Job title: HR Business Partner

Directorate: Human Resources

Grade SEO

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

This role sits within the HMCTS HRBP Team and HR Operations. We are seeking two HR Business Partners; both will work alongside a Senior HRBP to partner either the London Region and Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ) or National Services Directorate.

These are exciting and varied roles, offering opportunities to work strategically and at pace with senior operational leaders to drive up performance and support organisational change.

There are also opportunities in the HR Change Business Partner space, supporting national programmes and projects that are driving improvements across the organisation. In addition to these permanent HR Business Partner positions, there is a fixed term Change HR Business Partner role, with possible view to permanency. Whichever area you operate in, we’re looking for HR professionals with strong partnering skills that can work with a variety of stakeholders.

The HR Business Partner provides high‑quality strategic and operational support to Senior HR Business Partners, working closely with senior leaders to address complex people and business challenges. Acting as a trusted advisor and critical friend, the role supports the delivery of HR priorities that align with organisational objectives and the People and Culture strategy.

You will contribute to the development and implementation of HR policies, practices and initiatives, ensuring consistency and best practice across the organisation. The role involves analysing people data to generate insight, shape evidence‑based recommendations and support effective decision‑making. You may also take a lead on specific HR projects, including those linked to organisational change programmes.

Working collaboratively with HR expert services and business leaders, you will help embed positive people practices across areas such as workforce planning, wellbeing, capability, culture, resourcing, and talent and succession planning. This role offers the opportunity to influence at a senior level while developing strong strategic HR experience.

Who are we looking for? (Person Specification)

The successful candidate will have HR experience or will have delivered people strategies. They will have strong interpersonal skills and the confidence to operate effectively with senior stakeholders. You will demonstrate sound judgement, resilience and flexibility, alongside the ability to manage multiple, competing priorities in a fast‑paced environment.

You will be analytical and solutions‑focused, using data and insight to identify trends, risks and opportunities, and to support informed business decisions. A collaborative approach is essential, as is the ability to challenge constructively and provide clear, credible advice.

The role requires a forward‑thinking mindset, with the ability to anticipate the impacts of wider organisational change and adapt plans accordingly. You will be comfortable working independently within established HR and policy frameworks, knowing when to escalate and when to take ownership.

Essential Skills

• Strong stakeholder and relationship management skills, with the ability to influence and coach senior leaders

• Broad HR knowledge across key people areas, for example, workforce planning, wellbeing, capability, culture, resourcing, and talent management

• Highly developed analytical skills, with experience using data and insight to inform recommendations and decisions

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present options clearly and persuasively

• Proven problem‑solving skills with a solutions‑focused mindset

• Strong organisational skills and ability to plan ahead

• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple pieces of work effectively

• Flexible and adaptable approach, responding effectively to changing business needs

• Confident working independently while collaborating across HR and the wider organisation

Desirable

• CIPD qualification or willingness to work towards this.

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 is 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.

• Behaviour examples illustrating the Civil Service Behaviours (up to 250 words each):

  • Seeing the big picture (lead Behaviour)

  • Communicating and Influencing

  • Making effective decisions

  • Working together

Please ensure you cover both ‘what’ you do but also ‘how’ you do it. (i.e., the effective skills, knowledge and experience needed to undertake the role). We recommend following the STAR format.

In the event of a large number of applicants, an initial sift will be conducted on your CV and Seeing the Bigger Picture as the lead criteria. Candidates who pass this initial sift will progress to a full sift where all application assessment criteria will be 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:

• Question(s) in relation to the Civil Service behaviours:

  • Seeing the big picture

  • Communicating and Influencing

  • Making effective decisions

  • Working together

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

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time

Travel requirements

If appointed to the HRBP role for National Services, you will be expected to travel occasionally to other locations in the country. One of the HRBP roles will partner the London region and Royal Courts of Justice Group, requiring monthly travel to Central London for meetings.

Location

These posts are based nationally.

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Opportunities for development

HMCTS is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

You will have the opportunity to work towards a CIPD qualification.

Skilled Worker Sponsorship

From 22 July 2025, the Government increased the salary threshold and skills level for Skilled Worker visas. This role does not meet the eligibility criteria for sponsorship in accordance with the current immigration rules if you looking to apply for a Skilled Worker Visa for the first time.

The Department cannot consider sponsoring you for this role unless you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously since before 22 July 2025. If you have held a Skilled Worker visa continuously, please raise this during your vetting checks and eligibility will be assessed in accordance with the immigration rules and transitional provisions in place.

If you are applying for this role and you do not meet the new eligibility criteria for sponsorship (or the transitional provisions), you will need to consider your options for obtaining and/or maintaining your right to work in the UK in light of these changes. Successful applicants must ensure they have and maintain the legal right to live and work in the Civil Service and in the United Kingdom.

The Department will continue to comply with UK Immigration Rules applied in the UK and Civil Service. You can read more about Skilled Worker visas and the eligibility criteria here.

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.