HR Business Partner in March

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is responsible for everything that goes into running the UK’s criminal and civil justice systems, creating the foundations for a safe, fair and prosperous society. We are one of the largest government departments with over 88,000 staff based across England and Wales. We are responsible for 500 courts and tribunals, 122 prisons, the policies underpinning the system and much more. MoJ People and Capability supports the organisation by enabling its people to be the best that they can be. We are continuously reviewing and enhancing the services we provide to ensure the delivery of high‑quality services for our customers. MoJ People and Capability has over 1,400 committed and capable professionals delivering people services across the Justice family. At the heart of delivering these services are our people. This is an exciting opportunity to provide strategic HR partnering to senior leaders in HM Prisons and Probation (HMPPS). You will be critical in ensuring HMPPS meets its aims in protecting the public and reducing re‑offending and gain unique experience which will enable you to progress in your career.

This role sits within the HR Business Partner (HMPPS) Team which is the front‑facing arm of the People & Capability Function supporting a number of business units across HMPPS. The post holder will partner Governors within the Prison Service and equivalent senior leaders within the Probation Service or National Services, dependent on the customer groups. It’s an interesting time to join the team with a huge amount of opportunity to be involved in supporting business change in a complex environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with senior leaders to support the business in delivering people priorities.
• Act as an implementer, facilitating access to central services and working alongside the business to execute innovative people initiatives.
• Partner customer groups in various locations across the Directorate of Security & Long Term High Security Estate and may be called upon to support regional or national projects across areas of the business.
• Use generalist knowledge and personal skills to advise and partner senior leaders on how best to align the people and business priorities.
• Bring together the people priorities for the prison and probation customer group or National Services at a senior level by:
• Solving: Provide strategic input on HR topics and help leaders develop effective people solutions.
• Connecting: Help the organisation draw on appropriate People Function Services and shared service support.
• Coaching: Coach leaders on how to manage people issues and drive the people agenda effectively.

Deliver on key delivery strands:

• Change Management: Understand the business and the drivers for change to support the business with the people elements of change implementation; support the business through re‑organisation, restructures and redeployment.
• Resourcing & Retention: Partner business and finance to understand the workforce picture based on attrition and recruitment forecasting; support interventions to address resourcing and retention challenges and facilitate access to the right services; advise on resourcing vacancies ensuring compliance with Civil Service Recruitment Principles.
• Management & Leadership Capability: Understand line manager and leadership capabilities; support the business to access centrally run learning; help develop leadership teams; build management confidence and capability in managing absence, performance, conduct and grievance cases; work with HR and the business to ensure policies are understood and embedded; understand the role of the unions and support managers with union engagement.
• Employee Experience and Staff Engagement: Analyse and identify the right people priorities through the annual Civil Service People Survey; implement engagement interventions; ensure diversity and inclusion is embedded; facilitate access to products and services to support networks; support wellbeing services for staff; build and manage diverse relationships; maintain evidence‑based decision‑making.

Qualifications and Experience

• Completed and achieved your Chartered MCIPD (or have an equivalent HR qualification) or be willing to work towards it, and actively demonstrate continuous professional development.
• Experience of delivering in an HR team and delivering HR plans, people management, and supporting others to optimise performance of their staff.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Ability to analyse and understand data to support evidence‑based decisions.

Behaviours

• Seeing the Big Picture (Lead Behaviour)
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service
• Working Together

Benefits and Working Arrangements

• Hybrid working arrangements where business need allows, with a minimum of 60% of working time in an office.
• Annual leave: 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after five years’ service. Option to buy or sell up to three days leave each year; additional paid time off for public holidays and one privilege day.
• Pension: Choice of Civil Service pension schemes.
• Training: Extensive range of training and development opportunities.
• Networks: Employee‑run networks for minority ethnic origin, disabilities, caring responsibilities, women, and LGBTQ+ employees.
• Support: Family‑friendly policies, voluntary benefits, retail vouchers, childcare support, maternity/adoption/paternity leave, free annual sight tests.

Equal Opportunity and EEO Statements

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ is committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace.