About the job

Job summary

The Government Property Agency is changing the way the Civil Service works and is at the forefront of the Government's transformation agenda; reshaping the relationship civil servants have with their place of work. To do this we are delivering a major change programme across the UK and consolidating our portfolio in order to save £1.4 Bn over 10 years. 

Beyond the bricks and mortar, the GPA is about providing great workplaces for our people. Through programmes like Hubs, Whitehall Campus and Smart Working you will be in the vanguard of creating model working environments and promoting flexible working practices. 

This is an ambitious and exciting task, for which we need innovative people, with strong commercial acumen, who are passionate about visualising and implementing customer needs. Launched as an Executive Agency of the Cabinet Office in 2018, we’re a relatively new and evolving organisation, so we also need people who thrive in ambiguity, can adapt quickly to change and are comfortable stepping outside of their remit to drive outcomes.

The GPA is committed to representing the communities we serve by making Diversity, Equality and Inclusion part of everything we do.

To ensure that we are always recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of talent, we are particularly inviting applications from candidates who are disabled, ethnically or gender diverse, and people who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

The GPA is committed to representing the communities we serve by making Diversity, Equality and Inclusion part of everything we do.

To ensure that we are always recruiting and retaining a diverse mix of talent, we are particularly inviting applications from candidates who are disabled, ethnically or gender diverse, and people who identify as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

Job description

We are seeking a dynamic and highly motivated HR professional to lead the HR Operations team.  The post holder will be expected to hold or achieve Level 7 CIPD accreditation and be able to manage a substantial workload and prioritise effectively.  Your excellent written and verbal communication skills will sit alongside an expansive knowledge of HR operational practices including recruitment, reward and recognition.  

The ideal candidate will be flexible and decisive, acting promptly under pressure and able to find practical solutions to complex HR issues.  As a member of the HR Senior Leadership Team you will lead by example, working with other areas of HR to provide a highly effective service to the business and its people.  You will shape the service delivered by the team and will be expected to flex that according to business needs.  We offer a high level of autonomy and a supportive and cohesive environment where you are free to be yourself and to have some fun along the way, while driving forward the GPA’s HR agenda.  The post can be based from any GPA office, though we offer a hybrid approach to our work.

Key Responsibilities:  

Strategy:

• Set the direction and lead on GPA’s Attraction, Retention & Progression Strategy and processes for GPA, including permanent recruitment, use of contingent labour and key strategic contracts with agencies and suppliers.
• Set the direction and lead on GPA’s Reward and Recognition Strategy including annual pay awards, pay gap analysis and reporting and facilitating the Culture & Remuneration Committee where senior level pay business cases are considered.
• Drive Employee Value Proposition (EVP) across the GPA to deliver a unique set of benefits available to employees of the GPA.
• Own the HR business case processes and approval flows to support robust and auditable decision making across all areas of HR.
• Sit on on the GPA Corporate Systems Steering Group, acting as Senior Stakeholder/Project Sponsor for the use of GPA’s Employee Service Centre, leading on further development of the system and work with service providers to ensure that it meets GPA’s ongoing needs.

Operational:

• Analyse trends from people metrics to lead and influence decision-making across business areas - adapting HR best practice to suit the needs of the organisation.
• Identify priorities from the GPA’s Business Plan, translating business requirements into effective HR practices and delivering people solutions aligned to business objectives.
• Lead on data insights and integrity, identifying trends to support the HR function and inform decision making at ExCo level and ensuring that all formal reporting requirements are met including providing all HR input to the GPA Annual Report & Accounts.
• Ensure that an efficient, effective and compliant recruitment service is provided to GPA hiring managers.

Leadership & Management:

• Lead the relationships with senior stakeholders in the Cabinet Office Pay & Reward, Contracting and People Business Services teams.
• Engage proactively with senior stakeholders across government and the HR profession.
• Ensure that key supplier relationships are managed with providers of payroll, recruitment/ATR and HR systems services to provide the optimum solutions for the business.
• Act as point of escalation for complex recruitment and pay issues.
• Manage a team of HR professionals, providing strong leadership and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Person specification

The HR Operations team must provide effective, efficient and accurate data and MI to support business decisions.  The post holder therefore needs to be analytical, with a critical eye for detail and a pragmatic and dynamic approach to problem-solving, as the areas of work are highly reactive and sensitive topics with managers and staff.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities and wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a sense of belonging in a workplace where everyone feels valued.

