HR Policy Adviser Newcastle upon Tyne, England
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About the job
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Location
About the job
Job summary
Do you want to work in the heart of HR? People Policy underpins both the employee lifecycle and the employment contract and is a critical player in the experience people who work for us have.
It’s an exciting time to join Defra’s HR Centre of Expertise. We are a small team of dedicated professionals who support both civil and public services across 6 organisations, c25,000 employees and 3 pay bargaining units, and we’re on a mission!
Delivering against an ambitious and challenging people strategy, we are continually looking for smarter, innovative, and more streamlined ways of providing our corporate service, whilst managing the needs and expectations of our varied customer groups. This makes our team portfolio interesting, fast paced, and dynamic. This is an excellent opportunity to affect real change across a large group environment and you will need to be comfortable working in an agile way across the full policy portfolio with a matrix leadership team to support you.
You’ll have opportunities to support the research, development, and creation of policies across all our group organisations, work collaboratively with HR Business Partners and other expert service teams within our large HR department, and build your expert knowledge - continual professional development is important to us, and we’ll offer you this through CIPD and other capability building solutions.
Job description
This role provides critical support to the Policy Specialists and senior leads across the full portfolio of policy work, and involves detailed research for policy development, preparation of communication materials, supporting procedures, project documents, and the provision of advice to our HRBP’s in both the resolution of complex queries and in the launch of new products.
With support, you will have the opportunity to take a lead on policy development and will be able to build your technical knowledge of policies across the employee lifecycle. You will also have opportunities to work with, and present to, a range of stakeholders across Defra group both within and external to HR.
This couldn’t be a better time to join Defra group HR as we work to respond to unprecedented change and make our contribution to the enhancement of the environment for the next generation, leaving it in a better state than we found it.
You will:
- Conduct research for specific areas of policy to support policy development and enable accurate and timely responses to complex queries
- Work collaboratively to influence customers and build strong partnerships internally and externally. Understand issues and provide effective responses that deliver priorities while seeking to maintain a positive reputation
- Write communication materials, policies and procedures and coordinate plans with stakeholders to deliver policy campaigns and launch
- Stay up to date with legislation, leading practice, and emerging Civil Service policy development to influence our team workflow
- Lead on the management and maintenance of our policy team inbox
- Focus on developing your understanding of employee well-being, equality, diversity, and inclusion to help you identify how we can bring these to life through our materials
- Provide administrative support across the team and the full policy portfolio
- Support senior policy leads in the data management of sensitive information linked to senior performance management
- Support the ongoing maintenance and innovation of our People Performance Hub
Person specification
Essential Criteria:
- Excellent attention to detail and the ability to convey complex information clearly both orally and in writing
- Excellent writing skills
- Good data interpretation and analytical skills
- Some experience of Human Resources preferably with some exposure to policy development
- Used to working collaboratively across other teams and with a range of stakeholders
- Experience of working together to deliver team priorities
- Comfortable working in a complex, multi-organisation environment
- Able to manage your own workflow with support, and work independently
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Managing a Quality Service
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role
- An environment with flexible working options
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
- A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%
Blended working
Defra operates a blended working policy subject to business need, giving people the flexibility to choose when and where they work and collaborate with others.
Individuals are expected to work from one of the office locations stated in the advert to connect with their colleagues, as required by their role and business team needs. There is flexibility to split the working week, spending minimum of 40-60% in the workplace, unless exceptional circumstances apply and/or you are a contractual home worker.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
As part of the application process you will be asked to complete a CV, Personal Statement and Behaviour statement.
Further details around what this will entail are listed on the application form.
In no more than 500 words, candidates should demonstrate how they meet the Essential Criteria for this role, including explaining why they are interested in this role and what value they will bring to it. CV will not be scored and is for information purposes only.
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 to be confirmed. Interviews to take place virtually via MS Teams.
Interview
If successful at application stage, you will be invited to interview where you will be assessed on your Behaviours and Strengths.
You will be required to review a policy. Details will be provided prior to interview. Candidates will be asked to read the policy and set out how they would approach reviewing it, including any key considerations. At interview you will have 5 minutes to talk through your thinking and justify your thought process in terms of the steps you would take and any decision points. Candidates can use written notes to help with this.
If your contact details change at any time during the selection process, please ensure you update your Civil Service Jobs Profile.
Location
Please be aware that this role will be contractually based in a Defra group workplace/office. 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. This role can be based in Leeds, York, Newcastle, London, Bristol, Reading or Worcester.
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.
Defra continues to support a blended working model and candidates are currently expected to attend their office base for 40-60% of the week.
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 appointed in merit order for each location. You will be asked to state your location preference on your application.
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.
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 [email protected] 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.
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.
Criminal Record Check
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 [email protected] 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 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.
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
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
Working for the Civil Service
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).
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Recruitment team
Further information
Government Recruitment Services via email: [email protected]
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission: Click here to visit Civil Service Commission.
