South Yorkshire Police are permitted to have tattoos visible whilst on duty provided the tattoo is not considered to be unacceptable or otherwise inappropriate. Tattoos will be reviewed as part of the recruitment and selection process.
South Yorkshire Police’s Key Values:
At South Yorkshire Police we have 3 key values which run through everything we do Fairness, Integrity & Trust, the attached document details the key behaviours we expect all employees to adhere to.
Smarter ways of Working:
South Yorkshire Police is committed to developing working practices which assist staff to balance their personal and professional lives, whilst meeting the needs of the organisation. This in turn enables SYP to provide an outstanding service to the community.
There are 3 different categories as part of this which are: Fixed, Field and Hybrid.
This role has been evaluated as a hybrid role.
Hybrid: Applicable when the work can be undertaken at any location, whether that be a SYP building or from home.
Contact details:
For further information about the role, please contact: Recruiting@southyorks.pnn.police.uk - 0114 219700
Closing Date: 16 November 2025
Closing dates are not normally extended, other than in exceptional circumstances and agreement is made between the Recruitment Manager and the Line Manager for the role.
How to apply:
Candidate Information:
Please note that, should you be successful at the interview stage and before appointment, the relevant pre-employment checks are required. These include references, medical clearance, vetting clearance and sickness absence criteria check.
Diversity & Inclusion:
Applications are particularly welcome from female and ethnic minority candidates.
It is really important to us that the department represents the community we serve, in order for us to provide the best service, utilising a range of backgrounds, experience and skills. We support and value all officers and staff and the unique experiences they bring to the role. We strongly encourage and welcome applications from these valuable underrepresented groups.
If you are from an underrepresented group and want to find out more about the support we can offer, please contact our dedicated team on positiveaction@southyorks.pnn.police.uk
In addition, we will look to support anyone who requires Part Time/Job share working hours.
Internal Candidates:
This vacancy is temporary therefore, you must have the support of your current Line Manager to apply. If you are a permanent member of staff, this would be classed as a secondment opportunity. If you are on a fixed term contract, you must contact the Talent Acquisition Team before applying.
Please ensure that you and your current line manager complete the attached consent form. Please email the completed form to the hiring line manager, with the role title and the closing date stated in the subject of your email.
Without support, your application will not be considered any further.
Further Information:
This role is offered on a fixed-term basis in accordance with applicable employment legislation and South Yorkshire Police policy.
Fixed-term contracts are used where there is a genuine business need, such as project-based work, temporary cover or time-limited funding. The fixed term period is subject to change, linked to the posts requirements and may be subject to extension or early termination in line with appropriate notice period.
All fixed-term employees will receive equal treatment and access to opportunities in line with our commitment to fair and inclusive employment practices.
Where appropriate, fixed-term roles may be made permanent without the need for a further recruitment process.
Documents to Review:
For the Police Staff Recruitment Vetting Handbook - Please Click here
For Application Guidance and Tips - Please Click Here
For the FIT Values of South Yorkshire Police - Please Click Here
For Secondment Approval - Please Click Here
View our recruitment video: