Deputy Director, Synergy HR Transformation

DWP is looking to fill Deputy Director, Synergy HR Transformation role in Corporate Transformation directorate.​

As Deputy Director, Synergy HR Transformation, you will provide strategic leadership for DWP's contribution to the cross-government Synergy Programme and act as DWP's senior HR Functional Lead for HR transformation activity. ​

Reporting to the Director of HR Transformation, you will lead the design, implementation and adoption of future HR services, operating models, technology and organisational capability across DWP and the wider Synergy Cluster.​

You will be accountable for ensuring that DWP is ready to adopt new ways of working enabled through Oracle HCM and Shared Services, whilst shaping the future People Function operating model to deliver improved colleague experience, service performance, workforce insight and value for money.​

The role operates at the heart of one of the largest transformation programmes in government, influencing change affecting over 250,000 employees across DWP, Ministry of Justice, Home Office, Defra and their Arm's Length Bodies.​

Why Join DWP?

As DWP's senior HR Functional Lead for the Synergy Programme, you will provide strategic leadership for one of the largest people transformation programmes in government. Operating across departmental, cluster and cross-government environments, you will shape the future of HR services, workforce capability and organisational transformation, ensuring DWP's priorities are represented whilst supporting wider Civil Service reform.​

This is a highly influential leadership role at the forefront of government-wide people transformation. The postholder will shape the future direction of HR across DWP and the Synergy Cluster, building strategic partnerships, championing innovation and ensuring the People Function is equipped to meet future workforce and organisational challenges. ​

The role requires a collaborative and visionary leader who can operate effectively in complex environments, influence at the most senior levels, and balance immediate delivery with long-term transformation ambitions.

For more information about the key responsibilities for this role please view the candidate pack attached in the advert.

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Application Process

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process outlined below no later than noon on Friday 11th September 2026​​

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years;​
• A personal statement (maximum 1250) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities, and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the essential criteria in the person specification. ​

Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the criteria in the person specification.

As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have the option to select 'prefer not to say’. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not be provided to the selection panel. The information you provide when submitting your application will help us monitor our progress towards the Civil Service becoming the most inclusive employer.

A reserve list will be held for up to 12 months, which we may use to fill future similar vacancies for candidates who are considered appointable following interview.

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information regarding the role and recruitment process.

Reasonable Adjustments

At DWP we value diversity and inclusion and actively encourage and welcome applications from everyone, especially those that are underrepresented in our workforce. We consider visible and non-visible disabilities, neurodiversity or learning differences, chronic medical conditions, or mental ill health. Examples include dyslexia, epilepsy, autism, chronic fatigue, or schizophrenia.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should contact senior.recruitment@dwp.gov.uk as soon as possible, before the closing date to discuss your needs. Complete the “Reasonable Adjustments” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what additional support or adjustments you might need during the recruitment process.

For further information regarding reasonable adjustments, please see following link: Reasonable Adjustments , Civil Service Careers

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.