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General Information

Salary
£35,335 - £37,847
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
Bath, Bournemouth, Bristol, Devizes, Dorchester, Exeter, Gloucester, Newton Abbot, Poole, Portland, Shaftesbury, Taunton, Weston-super-Mare, Weymouth, Wotton-under-Edge, Yeovil
Region
South West
Closing Date
30-Mar-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
15497

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job Title: Human Resources Manager
Grade: HEO
Team/Directorate: MoJ People and Capability – HR Business Partnering (HMPPS)

Overview of the Role

The Ministry of Justice People and Capability (MoJ P&C) supports the organisation by enabling its people to be the best they can be. We continuously review and improve P&C services to deliver high‑quality support across the MoJ.

With a passion for people management and a desire to develop a strong HR generalist foundation, the postholder will work with managers across HMPPS to optimise effective working relationships and maximise the impact of HR on business performance. This is an opportunity to shape HR support within prisons and probation—helping to create a safer society and support rehabilitation.

The role involves proactive problem‑solving and enabling the business to find solutions to HR challenges. With generalist HR knowledge, including case management, the postholder will enable business leaders through policy interpretation, application of case management advice and delivery of key HR processes. The role maintains links with key services such as SSCL, Occupational Health and Civil Service Pensions.

Summary

Working in either a regional or HQ delivery role, the HR Manager will support business leaders, managers and specialists with complex HR cases, acting as a professional link to central case management services to achieve effective outcomes.

As the first point of contact for the business, the postholder will manage stakeholder expectations and gather business intelligence to provide specialist advice or allocate support from across the wider HR team.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

  • Support a business area with wide‑ranging daily issues, developing options to maintain or improve performance.
  • Exercise autonomy to make decisions and deploy resources using initiative and a strong HR network.
  • Interpret HR advice, including seeking clarification to understand broader implications.
  • Make decisions within policy and best practice, applying discretion where required.
  • Analyse HR data to determine appropriate interventions or actions.
  • Balance sensitive or conflicting viewpoints to determine facts and appropriate methodologies.
  • Use judgement to resolve unclear or complex issues requiring further investigation.
  • Maintain effective relationships, support others, contribute to team decisions and use initiative to solve problems.
  • Contribute to operational objectives by providing credible HR consultancy to managers, including in areas such as:
    • Employment Tribunal, Grievance and Disciplinary Support
    • Attendance Management
    • Audit, Assurance & Compliance
    • Commissioner: Expert Services & Support (Internal & External)

Essential Knowledge, Experience and Skills

  • Previous experience in an HR delivery role.
  • Strong ability to build and manage diverse relationships, including at senior levels.
  • Experience supporting others to improve people‑management capability.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
  • Ability to analyse, interpret and apply data to business delivery.

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills

  • Experience working in a Civil Service HR team and awareness of the Civil Service HR operating model.
  • Experience of HR consultancy or service delivery using a Customer Relationship Model.

Desirable criteria will only be used to differentiate between closely scored candidates after essential criteria have been assessed.

Location and Travel Requirements

The successful candidate will have a base location at one of the following sites:

  • HMP Leyhill
  • HMP Bristol
  • HMP Channing’s Wood
  • HMP The Verne
  • HMP Portland
  • HMP Erlestoke
  • HMP Exeter
  • HMYOI Guys Marsh
  • Bristol Magistrates Bristol
  • Taunton Probation Office, Deane House, Belvedere Road, Taunton, TA1 1HE
  • Twyver House, Bruton Way, Gloucester, GL1 1PB
  • 7 Madeira Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 1QL
  • NPS, 2 Westwey Road, Weymouth
  • NPS, 63 Commercial Road, Poole
  • NPS Bath Magistrates and County Court
  • NPS Probation Offices, Dorset County Council, Dorchester
  • 3–5 Barnfield Road, Exeter, EX1 1RD
  • Queensway House, The Hedges, Worle, BS22 7BB
  • 22 Hendford, Yeovil, BA20 2QD

Occasional travel to other prison and probation sites within the South West region is required.

Qualification Requirements

  • CIPD Membership or equivalent, or willingness to work towards a qualification.
  • This role may be linked to the Level 5 HR Apprenticeship as a pathway to CIPD accreditation.

Application Process

Sift Stage

Behaviours (250 words per behaviour):

  • Managing a Quality Service (Lead Behaviour)
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Leadership
  • Working Together

Experience:

  • Submit an anonymous CV.

If many applications are received, the initial sift will focus on the lead behaviour—Managing a Quality Service.

Successful applicants will proceed to interview, covering both behaviours and strengths.

Interview

Interviews will be held remotely.

Behaviours assessed:

  • Managing a Quality Service (Lead)
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Leadership
  • Working Together

Strengths will also be assessed in line with the Success Profiles framework.

Contact Information

For questions about the role, please contact:
Alan.Bakewell1@justice.gov.uk
Anna.Biddle@justice.gov.uk

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 role: 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.

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.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

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.

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

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.

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.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

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: 15497

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: 15497

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Managing a Quality Service
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Working Together
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History
Technical
Technical Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Specific qualification requirements
Please answer 'yes' to meeting the qualification requirement if you are either:
1) Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) or equivalent

2) or willing to work towards a qualification as part of career development.

If you are answering yes to option 2, please upload a note indicating your willingness to work towards the qualification.

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Expected April
Behaviours
Managing a Quality Service
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Working Together
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.