Ministry of Justice

The role of HR Director – HMCTS, is being offer on a temporary basis for an expected period of up to 12 months with the option to extend if required.

The role can be based in any HMCTS office with the expectation that successful applicants will be office based 3 days per week (subject to business availability). The frequency may increase in the future.

Background

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) was created in April 2011 as an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice. It operates on the basis of a partnership between the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals. It currently has around 16,000 staff, operating from around 350 locations with a gross annual budget of c£1.6bn, approximately £800 million of which is recovered in fees and income from service users. It handles over 2 million criminal cases, 1.8 million civil claims, more than 150,000 family law disputes and almost 800,000 tribunal cases annually.

HMCTS is responsible for the administration of the criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It supports a fair, efficient and effective justice system delivered by an independent judiciary. HMCTS is governed by a Framework Document, which formally sets out the duties and responsibilities of the board of HMCTS and its Chief Executive.

A copy can be seen on the HMCTS website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service-framework-document   

Our vision is to have an efficient and effective courts and tribunals system which enables the rule of law to be upheld and provides access to justice for all. Our justice system matters - for every citizen and for the role we play in the world. In just a few short years we will have revolutionised how justice is administered for the people at its heart. The experience will be one where everyone who uses the courts and tribunals feels that they have been treated swiftly, fairly and with respect. To achieve this, we'll use an investment of around £1.2 bn to transform the setting of justice, to transform our technology and to transform our skills and capabilities.

The work we do at HMCTS has a direct impact on people’s everyday lives. The justice system is an essential public service, defends our fundamental rights and freedom, and is relied upon by millions of victims, families and businesses across our country.

Our courts and tribunals underpin justice and affect the lives of millions every year. HMCTS is reforming the services we offer to both the citizens who use them, and our partners in the justice system. Our HR Function plays a crucial role in our success by supporting our most important asset – our people.

The ongoing modernisation of the Civil Service is a critical driver for change, and alongside our own reforms compels us to continuously review and adapt our HR Function and attract and retain the talent we need to support the agency in delivery of successful outcomes.

This is a brilliant opportunity for a senior HR professional who wants to make a difference. The position of HR Director in HMCTS is one of the most challenging and high-profile HR roles in the Civil Service. To be successful, you will need the skills and experience to achieve impact and operate effectively at the highest levels in a complex department as well as motivating and developing a diverse and multi-disciplinary workforce.

Job Description

Reporting to the HMCTS Chief Executive (CEO), with a professional responsibility to the Chief People Officer of the Ministry of Justice, as HMCTS HR Director you will provide proactive and dynamic leadership to support delivery of HMCTS vision, strategy and business performance.

You will collaborate closely with Senior Leaders across HMCTS to understand workforce requirements, and you will lead key HR strategic priorities to ensure the right capacity, capability and employee experience delivers the workforce we need now and in the future.

You will also ensure that we have effective and resilient day-to-day HR support and practices, including high impact performance management, excellent recruitment and retention practices and a high level of commitment to engagement.

Main Activities/Responsibilities

• Leadership and management of an HR Function of around 150FTE comprised of large, dispersed teams of HR professionals, ensuring effective delivery of HR services and maintaining a budget of c£10.4million.
• Be a skilful business partner to the HMCTS CEO and Executive Team and, through the HR function, to the business as a whole.
• Collective ownership of delivering the HMCTS priorities with particular responsibility for leading work to developing and implement strategies that focus on enhancing workforce capacity, capability and employee experience.
• Support the senior leadership team to successfully lead their people through major change whilst delivering operational performance and ensuring high-quality HR partnership support, ensuring that the organisation consistently receives effective insight and guidance to support decision-making.
• Drive Civil Service and HMCTS values across HMCTS, promoting and leading initiatives that focus on diversity, inclusion and cultural transformation within the organisation.  Work collaboratively with experts from the Ministry of Justice and across the wider Civil Service to develop and align HR strategies with HMCTS objectives, including identifying solutions to future workforce needs.
• Lead and champion our overall talent management approach to ensure we identify and meet the potential of our strongest and most capable managers and manage under-performance effectively
• Participate as a full member of the HMCTS Executive Team, providing input and challenge to the overall strategic agenda, acting as a leader of the business in your own right.

Person Specification

• Proven leadership of a large, high-performing HR function in a complex organisation of similar size and scale.
• Considerable professional experience of successfully leading the delivery of significant people-focussed change programmes in an operational environment designed to improve effectiveness and efficiency, whilst balancing a complex business as usual agenda.  
• Evidence of an inspiring and engaging leadership style, with a clear focus on people, performance and capability, and a strong commitment to equality and diversity
• A proven track record of designing and implementing innovating strategic workforce plans, with an ability to prioritise the work of a function, considering present and future goals of the department, and take responsibility for outcomes and results.  
• Excellent internal and external Senior Stakeholder management and influencing skills with experience of working at executive board level and a reputation as a trusted advisor.
• Relevant professional qualification or knowledge – Chartered Fellow/fully qualified member (min Level5) of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) with at least 5 years’ experience in a senior HR Leadership role in a sizeable organisation.