People Capability Lead

Government Recruitment Service; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department in Birmingham is seeking an experienced strategic HR leader to enhance people-focused change and drive capability within the Project Delivery Profession. This role requires strong stakeholder engagement skills, the ability to influence at all levels, and a strategic mindset for HR initiatives. The department offers a challenging environment with opportunities to shape HR strategy, supported by benefits like flexible working and significant pension contributions.

Benefits

Employer pension contribution of 28.97%

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Flexible working options

Qualifications

• Proven experience in strategic HR leadership and change management.
• Capability to engage stakeholders at all levels effectively.
• Experience with data analysis to provide insights on capability.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with PD Profession Teams to strengthen leadership capability.
• Drive accreditation of PD Professionals and coordinate implementation.
• Lead fast stream graduate scheme bidding and onboarding processes.
• Use people data to provide insights and support talent exercises.
• Develop improvement strategies using data-driven insights.
• Influence people capability project outcomes through partnerships.
• Work cross-functionally within the government teams.
• Deputise for the Head of People Team in meetings as needed.

Skills

Change management

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic HR leadership

Data-driven decision making

Education

Relevant HR or business qualification

Job description

Are you looking to work in a varied, dynamic and fast paced environment, where you set the direction of your work and how it is delivered?

Can you act as a people change agent, building consensus through an understanding of stakeholders operating contexts, creating a compelling vision, while taking of other’s needs?

Do you enjoy enabling organisations and their people to build and develop their capability so they can meet current and future business objectives - ensuring they have suitably skilled and capable employees at all levels?

Have you got experience engaging at all levels in business to influence and form consensus, agree strategies while also being robust, enable others to deliver those people strategies and plans whilst coaching and maintaining their focus and drive to deliver?

The Department for Transport (DfT) seeks an experienced strategic HR leader to strengthen relationships, drive people-focused change, and enhance outcomes for its Project Delivery Profession and Function. DfT manages one of the largest and most complex government project portfolios, worth over £119bn, supported by 500+ project professionals and additional staff in its Arm’s Length Bodies.

The Project Delivery and Performance Directorate (PDPD) ensures the Department has the capability to deliver projects successfully. Its People Team has shifted to a strategic advisory role, focusing on building capability, talent, and resourcing, including accrediting 25% of professionals to boost credibility. The next phase involves deeper collaboration with DfT’s wider family and other government departments, influencing best practices and fostering consensus.

This role offers a challenging opportunity to work with senior leaders, leverage data and expertise, and shape HR strategy in a dynamic environment ideal for those aspiring to become a trusted voice in HR and beyond.

Benefits

• Employer pension contribution of28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Read more in the Benefits section below!

Find out more about what it's like working at DfTc Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with PD Profession Teams across DfT’s Arm’s Length Bodies and Executive Agencies (organisations) to strengthen leadership capability building.
• Drive delivery of 75% of DfT centrals’ PD Professionals achieving National Infrastructure and Service Transformation Authority’s (NISTA) PD Accreditation by 2030 and coordinate rollout with DfT organisations to enhance their capability and credibility.
• Lead the annual Project Delivery (PD) Fast Stream graduate Scheme Bidding (March), coordinating (June/July) and onboarding process (September and October), manage funding and ensure accurate financial records and payments.
• Use people data to provide insights and advise Senior Project Leads on capability and capacity and support annual Director Talent exercise.
• Develop strategies for project delivery improvement using data-driven insights; engage and motivate stakeholders in change initiatives.
• Act as relationship lead with NISTA and key partners to influence and collaborate on improving People capability and Capacity project outcomes.
• Work cross-functionally within the team, Directorate, and wider Government; undertaking ad-hoc tasks as required
• Deputise for the Head of the People Team at meetings and Boards as required

For further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.