About the job

Job summary

Are you a HR generalist with experience of business partnering?

Do you want to work in an exciting department where you will actively contribute to improving and protecting the environment?

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the UK Government department responsible for safeguarding our natural environment, supporting our world-leading food and farming industry, and sustaining a thriving rural economy. Our broad remit means we play a major role in people's day-to-day lives, from the food we eat, and the air we breathe, to the water we drink.

Defra group HR is a transforming HR function, bringing together HR professionals who provide a professional service to core Defra, the Environment Agency, Rural Payments Agency, Natural England, Animal and Plant Health Agency and Veterinary Medicines Directorate. We are creating a more efficient, effective, and unified HR function across the Defra group and making it easier and simpler for our customers and partners to do business with us.

Defra's landscape is fast moving and there is a need for a high performing HR function that can keep pace and support those changes, from organisation design to a reimagined People Performance framework and enhanced employee offer, we are at the heart of making Defra group a great place to work.

At this exciting and critical time, we have a number of HR Business Partner opportunities across Defra group. As an HRBP you are the face of HR. You will be shaping and influencing business leaders on all people aspects including building team capacity, capability, developing talent and recruitment. You will be operating at a strategic level and be part of the business leadership team.

While specific local organisational challenges and activities may vary, we have a collective ambition for delivering a high quality, adaptive and innovative HRBP service across Defra group.

If you are ready to drive innovation, push boundaries and are passionate about sustainable development, and creating better places for people and wildlife, we want to hear from you. Join us and you will actively contribute to improving and protecting the environment, through the innovative and strategic work that you will enable in your role.

Job description

You will play a key leadership role within the HR function and will work with Leadership teams and key stakeholders to help build organisational and people capability.

You will enable the business to shape and implement effective people strategies through your understanding of the organisation, its strategy and customers, and the people challenges it faces.

As a great HR Business Partner you will be actively involved in senior level discussions to drive delivery of our challenging agendas through our people & ensure that you enable your business area to secure the capacity and capability of current and future needs, across all grades and professions. You will operate autonomously to deliver outcomes within a complex and demanding environment.

You will bring an ability to serve as a coach to our business leaders on their individual leadership effectiveness and how they drive solutions, to enable the business to manage organisational performance effectively. You will do this on a 1:1 basis as well as through your seat at the senior table and role as a trusted advisor. This requires you to have the ability to challenge our leader’s perception, refocusing away from problems to desired solutions.

You will translate business needs to inform development of integrated people solutions that drive talent and business outcomes, contributing to business objectives with professional and business credibility.

You will influence and challenge, to help shape business direction whilst acting as an intelligent partner into the wider Defra group HR function on behalf of the business. You will play the unique role of being the bridge between the business and our broader Defra HR team, with Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at the heart of all that you do, helping the business to shape a culture of the future that is fully inclusive, embraces diversity and enables our people to thrive.

You will be a key part of our HR leadership group, supporting and developing those within our team, and role modelling inclusion and collaboration. You will work in collaboration with your HR leadership peers to help shape and influence the direction of the HR function to continually improve our impact and delivery outcomes.

At this exciting and critical time, we have several HR opportunities across Defra group.

Encouraging diverse applicants:

We recognise the challenges that people with (multiple) protected characteristics may experience on the job market and in their career progression. We are fully committed to being an inclusive employer and ensuring equal opportunities. We are keen to make our workforce as diverse as possible.

Person specification

Delivering in this role you will Business Partner our senior leadership to deliver business outcomes, providing lead HR input into key cross-cutting strategic business projects/forums & have the following essential experience:

• Level 5 Intermediate / Level 7 Advanced Diploma in HRM or equivalent experience
• Substantial experience in an operational HR environment and experience delivering in a business partner model
• The ability to think strategically, with political awareness, and with experience of partnering, supporting and being a ‘critical friend’ to business leaders in all aspects of people matters, including people strategies, workforce planning, inclusion, talent, capacity and capability and recruitment
• Experience of working in a complex environment, building effective stakeholder relationships within the business, and successfully working with a broad range of senior stakeholders and external partners, demonstrating the communications skills and impact to effectively challenge assumptions and influence direction
• Experience of creating and delivering HR projects/ initiatives. Acting as a change champion across the organisation to help the business become increasingly agile, flexible, and responsive to changing priorities
• Experience of implementing change which benefits the business and considers the full impact of change including culture.
• Identifying/ supporting the business to devise innovative strategies for a range of people focused activities, underpinned by professional expertise, including workforce planning, organisational design, resourcing, talent management and leadership development
• The ability to use data and evidence to support accurate, expert decisions and advice, identifying and mitigating risks. Feeding insight into the wider HR function
• Experience of working collaboratively with peers including across HR expert service teams to connect activity and drive continual improvement

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £52,120, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs contributes £14,072 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 and Experience.

Application Process

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, a Personal Statement of no more than 750 words and 1 Behaviour Statement (Communicating and Influencing).

For the Personal Statement, you should use this to describe how your skills and experience show that you are suitable for this role. Please refer to the essential experience listed in the Person Specification when doing this. You will need to be able to demonstrate that your experience covers the experience listed.

Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Sift

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

Sift and interview dates as well as the interview location to be confirmed.

Interview

If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on the Behaviours listed, Experience and Strengths.

A pre-prepared presentation will also be included as part of the interview which will include the following Behaviours:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture

Interviews to be held via MS Teams.

Location

Please be aware that this role(s) will be contractually based in one of our Defra Hub locations - London, York, Bristol, Birmingham, Exeter, Reading, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle and Warrington. The successful candidate is required to carry out all their duties from a UK location, and cannot do so from an overseas location at any time. You will be based in one of the listed locations in the advert. Internal candidates will have the option of remaining in their current locations.

Internal (core Defra) employees can apply for this role and choose to remain in their current location or to be based in one of the advertised locations.

All other applicants will be based in one of the advertised locations.Our current office attendance approach requires 60% attendance in Defra group workplaces or off site meetings with partners and customers. This balance provides thriving workplaces to connect with colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs balanced with personal flexibility and choice. 

Travel and subsistence will not be paid for travel to a base office location.

Reserve List

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

Merit Lists

Where more than one location is advertised, candidates will be posted in merit order by location.

Salary 

New entrants to the Civil Service are expected to start on the minimum of the pay band. The internal roles rules apply to existing Civil Servants, i.e. level transfers move on current salary or the pay range minimum, transfers on promotion move to new pay range minimum or receive 10% increase. Either case is determined by whichever is the highest.

Visa Sponsorship Statement

Please take note that Defra does not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker License sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship.

Accessibility

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

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 defrarecruitment.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

Criminal Record Check

If successful and transferring from another Government Department, a criminal record check maybe 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 circumstance 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.

Internal Fraud Database Check

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 offenses. 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.

Higher Security Clearance 

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter.

All of these posts require the successful candidate to hold basic security clearance. Candidates posted to London may be subject to a higher level of clearance because of the security requirements for that location. Job offers to these posts are made on the basis of merit. Security vetting will only take place after the receipt of a job offer. 

Childcare Vouchers 

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

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.