15038 - Senior HR Business Partner - 15038 - Ministry of Justice

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job title: Senior HR Business Partner

Directorate: Human Resources

This is a part time/job share role at 0.54 full time equivalent. You must be available to work from Wednesday to Friday and work 20 hours per week in total.

About us

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice.  We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice. If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

About the role

We’re looking for an experienced, strategic HR professional to join our team as a Senior HR Business Partner.

The HMCTS HR function plays a pivotal role in supporting leaders and their teams through transformation by developing and deploying the right people strategies. The role of Senior HRBP requires you to provide clear direction and focus, visibly championing changes within HMCTS.

Strong leadership is critical and all senior managers in the organisation are required to operate in a culture of openness and honesty, demonstrating a commitment to change through involvement and empowerment, and by delivering results.

As Senior HR Business Partner, you will be responsible for planning and facilitating the delivery of the People and Organisation Strategy, in support of the HMCTS Business Plan and goals.

As the business face of HMCTS you will need to work closely with the wider HMCTS HR team and wider MoJ and Civil Service HR to tailor appropriate interventions and insight to deliver a whole HR service.

As a key member of the senior management team for your area(s) of responsibility, you will provide the bridge between the business and HR and will work collaboratively with senior stakeholders and their teams to determine all people requirements.

Providing expert strategic HR advice to Directors and Senior Management Teams, as a HRBP you will coach senior leaders, and challenge where necessary, to enable highly effective change leadership and to create a compelling people proposition thereby improving individual, team and organisational performance and capability.

Some Senior HR Business Partners line manage and lead Assistant HR Business partners.

Your role as Senior HR Business Partner encompasses several key aspects (but not limited to):

Working with Senior Directors as part of Senior Management Teams to develop and implement HR and business strategy, ensuring HMCTS has the right structure, climate and capability to manage change and transition, and to support the wider cultural change agenda.
Advising on the people implications of significant change initiatives and providing technical HR/employment oversight.
Working collaboratively with Senior Directors and their teams to develop strategies in line with Civil Service/HMCTS guidelines and targets covering performance management, health and wellbeing/attendance management, engagement, and equality, diversity and inclusion.
Ensuring effective workforce planning that aligns to budget allocations and meets capacity and capability requirements, including developing attraction, talent and development strategies and supporting Talent and Succession planning to grow a strong talent pipeline.
Developing leadership capability and effectiveness through coaching, challenging and mentoring senior Directors, and influencing senior Leaders to drive engagement and cultural change.
Engaging with the Organisational Capability Team to access products and services that support delivery of our people proposition, capability development framework and organisational toolkit.
Using people data and customer insight to inform and drive strategic change, improve business performance and deliver excellence.
Operating as the technical HR expert for the business, providing oversight of all people-related matters and working closely with HR colleagues, delivery partners and wider HR teams to ensure consistency and continuous improvement of HR services, policies and practices.
Identifying and disseminating HR best practice and advising portfolio leads for change initiatives and projects.

Who are we looking for? (Person Specification)

The ideal candidate for this position should demonstrate:

Essential Skills

CIPD‑qualified or working towards CIPD (or equivalent HR qualification), with evidence of ongoing Continuous Professional Development.
Proven track record of leading stakeholder engagement on HR issues and solutions, with evidence of delivering organisational transformation at scale
Significant experience of HR Business Partnering, demonstrated across varied business contexts.
Evidence of role-modelling effective leadership behaviours, including setting direction, building trust and driving accountability.
Proven experience of leading strategic workforce planning and managing resourcing challenges, with the ability to identify risks, recommend evidence‑based solutions, and advise senior stakeholders confidently.
Proven ability to think and plan strategically and to implement people strategies that achieve measurable outcomes.
Demonstrated ability to build strong, trust‑based partnerships with senior stakeholders, constructively challenge, and provide balanced, actionable feedback.
Strong consultancy skills, evidenced by the ability to understand business context and communicate HR issues and solutions in clear, business‑focused language.
Demonstrated ability to coach and develop senior leaders and to facilitate effective, insight‑led decision making.
Strong understanding of change management, whole systems thinking and organisational development concepts, with evidence of leading or enabling change across diverse geographical locations and jurisdictions.

How to apply

Application Stage

Please submit:

An anonymised CV. Please ensure your CV is uploaded in a simple format to prevent any formatting issues when it's downloaded or reviewed.

Your CV should:

Be succinct and clear
Be factually accurate – You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, is truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Include your qualifications, highlighting any modules or accreditation relevant to the role.
Include your relevant experience, providing dates.
Provide detail – we are interested in how your knowledge, skills, and experience demonstrate the capabilities we are looking for in this role.

Statement of suitability demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria (up to 750 words).

You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, is truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Technical question in relation to the person specification

We will aim to sift the CV, Statement of suitability and Technical question but, in the event of a large number of applicants, an initial short sift may be conducted on the Technical question only. Candidates who pass the initial sift will progress to a full sift where all application assessment criteria is then assessed.

Interview Stage

If successful at sift, you will be invited to attend a remote interview, via Microsoft teams. During your interview, you will be assessed against the following Civil Service Success Profiles which will include:

· Questions in relation to the following Civil Service behaviours

Working together
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Big Picture

Strengths will also be assessed however these are not shared in advance.

Travel requirements

This is a national role however, this position involves occasional travel to Wales and Scotland, with the expectation of additional travel to other HMCTS sites where operationally necessary.

About our benefits

We reward our people for their hard work and commitment. We have a number of family

friendly and flexible working polices that will help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition, we offer a range of employee benefits which include generous annual leave, a highly competitive contributory pension scheme, childcare benefits, season ticket and bicycle loans.

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension

The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are 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. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference: 15038

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference: 15038

Application form stage assessments

Experience

We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods

CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Statement of Suitability

Guidance for the Statement of Suitability

Your Statement of Suitability should be no more than 750 words and should give us real life examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role. Consider addressing particular points in the person specification requirements and key responsibilities. We recommend following the STAR format.

You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, is truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Evidence of Experience

CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Technical

Technical Questions Application Form Question Word Limit

250

You should be CIPD Level 7 qualified, or actively working towards CIPD Level 7 or an equivalent HR qualification.

Ministry of Justice

15038 - Senior HR Business Partner

General Information

Descriptions & requirements

Job Description Attachment

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Application form stage assessments

Interview stage assessments