About the job

Job summary

UK Security Vetting have an exciting opportunity for an Assistant Head of Performance & HR Operations to join our team and lead a new function within the People and Places Pillar. With a passion for People Management the post holder will work closely with the leadership teams on critical people priorities across their business area.  

Job description

• Design and deliver organisation development interventions to increase efficiency and embed the desired culture within UKSV.
• Lead a team to support the business with wide ranging people issues, appraising, assessing and adapting to a wide range of issues on a day-to-day basis and developing options to maintain or deliver on a particular people priority or number of people priorities. 
• Analysing HR data and applying understanding to decide on an appropriate intervention or course of action.
• Provide insight to the business of key people challenges, working with colleagues to provide data driven reports and analysis to support strategic people decisions including cases for investment.
• Develop and implement the wider HR strategy across Cabinet Office and the UKSV People Programme, ensuring alignment with functional and business strategies, to enhance people management capabilities.
• Deliver an adaptable and practical HR service that underpins business operations, equipping managers and employees with best practices to cultivate a high-performance culture.
• Facilitate discussions with the Senior Leadership Team and wider colleagues around site/department/people changes and transformation.
• Report regularly on people related analytics to site and function to provide insight, support the value of investing in people and inform management with decision making.
• Working with Cabinet Office colleagues to create a seamless and consistent employee experience.
• Lead a team who has responsibility for ensuring the efficient and effective operational management of running our locations across the UK working with the Cabinet Office Places Team and Government Property Agency.

Person specification

As Assistant Head of Performance & HR Operations within UK Security Vetting, we are looking for people who have the following expertise and attributes:

• Pragmatic and progressive approach to HR.
• Proactive approach to problem solving and enabling the business to find solutions to HR and operational challenges. 
• Experience of leading a team of HR Professionals to oversee work across the employee life cycle. 
• Experience in managing high priority people challenges.
• Exceptional proficiency for building relationships and communicating effectively with others, showing the ability to move between active listening, guiding and coaching individuals across all levels of the company.
• The ability to adapt and make quick, sound decisions based on knowledge and good judgement.
• Capable of understanding priorities and maintaining focus on business operations and People strategy.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £53,400, Cabinet Office contributes £14,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

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

Application process

You will be asked to provide a 250-word statement on the Behaviours Leadership, Communicating & Influencing and Changing & Improving.

To assess experience you will be asked to provide a 750-word personal statement and a name-blind (anonymous) CV. 

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Leadership, along with the Personal Statement. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Selection process

At interview, you will be assessed on the Behaviours and Experience elements of the Success Profiles. 

The Behaviours being assessed are Leadership, Communicating & Influencing, Changing & Improving and Seeing the Big Picture.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

Expected Sift date - 18/12/23

Expected interview date/s - Week commencing  08/01/24

Interview Location - Google Meets Video Conferencing 

Reasonable adjustments

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact Government Recruitment Service at: cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
• Complete the ‘assistance required’ section in the ‘personal information’ page of your application form to provide information we should be aware of that will enable us to support you further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

Further information

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years’ UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk. 

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out. 

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

For further information on the Disclosure Scotland confidential checking service telephone: the Disclosure Scotland Helpline on 0870 609 6006 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email Info@disclosurescotland.co.uk

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment. 

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

Open to UK nationals only.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria. The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.