At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative recruitment strategies and improve HR policies for the Civil Service.
- Company: Join the Government People Group, shaping the future of public service.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a supportive team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on recruitment and employee experience in the Civil Service.
- Qualifications: CIPD membership or working towards it, with strong HR policy experience.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to drive change and foster an inclusive culture.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 ÂŁ per year.
Government People Group (GPG) is the strategic and functional centre for the Government People Function and human resources (HR) in the Civil Service. Led by the Joint Interim Government Chief People Officers, Caitlin Kinsella and Janette Durbin, we enable and improve the delivery of recruitment, training, workplace policy, HR strategy and management excellence to over half a million civil servants.
What we do
- Leading on cross-government HR strategy, organisation design and workforce planning.
- Procuring and delivering training and development schemes for the Civil Service.
- Delivering recruitment services, guidance and expertise to departments.
- Coordinating and advising departments on pay, pensions and employee policy.
- Setting standards and guidance for line managers and senior civil servants.
- Coordinating the implementation of the Shared Services Strategy for Government.
- Enhancing employee experience to promote an engaged workforce and culture of performance excellence.
People Plan 2024-27
A shared aim of all civil servants working in the Government People Function is to support the delivery of the Civil Service People Plan 2024-2027. The People Plan outlines five People Priorities for the Civil Service, alongside 45 commitments to address our most pressing and immediate people challenges. Departmental plans and strategies also align with and contribute towards the People Plan.
Centre of Recruitment Expertise (CoRE)
CoRE is a small team of 7 recruitment policy and strategy experts (3 team leaders and 4 senior policy consultants) who look after some of the biggest strategic recruitment issues in the Civil Service, working with colleagues across the system and wider industry to deliver the highest quality advice and solutions for Ministers and Senior Leaders in the Civil Service. We are a high performing team with Civil Service and private sector experience where everyone feels welcome and has the opportunity to demonstrate their full potential, celebrating successes and supporting one another as a team.
Job description
We have some big challenges that we need your help to solve:
- Develop a new SCS Attraction Strategy and EVP to recruit leaders with innovation, frontline, and private‑sector skills and experience.
- Simplify and improve recruitment, delivering Ministerial ambitions to improve job applications, remove systemic barriers, and create a new candidate‑focused standard for job adverts.
- Drive improvements to recruitment across the Civil Service, leveraging our Test and Learn initiatives to capture and develop innovation and improvement activity.
- Provide high‑quality advice, solutions and expertise, owning cross‑government recruitment policies, delivering briefings for Ministerial speeches, and responding to parliamentary correspondence.
- Provide consistent, high‑quality line management for 1 or 2 reports, role‑modeling excellent leadership in the team and across Government People Group.
Person specification
Essential
- Chartered Membership of CIPD (or be working towards it).
- Proven experience developing complex HR policy solutions and navigating established controls to meet shifting political and operational needs.
- Experience identifying barriers and blockers in HR, recruitment or professional processes and delivering simplified, user‑focused solutions.
- Excellent verbal and written skills with a demonstrated ability to draft clear, concise, and impactful policies and briefings for Senior Ministers and Functional Boards.
- A track record of building trusting relationships with senior stakeholders and peers alike, working effectively within a high‑performing team to achieve shared goals.
- Ability to interpret and produce insights from data that they can communicate clearly to guide strategic decision‑making.
Desirable
- HR professional with significant recruitment, recruitment marketing or attraction experience.
- A proactive approach to challenging how activity is currently conducted, with the resilience to drive innovation in a complex, multi‑departmental environment.
- A commitment to fostering a culture where bullying, harassment, and discrimination have no place, role‑modeling inclusive leadership at all times.
Deputy Head - Civil Service Recruitment Policy in Manchester employer: Government Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Government Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Deputy Head - Civil Service Recruitment Policy in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former civil servants on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing a role in the Government People Group.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by understanding the Civil Service's core values and how they align with your own. Be ready to discuss how your skills can help tackle the challenges mentioned in the job description.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your expertise! Bring examples of your previous work that demonstrate your ability to develop HR policies and simplify recruitment processes. This will help you stand out as a candidate who can drive innovation.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Deputy Head - Civil Service Recruitment Policy in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to reflect the specific requirements of the Deputy Head role. Highlight your experience in developing HR policies and your ability to simplify recruitment processes, as these are key aspects of the job.
Showcase Your Communication Skills: Since excellent verbal and written skills are essential, ensure your application is clear and concise. Use impactful language to demonstrate your ability to draft policies and briefings that resonate with senior stakeholders.
Demonstrate Your Strategic Thinking: We want to see how you can drive improvements in recruitment. Share examples of how you've used data to inform decisions or how you've tackled barriers in HR processes. This will show us your strategic mindset.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity within the Government People Group.
How to prepare for a job interview at Government Recruitment
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the Civil Service People Plan 2024-2027 and the specific challenges mentioned in the job description. Familiarise yourself with current recruitment trends and how they apply to the public sector. This will show that you’re not just interested in the role, but also in the bigger picture.
✨Showcase Your Experience
Prepare examples from your past work that demonstrate your ability to develop complex HR policies and navigate political landscapes. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses, making it easy for the interviewers to see your impact.
✨Build Relationships
Highlight your experience in building trusting relationships with senior stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you’ve collaborated with others to achieve shared goals. This is crucial in a high-performing team environment like the one at GPG.
✨Data-Driven Insights
Be prepared to talk about how you’ve used data to inform strategic decisions in your previous roles. Bring examples of how you’ve interpreted data to identify barriers in HR processes and how you’ve implemented user-focused solutions. This will demonstrate your analytical skills and strategic thinking.