• You will bring a strong and proven track record of leading and delivering people related change within complex organisations. This includes a deep understanding of the people impacts associated with transformation and the ability to design and implement effective solutions. Examples may include leading people transition activity, delivering organisational change initiatives, implementing new ways of working, or restructuring and redesigning operating models. You should be able to clearly demonstrate how you have successfully led transformation at scale and delivered measurable outcomes.

Business Focused Approach:

• You will be able to quickly understand the priorities, challenges and context of the business you support. Using insight and evidence, you will analyse and diagnose people challenges and translate business needs into effective HR and organisational change solutions. You will demonstrate how you align people processes and systems to deliver clear, measurable benefits that drive organisational performance.

Stakeholder Management:

• You will have extensive experience of HR Business Partnering within large, complex and multi stakeholder environments. This includes building strong, trust-based relationships with senior leaders, confidently managing diverse and demanding stakeholders, and influencing or challenging effectively at senior levels to achieve the right outcomes. Evidence of credibility and impact in your stakeholder relationships is essential

Effective Communication:

• You will possess strong communication skills and personal impact, enabling you to engage, influence and advise senior officials with confidence. You should be able to act as a coach and trusted confidante to leaders, offering clear, credible advice and effectively managing risk during complex change. You will demonstrate how your communication supports well informed decision making and contributes to the successful delivery of transformation

Professional Credibility:

• You will role model professionalism, integrity and resilience, demonstrating a commitment to continuous personal and professional development. You will act ethically and with tenacity, set high standards, and inspire others across the HR profession to invest in their own growth and development.

Qualifications/Accreditations

• You must hold CIPD Chartered Membership or be willing to work towards achieving this upon commencement of the role.

Behaviours

• We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

  • Leadership
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Changing and Improving
  • Seeing the Big Picture

Salary and Benefits

• Alongside your salary of £75,026, Department for Work and Pensions contributes £21,735 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

• DWP have a broad benefits package built around your work-life balance which includes:

  • Working patterns to support work/life balance such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
  • Generous annual leave – at least 23 days on entry, increasing up to 30 days over time (pro–rata for part time employees), plus 9 days public and privilege leave.
  • Support for financial wellbeing, including interest-free season ticket loans for travel, a cycle to work scheme and an employee discount scheme.
  • Health and wellbeing support including our Employee Assistance Programme for specialist advice and counselling and the opportunity to join HASSRA a first-class programme of competitions, activities and benefits for its members (subscription payable monthly).
  • Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity and shared parental leave pay after 1 year’s continuous service.
  • Funded learning and development to support progress in your role and career. This includes industry recognised qualifications and accreditations, coaching, mentoring and talent development programmes.
  • An inclusive and diverse environment with opportunities to join professional and interpersonal networks including Women’s Network, National Race Network, National Disability Network (THRIVE) and many more.

Artificial intelligence

• Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

• This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

To apply for this post, you will need to complete the following actions:

Written Sift:

• A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. 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 but is not scored so please put the main content of your evidence and skills in your Personal Statement.
• A Personal Statement (maximum 1000 Words), Explaining How You Consider Your Personal Skills, Qualities, And Experience Provide Evidence Of Your Suitability For The Role Against The Essential Criteria In The Person Specification. If We Receive a Large Number Of Applications, We Will Conduct An Initial Sift On The Lead Criteria:

Leadership: You will be a confident, credible and recognised HR leader with experience of motivating, developing and guiding teams to high levels of performance. You will demonstrate how you cultivate accountability, maintain resilience and adaptability, and lead effectively within demanding and complex environments. Your leadership approach should maximise the impact and value of people related work and support positive organisational outcomes. You will show how your leadership style influence others, particularly senior stakeholders.

If you pass the initial sift, you will be progressed to a full sift or directly to interview.

Interview:

• Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an interview lasting up to 60 minutes. This will take place face to face at Jobs and Careers Service Bristol Temple St. The interview panel will be a minimum of two people and will assess Behaviours and Strengths.
• During the first 5 minutes of your interview, you will be asked to deliver a presentation assessing Experience. Please note that visual aids will not be permitted.
• To help you prepare and settle into the interview you will be sent the presentation topic 7 days prior to your interview.

Indicative Sift And Interview Timeline:

• Sift week commencing 5 October 2026
• Interviews week commencing 2 November 2026

Locations:

• The role available will be based at a Job Centre in Southern England, subject to capacity limits. Travel to other locations will be necessary for the role.

Hybrid Working:

• This role may be suitable for hybrid working, which