Experience & technical skills

Skills & Experience 

The post holder will have expert knowledge in the HR fields of Pay & Reward, Recruitment and Data and MI.  This will be coupled with a strong understanding of the GPA’s core business so that an effective HR Operations service can be delivered that meets the needs of the business.  

The ability to collaborate and confidently engage with stakeholders and senior leaders is key to achieving objectives.  The postholder will be required to have strong interpersonal skills to deliver outcomes and will be expected to be able to proactively build, create and maintain a strong network of connections across the Cabinet Office, Government People Group and the wider profession.  Alongside this they must be adept at empowering their team to deliver the best possible outcomes for the business, setting clear objectives and holding them to account for outcomes whilst providing a supportive and inclusive culture.

Key skills include:

• Highly organised with an understanding of governance processes and project methodologies to maximise delivery
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and with the ability to influence and challenge effectively at a senior level.
• Understanding of digital tools and how to apply them to maximise efficiency including the ability to analyse and interrogate data
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to write and deliver reports and presentations to a diverse audience including senior management
• Track record of positive and inspirational leading and supporting others through change.
• Ability to work at pace on a range of competing priorities, whilst remaining calm under pressure and demonstrating resilience.

Experience:

• Experience of building strong, trust-based relationships with a range of diverse and demanding stakeholders, taking account of diverse needs and perspectives in line with the organisation’s strategies and policies. 
• Sound understanding and experience of delivering a recruitment service, preferably in the public sector, and of legislation relating to contingent labour
• Thorough understanding of pay and reward, including experience of developing and delivering pay award proposals and pay strategies
• Proven project management skills
• A good understanding of the ServiceNow HR data platform
• Track record of delivering operational change
• Sound understanding and experience of budget management and financial forecasting
• Experience in delivering difficult messages with clarity and sensitivity, being persuasive when required. Maintain an open minded stance and remain impartial in discussions due to the sensitive nature of the post holder's role.
• Extensive leadership and managing a diverse team, via a variety of locations including experience of managing remote teams/teams across boundaries. Previous experience of working in environments with little supervision and ambiguity. 
• Experience of contract management
• Experience of making effective decisions autonomously, taking all factors into consideration

Essential Criteria:

• Highly organised with an understanding of governance processes and/or project methodologies to maximise delivery
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders and with the ability to influence and challenge effectively at a senior level.
• Understanding of digital tools and how to apply them to maximise efficiency including the ability to analyse and interrogate data
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to write and deliver reports and presentations to a diverse audience including senior management
• You are positive and inspirational in leading and supporting others through change.

Desirable Criteria:

• Experience of working in the public sector in a similar role
• Experience of planning and delivering projects or organisational change.
• Understanding of budgets and financial forecasting

Qualifications & Accreditation's

• Candidates must be accredited to Chartered CIPD level (level 7) or willing to achieve that within the first 6 months

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £62,900, Government Property Agency contributes £16,983 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, Strengths, Experience and Technical skills.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the communities and wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and well-being and aim to create a sense of belonging in a workplace where everyone feels valued.The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.

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 (RIS) to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Sift

The sift is due to take place week commencing 29th July 2024.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to include a CV and a 1000-word personal statement. The personal statement should be used to explain why you are the ideal candidate for the role. This should align with the person specification.

Interview

Applicants successful at sift will be invited to interviews. The date of the interviews will take place week commencing 12/08/2024, but will be held in the Birmingham office. You must be willing to travel to any of the GPA locations for your interview. If you are unable to attend a face to face interview due to extenuating circumstances, we advise that you reach out to the recruitment admin team to find out if alternative means can be arranged prior to submitting your application.   

Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.

At interview, applicants will be scored against 3 behaviours - Making Effective Decisions, Leadership, and Delivering at Pace.

Interview questions will be a blend of Behaviour, Experience, Strength and Technical (core skill) questions.

Reasonable Adjustment

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 via gparecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs. 

Complete the ‘Assistance required’ section in the ‘Additional requirements’ page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need 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

Any move to GPA 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

This role is full time only. Applicants who wish to work an alternative pattern are welcome to apply however your preferred working pattern may not be available and you should discuss this with the vacancy holder before applying.

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

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

Please note: in addition to the standard pre-employment checks for appointment into the Civil Service, all candidates must also obtain National Security Vetting at Security Check (SC) clearance level for this vacancy. You will normally need to meet the minimum UK residency period as determined by the level of vetting being undertaken, which for SC is 5 years UK residency prior to your vetting application. If you have any questions about this residency requirement, please speak to the vacancy holder for this post.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting

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 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.

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

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.