About the job

Job summary

The central Government People Group (GPG) team in the Cabinet Office provides support and guidance to departments, professions and other functions to build a modern and effective Civil Service. GPG supports the government workforce with the right skills and capability and are working with leaders to get the right people in the right jobs, with the right skills and continuous learning to excel in their roles. We provide leadership, and in turn, create leaders with exceptional line management capability across departments, influencing partners in the wider public sector and beyond. This involves getting our retention and reward strategy right, to nurture specific skills, and create pride and resilience in our workforce.

Our role is also to provide system leadership across central government in pulling together back office services. Collectively, we help support the Cabinet Office’s priority to drive efficiencies, and reforms that will make government work better, to ultimately provide a better service to the public.

This post sits within the Functional Strategy, Capability and Talent team within the Functional Strategy, Capability and Performance (FSCP) directorate, and the successful candidate will be leading a team with close links to the wider directorate and across the Civil Service. The FSPC directorate is here to provide strategic leadership, insight and challenge to deliver the Government Chief People Officers’ objectives for GPG, the People Function and the Civil Service workforce.

The directorate is made up of three teams:

• Functional Strategy, Capability and Talent is here to support a high performing People Function across government by providing leadership, insight and challenge.
• Workforce Strategy, Data and Planning is here to build and share our understanding of the Civil Service workforce and its current and future challenges, and to develop strategies to improve its efficiency and effectiveness.
• Corporate Services is here to support Government People Group to be a high performing and delivery focused business unit and centre of the function.

Job description

The Civil Service operates a functional model, with strong leadership and continuous improvement of the cross-departmental corporate functions. The postholder will lead on delivering this agenda for the Civil Service People Function, working closely with the Government Chief People Officer, Director Strategy, Performance and Capability, and departmental HR Directors to improve effectiveness, efficiency and capability across the HR system and functions. The role is varied and challenging, giving the successful candidate an insight into the machinery of central government as well as the opportunity to influence the direction and bring in best practice from wider employers and sectors.

The postholder will lead and ensure successful implementation across a diverse portfolio, including ensuring we have the standards, structures and professional capabilities the Civil Service needs to deliver successfully now and in the future. As a senior leader within the Cabinet Office, GPG and FSPC, you will be expected to play a full role in the overall leadership of the Civil Service.

Reporting to the Director of Strategy, Performance and Capability, you will be responsible for:

• Development and delivery of the Government People Function Strategy and associated plan.
• Providing ongoing assurance of the HR Functional Standard to assure ongoing Functional effectiveness, compliance and risk management through the Continuous Improvement and Assessment Framework.
• Delivery of key projects from the new Government People Function Strategy: HR Operating and Functional Performance Models, HR Career Framework, Assessment and Accreditation, Functional Engagement and a Networked Function.
• Development and delivery of the Capability and Talent Strategy, championing and supporting development of the HR profession, talent and career management for our People Function and make learning a reality by encouraging and providing a range of development opportunities/experiences e.g. apprenticeships.
• Leading on our relationship with our professional body the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) and other HR learning providers.
• Providing professional leadership for the Fast Stream and Emerging Talent 2024 programme and beyond.
• Ensuring an in-depth and evolving understanding of the broad range of customer requirements is embedded in the Function supported by the central teams.
• Oversight of the Global HR Design to continue to deliver and ensure adherence to best practice and relevant policies and processes to promote efficient service delivery across the Function.
• Providing assurance through: the HR Functional Assurance Board, Outcome Delivery Plan Process, Departmental Roundtables and Talent Moderation from Grade 7 to HR Director level.

Line Management Responsibilities

There will be line management responsibilities. You will also be expected to contribute to the leadership of the Directorate and Government People Group.

Person specification

It is important that, through your CV and supporting statement, that you provide evidence of the professional skills, breadth of experience and personal qualities for this post.

Essential Criteria:

• Excellent leadership skills, role-modelling proactive, customer-focused, and inclusive leadership to drive the strategic agenda across departments.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build strong collaborative relationships and provide sound advice and effective challenge.
• Outstanding ability to communicate (orally and written) a complex and wide-ranging landscape with clarity that drives action and improvement.
• Strong analytical capability and able to prioritise effectively, helping organisations focus efforts where they most add value.
• Thinking strategically about the delivery of outcomes for citizens, challenging the status quo and adopting an optimistic and pragmatic approach to solving problems and delivering better outcomes.
• Passion for developing the HR Profession and the people in the People Function and ability to provide professional leadership across teams and a large organisation.
• Chartered Fellow or fully qualified member (Level 7) of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) or equivalent professional qualification with HR knowledge and a willingness to work towards accreditation.

Desirable Criteria:

• Knowledge of the Government People Function
• Experience of working within Central Government.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,000, Cabinet Office contributes £20,250 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

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process, outlined below. This should be completed no later than 23:55pm, Sunday 11th February 2024.

• A CV (no longer than 1250 words) 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 Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1250 words) 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 complete both sections of the online application form (CV and Statement of Suitability) 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’. See the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for more information.

Should you encounter any issues with your online application please get in touch with us via: scscandidate.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk 

Selection process

Your application will be acknowledged when it is received.

A panel, including the hiring manager, will assess your application to select those demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may affect your application.

The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which decision is expected to be made, and all longlisted and shortlisted candidates will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.

Assessment 

If you are shortlisted, you may be asked to take part in a series of assessments which could include psychometric tests and/or a staff engagement exercise. These assessments will not result in a pass or fail decision. Rather, they are designed to support the panel’s decision making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at interview. For more information about the assessment process, please follow this link: https://scs-assessments.co.uk/

If you are successful at the application stage, you will be invited to attend a panel interview, in order to have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. We will be assessing against the Success Profile Behaviours and Experience at interview.

Full details of the assessment process will be made available to shortlisted candidates. If you are required to prepare a presentation for the final interview you will be given the subject in advance.

You may also have the opportunity to speak to Henry Watson prior to the final interview to learn more about the role and organisation. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process.

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies in the Civil Service requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without the need for a new competition.

Expected timeline (subject to change)
Advert Closing Date - 23:55pm, Sunday 11th February 2024. 

Shortlist - Week commencing 19th February 2024.

Assessment - Week commencing 4th March 2024.

Interview - Week commencing 11th March 2024.

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: scscandidate.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 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 you must be willing to obtain, security clearance to Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) level. More information about the vetting process can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/security-vetting-and-clearance

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.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)

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.