Senior HR Business Partner

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO); Tathall End; On-site; GBP 59,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency for international development is seeking an experienced HR professional to drive workforce planning and talent management. This role involves collaborating with senior leaders, developing strategies for recruitment and people development, and tackling a range of workforce challenges. The ideal candidate should hold a Level 7 CIPD qualification and possess strong leadership, data analysis, and strategic planning skills. Benefits include a competitive salary, generous leave, and a Civil Service pension.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Civil Service pension

On-site gym

Interest-free loans for season tickets and bikes

Generous holiday entitlement

Qualifications

• Operational HR experience in a relevant environment.
• Expert knowledge of employment law and HR best practices.
• Experience of building relationships and networking.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement workforce planning strategies.
• Liaise with stakeholders to deliver people strategies.
• Address workforce challenges and provide solutions.

Skills

Leadership and networking skills

Strategic workforce planning

Data-driven decision making

Business partnering

Communication and influencing

Change management

Education

CIPD accreditation

Level 7 CIPD qualification or equivalent

Job description

At FCDO Services we protect the UK’s interests at home and overseas. We design and construct secure government buildings and courier diplomatic packages worldwide, safeguard government tech and a whole lot more. Our work is as varied and vital as it gets, but we never lose sight of our people. Their skills, aspirations and growth mean as much as the global mission we’re on. In our world, it all matters.

To protect a nation, we need people with all kinds of skills. That means everyone from architects to accountants, and electricians to engineers. Our HR team knows this well. They’re the ones who offer support every step of the way, helping us attract, train, develop and retain a range of brilliantly talented colleagues. Now, you’ve got the opportunity to join them.

Putting people first. Growing talent from within. Finding your potential. It all matters. Use all your workforce planning skills to support our global mission.

Key Responsibilities

• Work in partnership with senior leaders to build organisational capability and capacity through effective operational and strategic workforce planning, enabling successful performance and talent management, and identifying creative people solutions.
• Liaise with key stakeholders to develop, deliver and link business and people strategies, embedding the strategic workforce planning framework.
• Ensure successful recruitment plans fulfil customer needs and help take advantage of new business opportunities.
• Address a wide range of workforce challenges, provide insights into the development and delivery of people strategies, policies and procedures, and build effective relationships with key stakeholders.
• Analyse and gather insights from HR and business data analytics, performance, surveys and other feedback, and coach line managers and senior leaders in all aspects of people development while supporting transformational change.
• Help implement HR policies that protect the UK’s interests around the world.

Qualifications

• Operational HR experience.
• Defined, designed and implemented development initiatives and people strategies.
• Excellent leadership and networking skills.
• Experience of strategic workforce planning.
• Capacity planning.
• Experience of building relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to use data.
• Strong business partnering and consultancy skills.
• Expert knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
• CIPD accreditation.
• Making effective decisions.
• Communicating and influencing.
• Changing and improving.
• Leadership.

Preferably Level 7 CIPD qualification or equivalent; understanding of Civil Service HR policies and controls; experience in a commercial environment is an advantage.

Technical Skills

• CIPD accreditation.
• Operational HR experience in a relevant environment.
• Defined, designed and implemented leadership and talent management development initiatives and people strategies including performance management.
• Experience of strategic workforce planning in a complex organisation.
• Ability to demonstrate how to use data and evidence to make decisions.
• Expert knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.

Application Process

Your CV and personal statement will not form part of the assessment; they will provide insight into your work history and experience.

• Personal identifying details
• Career history with key responsibilities
• Skills and experience
• Achievements
• Qualifications

Candidates will be shortlisted on answers to job‑specific questions. Successful applicants will be invited to a MS Teams or face‑to‑face interview. At the interview you will be asked a blend of technical and behavioural questions, along with a presentation. Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

• Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before appointment. The level of security needed is a security check.
• People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.
• See our vetting charter.

What We Offer

When you join us, you’ll be contributing to protecting the nation’s interests at home and overseas. How will we help you in return? We offer a competitive salary of £58,209, generous holiday entitlement, and a Civil Service pension. In addition we contribute £16,863 towards your membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Additional perks include an on‑site gym, nursery, canteen and interest‑free loans on season tickets and bikes.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension
• A leave allowance of 25 days per annum
• 9 days per annum public and privilege days