Head of Employee Experience and Engagement

**Details**:
**Reference number**:

- 424481

**Salary**:

- £69,308 - £74,129
- Important information about pay - it is expected that from 1 October 2025 the pay for this role will be £72,717. In addition, once the role holder has completed their probationary period (usually 6 months) they will become eligible to receive a pay premium allowance of £5,454 per annum. This pay premium allowance is non contractual and non-pensionable
- A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

**Job grade**:

- Grade 6

**Contract type**:

- Permanent

**Business area**:

- CO - Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA)

**Type of role**:

- Human Resources

**Working pattern**:

- Flexible working, Full-time, Job share

**Number of jobs available**:

- 1

**Contents**:

- Location
- About the job
- Benefits
- Things you need to know

**Location**:

- Newcastle-upon-Tyne

**About the job**:
**Job summary**:
We're looking for an experienced Head of Employee Experience and Engagement to join the Infected Blood Compensation Authority HR team. This is a unique opportunity to use data-driven insights to improve the staff experience, promote a positive and inclusive culture, and ensure our People Plan drives performance and wellbeing for everyone at the Authority. You'll lead a small team, collaborate with senior stakeholders, and play a vital role in making the Authority a great place to work.

**_ Opportunities to move to the new Infected Blood Compensation Authority (IBCA)._**_ At the moment all IBCA roles are hosted by Cabinet Office within the Civil Service. However, once IBCA becomes an independent employer, it is anticipated that most of these roles will transfer to IBCA, which means that the post-holder will leave the Civil Service to become a public servant._
- Roles that transfer to IBCA from Cabinet Office will maintain the same (Infected Blood Compensation Authority) or substantially the same terms and conditions of employment that are overall no less favourable. Employees who move from Cabinet Office to IBCA will be able to continue to participate in the Civil Service Pension arrangements with no break in their pensionable service._
- Please note that the mission of IBCA means that it is likely to be operational for a period of approximately 5 to 7 years. When IBCA’s work begins to wind down, IBCA employees will receive support and practical guidance to find a new role, whether in the Civil Service, another Arms Length Body (ALB), or an external employer. _

**Job description**:
As Head of Employee Experience and Engagement, you will lead strategic initiatives across employee engagement, culture, wellbeing, and equality, diversity & inclusion. You’ll deliver evidence-based approaches to improve staff experience, support behaviour change, and align activity with the Infected Blood Compensation Authority (‘the Authority’) People Plan to drive performance and wellbeing across the Authority.

**Key Responsibilities**

**Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy**
- Lead strategic EDI activity, translating the applicable strategies into actionable plans across the Authority;
- Oversee data-driven monitoring of protected-group representation, developing interventions to close gaps and ensuring alignment with the relevant data dashboard;
- Collaborate with HR professionals, diversity champions, trade unions, and networks to drive inclusive talent attraction, retention, progression and fair treatment;
- Collaborate with L&D and internal Communications leads to co-deliver training, campaigns or internal communications to embed inclusive behaviours and address unconscious bias across the organisation.

**Culture & Wellbeing Leadership**
- Shape and lead delivery of the culture and wellbeing strategy in line with IBCA’s People Plan priorities, promoting a positive, inclusive and psychologically safe working environment;
- Advise senior leadership on culture change initiatives—drawing on best practice and evidence, including People Survey themes such as leadership & managing change, inclusion and fair treatment;
- Alongside the wellbeing lead you will co-develop wellbeing initiatives (e.g. mental health support, workload resource planning, recognition schemes) to enhance organisational wellbeing and align with functional standards for HR and benefits;
- Foster a positive and inclusive team environment that promotes wellbeing, collaboration, and a supportive culture aligned with departmental values.

**Employee Engagement & Experience**
- Define and own an employee engagement strategy that addresses key People Survey drivers (My Manager, My Work, Leadership, Resources & Workload, Org Purpose);
- Use people analytics and survey data to identify insight-led priorities, oversee action planning, measuring impact across cohorts and demographics;
- Drive engagement communication plans using multiple channels, supporting line managers to interpret and act on feedback.
- Ensure regular feedback loops and visibl