About the job

Job summary

This is a key new leadership role in the Partnering Directorate, within DWP’s People and Capability Group. The People and Capability Group is accountable to the rest of DWP for creating a flexible, inclusive and continuously learning organisation, delivering the right people with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time.
The Senior HR Business Partner: Projects, will work closely with the HR Director for Service Excellence to develop our strategy and provide resilience to key partnering priorities.  There is excellent scope for the right candidate to help shape the role and no month, week or day are likely to be the same.   

We would expect key aspects of the role to include:

Scoping, developing and leading cross-cutting projects on key strategic people priorities across the Service Excellence Directorate to inform the approach of the Service Excellence Executive Team and the business  partnering offer that Service Excellence HR provides to them.

Leading time limited business partnering projects to support 1 of the 5 Directors in Service Excellence to deliver specific priorities, working with other senior business partners in the team. 

Taking a senior leadership role across Service Excellence HR, including team planning and deputising for the HR Director at a senior level boards.

Job description

Successful candidates can expect to be involved in a range of the following:

The Senior HR Business Partner: Projects will join the Service Excellence Business Partnering Team which partners the Service Excellence Group.  The Service Excellence Group brings together c15,500 colleagues spread across over 500 sites from 5 directorates: Retirement Services, Child Maintenance Service, Service Planning and Delivery, Customer Experience and Deployment.  

This new role will work with the HR Director for Service Excellence to develop and lead strategic priorities and provide resilience to the team through time limited projects working alongside the existing Senior HR Business Partners, who directly partner leaders in the business.  Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading on the identification of people issues impacting business performance using data, feedback; building relationships, scanning for emerging trends, innovations, best practice and understanding the external HR sector.
• Scoping, developing and executing projects to explore these issues as agreed with the Service Excellence Executive Team and HR Director Service Excellence.
• Supporting leadership and planning across our team of HR professionals, to ensure that services are joined up and aligned with the strategic direction of the business area.
• Working collaboratively to bring colleagues from across DWP with you, in identifying solutions which enable change and transformation in key areas including building leadership capability, resourcing, workforce planning and talent management, organisation design and development.
• Providing expert advice to align with P&C policy and strategy as required.

Person specification

Key Criteria for the Role:

To be successful in this role you will:

Have the ability to identify objectives within a wide strategic context using strong strategic analytical skills - attending to detail and complexity - and taking pride in solving problems, thinking creatively, working out what needs to be done, planning and progressing projects. (Lead Criteria)

Be a collaborative, inclusive leader who can work across your peers to build capability for our team so that Service Excellence Group receives the best possible service. You will be able to contribute on a broad scale to the leadership and development of the HR Function.

Be comfortable taking responsibility and demonstrating drive, even when working in ambiguity or needing to move between projects as priorities change. You will be excellent at forming relationships rapidly with a range of stakeholders so that you get the best out of their expertise and can provide constructive challenge and feedback as required.

Have a proven track record and experience in a HR role that enabled organisational transformation at scale. Ideally your experience will be rooted in a large and complex organisation.

Have MCIPD, or commitment to gain full CIPD membership on the basis of prior experience.

Benefits

Some of our Benefits Include:

Pay and Reward

An occupational pension with an employer contribution of over 26% plus a range of other benefits - Benefits of the pension scheme - Civil Service Pension Scheme
An Employee Assistance Programme - a free and confidential service providing information and counselling to help with a range of work, family and personal issues
A comprehensive reward scheme which includes vouchers and monetary awards
Access to discounts on a range of products and services
A range of schemes to help you budget certain costs

Leave and Working Arrangements

Generous holiday allowance of 23 or 25 days for new starters dependent on grade based on full-time work pattern, which increases to 30 days over time, in addition to public/bank holidays
Flexible working options, including full-time, part-time, job share, flexi-time and hybrid working for some roles
 A range of family friendly policies such as generous maternity, adoption or shared parental leave 

Personal Development and Well-Being

Excellent learning and development opportunities
A culture encouraging inclusivity and diversity with a range of local and national employee networks
A comprehensive wellbeing offer which includes support for mental and physical wellbeing
Support for volunteering and charitable giving activities, including time off
Sports and social activities

More about what we offer is available on our careers site found here

Location

Applicants should apply for suitable posts where they can travel to and from their home office location daily within a reasonable time.   

Please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas. Relocation costs will not be reimbursed 

Hybrid Working

This job role may be suitable for hybrid working, which is where an employee works part of the week in their DWP office and part of the week from home.  This is a voluntary, non-contractual arrangement and your office will be your contractual place of work. The number of days that anyone will be able to work at home will be determined primarily by business need but personal circumstances and other relevant circumstances will also be taken into account. If you are successful, any opportunities for hybrid working, including whether a hybrid working arrangement is suitable for you, will be discussed with you prior to you taking up your post.

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 

As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV and personal statement (1250 words max). Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.

The CV is an on-line tool accessed through the Civil Service Jobsite and there is no requirement to upload your personal CV.  Our CV element is short, and allows an initial check of eligibility, so please put the main content of your evidence and skills in your Personal Statement. 

When completing your personal statement, please read and understand the Key Criteria in the Person Specification thoroughly as this is what your written evidence will be assessed against. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. You may choose to address each criteria separately, however, one narrative example may cover and evidence several key criteria. You may not be able to meet all the key criteria, but please ensure you evidence: the key personal requirements and what have you done that relates to the requirements. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why, what you can do and the skills you have that are transferable to the key requirements, and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role. 

Written Sift

The written sift will be conducted using evidence from your CV and Personal Statement and will be assessed against the Key Criteria within the advert. 

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

The lead criteria

Have the ability to identify objectives within a wide strategic context using strong strategic analytical skills - attending to detail and complexity - and taking pride in solving problems, thinking creatively, working out what needs to be done, planning and progressing projects.

Interview

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview. This will be a video interview. The interview panel will be a minimum of two people. The interview will assess: Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

The interview aims to be more of a conversation exploring the candidate’s capability for the role.  At the Interview you will be asked a mixture of Behavioural and Strength questions. 

Behaviours to be assessed are:

• Seeing the Big Picture
• Leadership
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions

You will be asked to provide a 5-minute presentation on a specific subject, which you will be provided with in your invitation to interview. You will not be allowed to use any supporting documents or slides for this presentation, but you can use prompts or personal notes.

Sift and interview dates to be confirmed.

Further Information

Find out more about Working for DWP

A reserve list may be held for a period of 6 months from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to DWP 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

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 or Disclosure Scotland 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 

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.

The Civil Service values honesty and integrity and expects all candidates to abide by these principles. Please ensure that all examples provided in your application are taken directly from your own experience and that you describe the examples in your own words. Applications will be screened and if evidence of plagiarism or copying examples/answers from other sources is found, your application will be withdrawn. Internal DWP candidates may also face disciplinary action.

Before applying for this vacancy, current employees of DWP should check whether a successful application would result in changes to their terms & conditions of employment, e.g. mobility, pay, allowances. Civil Servants that would transfer into DWP from other government organisations, following successful application, will assume DWP's terms & conditions of employment current on the day they are posted, unless DWP has stated otherwise in writing.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

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 DWP@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.

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.