About the job

Job summary

We welcome applications from every part of the community, and we don’t discriminate against any gender identity. We’re especially interested to hear from underrepresented groups in the DfT such as gender diverse, ethnic minority, LGBT+ and disabled candidates.

• Are you passionate about people, confident at delivering solutions to problems and communicating with different audiences?
• Do you thrive working in a fast-paced environment where your expertise can be used daily to make a real difference?
• Have you previously been stifled and unable to develop your skillset, restricted to express your talents?
• Is it time to find a vocation where you can strike a work-life balance, have access to lots of Civil Service benefits, and will be highly regarded by your team and colleagues?

We’re looking for our next HR Manager. With fantastic opportunities for learning and development, flexibility to make your job suit you and an organisation where you will be highly regarded; there’s no better time to join.

Our work is focused on improving vehicle safety and environmental protection by providing robust testing and certification to national and internationally recognised standards. We are a part of the Department of Transport as the designated UK Vehicle Type Approval Authority. With more than 40 years’ experience, we have become one of the largest and well-respected approval bodies around. This position has been built on a reputation for technical expertise and quality, which is at the heart of everything we do, and what you could be a part of.  

Here's Jamie to give more information about our HR team, the role and the type of person we’re looking for. You can also check out our Finance and Resource candidate pack for more information about us, what we can offer you and why we’re a great place to work.

Job description

We are looking for someone to hit the ground running, with the same enthusiasm and drive as our colleagues across VCA, to make a real difference. Our HR team provides an invaluable role, delivering support to colleagues, stakeholders and customers, in the UK and overseas. It’s important our team work harmoniously to perform at their best and inspire others daily.

You will be given every chance to learn new skills and gain qualifications, working collaboratively with the Senior HR Manager and other members of the team. Leading on multiple facets within HR, you will have an ability to adapt and forge strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. There will also be opportunities for you to have the chance to shape the systems we use and liaise with third party suppliers to optimize bespoke solutions.

We pride ourselves on our professionalism and ability to deliver at pace. No one day is the same. You will be at the forefront of our day-to-day running, assisting with reporting, supporting end to end recruitment and using your expertise and skills to help coach other staff members.

Joining us, you will be part of an organisation who cares passionately about you, by giving the support you need to reach your full potential.

Responsibilities include, but not limited to:

To advise on and monitor the development and implementation of VCA’s strategy, policies, processes, and procedures in the following areas:

• Responsible for the completion of payroll reconciliation on a monthly basis, ensuring that any issues are raised and actioned with our shared service payroll provider.
• Provide support in the implementation of the new payroll (shared services) system.
• Responsible for the completing on monthly and annual reports for the agency, wider DfT department and other government bodies.
• Act as the HR lead for Corporate Affairs in completing freedom of information requests and Parliamentary Questions when these are requested.
• Support VCA’s internal Audit team in providing data when this is requested. Also acting as audit lead in relation to payroll requests.

For further information, please see the attached Role Profile and Candidate Pack.

Person specification

To apply for our HR Manager position, you will need:

• Have worked within a fast-paced HR environment, managing multiple workstreams, as a HR Manager or equivalent level.
• Familiarity with HR policies/procedures and their practical application.
• Experience managing and developing a HR service.
• Experience of working with HR management information, including report compiling and data returns.
• Willingness to learn and manage payroll reconciliation.
• Excellent IT skills, including word-processing, Excel, SharePoint, PowerPoint. With particular confidence in data formatting and manipulation within Excel.
• Strong partnering, collaborating, and influencing skills.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Strong organisational skills.
• Able to demonstrate a pro-active approach to work and the ability to prioritise a busy workload.
• CIPD qualified or willing to work towards a level 5 qualification.

If you fit the person profile and are interested in a new challenge, VCA would love the opportunity to develop you to become a vital part of our team. 

We could do this through:

• Learning and development by studying a HR Qualification.
• Colleague knowledge sharing.
• Access to a broad network of eLearning through the Civil Service.
• Opportunities to attend external training courses to develop knowledge if candidate can demonstrate the value created to the agency in doing so.
• Attending across-gov network meetings to share best practice.

Additional Information

A minimum of 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace or on location testing.  

Whilst we welcome applications from those looking to work with us on a part time basis, there is a business requirement, for the successful candidate to be able to work at least 29.6 hours per week.

Benefits

Your wellbeing is important to us, which is why we’re pleased to offer a wide range of benefits to all our colleagues, inside and outside of work.  

Find out more about the ways you can benefit in our candidate pack. 

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.

As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement. Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

Stage 1: Initial Experience-Based Sift  

In this stage, we carefully review the CV & personal statement to shortlist candidates who meet the experience indicators and possess the necessary qualifications. 

We will assess the following experience indicators from your CV & personal statement so you should tailor both to clearly explain how you meet them.  

• Worked within a fast-paced HR environment, managing multiple workstreams, as a HR Manager or equivalent level.
• Experience of managing and developing a HR service.
• Experience of working with HR management information, including report compiling and data returns.
• Experience developing and managing effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Your Personal Statement should be a maximum of 1000 words and we recommend a minimum of 250 words for each of the bullet points above. 

Some guidance to help you with your application can be found in the candidate pack below. 

Stage 2: In-person Interview 

The final stage involves an in-person interview, where selected candidates will be invited to visit one of our premises.  

The sift is due to take place 18 - 19 March 2024.

Interviews are likely to be held week commencing 08 April 2024.

We will try to meet the dates set out in the advert. There may be occasions when these dates will change. You will be provided with sufficient notice of the confirmed dates.  

You are encouraged to become familiar with the role profile, as you may be assessed against any of the criteria recorded within.  

Merit List  

Please note that candidates placed on the merit list will be considered for suitable positions as they arise. 

The Department for Transport alongside other Government Departments recruit using Success Profiles. This means for each role we consider what you will need to demonstrate in order to be successful. This gives us the best possible chance of finding the right person for the job, drives up performance and improves diversity and inclusivity.   

For further information on Success Profiles visit our Careers website.  

Please note that VCA are unable to offer VISA sponsorship.  

Reasonable Adjustments

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best. If a person with a visible or non-visible disability is substantially disadvantaged, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need during the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at an interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you need a reasonable adjustment so that you can complete your application, you should contact Government Recruitment Service via dftrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.

Document 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.

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process. If you cannot access the information on our website for any reason, please email DRGComms@dft.gov.uk for assistance.

Further Information

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website. You can find detailed information about the recruitment process and what to expect when applying for a role.

Pre-employment Checking

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. 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.