About the job

Job summary

The role sits within the Pay, Policy and Reward team within the HR & Organisational Development Function. The team supports the departmental objectives set out in the Outcome Delivery Plan (ODP) as DBT seeks to attract and retain great people in the UK and Overseas with the right skills, experience and capability to deliver an ambitious trade and investment agenda. We work closely with stakeholders to meet the changing needs of our people and DBT as an employer by: 

• Making sure our advice and services are user friendly and easy to access 
• Providing clear, concise HR policies 
• Applying legislative changes and best practice approaches to policy and service delivery 
• Directly supporting our wider approach to employee engagement 

Our key objective is to support the organisation and our people. We aim to ensure our service provides timely and accurate information for users, supporting DBT to deliver departmental priorities. 

This role will be critical in providing support in reviewing and developing people policies that are legally compliant and improve user experience, particularly following the Machinery of Government changes with BEIS and Cabinet Office last year. You will be responsible in supporting the delivery of policy advice and policy development, supporting policy delivery across the organisation including the effective project management of policy work and the delivery of key initiatives and governance, monitoring progress, and drafting key policy-based returns. 

You will work directly to one of the People Policy Leads, supporting senior updates and Cabinet Office returns, updating key senior stakeholders of progress and developments, utilising best practice and effective communication styles.

Job description

The role will include: 

• Supporting the development of new and existing people policies for use across the organisation, including the oversight of the project management element of delivering department-wide people policies and support for emerging priorities; 
• Working with stakeholders across HR, the wider Department (such as Communication and Digital teams) and other government departments on delivery of key activities and commitments, utilising communication and influencing skills to support timely delivery and ownership across delivery strands; 
• Supporting the People Policy Lead and Head of People Policy on briefings, reports, and updates of progress against the People Policy priorities, working closely with senior stakeholders and sponsors within the People Policy space; 
• Answering complex policy queries, providing the escalation support for the HR Advisory Service and ad-hoc HRBP support, as well as exploring ongoing upskilling opportunities.  

Essential criteria 

• HR experience
• Strong verbal and written communication skills – an ability to draft clear, concise and impactful policies and briefings
• Project management skills 
• Demonstrated ability to work with a range of stakeholders and bring about a consensus.  

Desirable criteria  

• Experience of conducting research 
• A good grasp of employment law. 

Person specification

Personal attributes & skills 

Information about what the ideal candidate would be like in their character and what they would bring to your team. 

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to engage effectively with demanding and diverse stakeholder groups, including the Trade Unions.
• An ability to work independently under own initiative.  

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £32,858, Department for Business and Trade contributes £8,871 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, Ability and Experience.

After submission of the first stage of your application you will be invited to complete a Civil Service Verbal Test. If you successfully pass the test, you will be invited to complete the final stage of the application. 

Please complete the online tests as soon as possible (within 24-48 hours is recommended), the closing date for the tests is 23.55 on 01/02/2024. If you fail to complete the online test before the deadline your application will be withdrawn. Guidance for the test will be available when you are invited to take the test. The tests are administered online and accessed via the CS Jobs website.

Interviews for this vacancy will be conducted virtually. We will, however, consider in-person interviews by exception.

Please ensure that you check your emails regularly as all updates from us will be sent to you this way

After the closing date It is likely that the sift will take place 1-2 weeks after the closing date and interviews 3-5 weeks after the closing date though this is subject to change. 

To apply for this post, you will be asked to complete the following as part of the online application:    

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Provide employment history that relates to the essential criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages. 
• A Personal Statement of up to 250 words, answering the following question: Describe a situation when you influenced a diverse group of stakeholders to achieve a shared outcome (250 words).This will test the ‘Communicating and Influencing’ behaviour., explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the Essential criteria.   

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift will be conducted based on CV only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to supporting candidates so they can perform at their best throughout the recruitment process. This includes making reasonable adjustments to our process. In order to request an adjustment: 

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

Alternatively contact the Government Recruitment Service at DBTrecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.  

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

Candidate Support

You may want to join a virtual Candidate Support Session. These sessions include helpful tips and advice on the recruitment process, from application to interview.  

Please see attached Candidate Pack for further information on: Diversity and Inclusion; Benefits; Learning and Development; Working Patterns and what we deliver as a department. 

Further Information:

• A reserve list may be held for a period of 12 months from which further appointments can be made. Reserve Lists will be for each location and appointments made in merit order based on location preferences.   
• Any move to the Department for Business and Trade from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments.
• The Department will not consider sponsoring a visa or issuing a Certificate of Sponsorship. We are unable to offer advice on any Visa and Immigration cases.  
• 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. Any applicant who has 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.  
• Terms and Conditions are attached.  Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
• Please note – the successful candidate will be expected to remain in post for a minimum of 18 months before being released for another role.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service /Disclosure Scotland/Access NI) 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 

For further information on the Access NI confidential checking service telephone: the Access NI Helpline on 0300 200 7888 and ask to speak to the operations manager in confidence, or email accessni@ani.x.gsi.gov.uk

Feedback

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.