Department for Work and Pensions

Deputy Director for People Services, Reward and Employee Relations

£73,000

Birmingham, Blackpool, Leeds, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Sheffield

The Deputy Director for People Services Reward and Employee Relations, is a business critical role for the Department and within the People, Capability and Place Group.
 
The post holder will be accountable for the provision of advice, guidance, services, support and leadership on the technical HR disciplines of pay and reward; employee relations; employee policy and supplier management.
 
This is a particularly key role in the context of the Department’s COVID-response and its’ role in supporting and enabling economic recovery. The post-holder will lead on engagement with Departmental Trades Unions.
 
The post-holder will also lead on activity that supports our Spending Review Bid as a Department – our future Pay and Reward Strategy. The role also links closely into cross-Government transformation project (cluster) activity in relation to improved HR and payroll systems.
 
This is a demanding role, working in an environment – and current context – where the post holder must demonstrate outstanding communication skills and ability to influence at senior level.
 
It will also require resilience and tenacity – the ability to deliver under pressure, with urgency (where deadlines are short) and under considerable scrutiny. It is a highly visible, professional and technical leadership role. Regular engagement with the Executive Team, Operational leaders and cross-Government stakeholders as well as visible, engaging and inclusive leadership of a diverse and geographically dispersed team is also required.

Responsibilities

• Developing the long-term reward strategy for DWP – including via a business case for pay flexibility in service of business / people strategy objectives;

• Oversight and delivery of the annual reward cycle – including design, negotiation through TU, and payment (on time) of the pay award for delegated grade and SCS colleagues;

• Leadership of and accountability for the DWP Employee Relations framework and maintaining effective and open relationships with the Departmental Trades Union side via regular engagement, consultation and negotiation on all aspects of the Department’s agenda;

• Leadership of and accountability for the Centre of Expertise (CoE) for People and HR Policy development, expert advice and consultancy;

• Supplier management and the successful delivery of HR services through third-party providers – ownership for key HR processes end to end;

Essential Criteria

• An experienced and strategic HR professional, with deep expertise in at least one of the core disciplines within this portfolio and a track record of positioning HR services, advice, guidance and support to underpin the delivery of brilliant business outcomes.

• An ability to see the big picture, with making strategic connections across a complex landscape of people impacts in a large organisation context. Able to translate business strategies into clear, understandable and deliverable people plans using business insight and acumen.

• Strong partnering and consultancy skills with a track record of building highly effective and trusting relationships, particularly at a senior level, collaborating across challenging agendas in a complex organisation, using relationships and professional networks to add measurable value to an organisation. Able to influence upwards and outwards with credibility and confidence.

• Deep expertise, understanding and curiosity about current best practice on people issues and transferability into the DWP context, able to provide thought leadership to strategies that deliver transformation using data and analytics to underpin effective decision making, continuous improvement and risk management in people-related matters.

• Excellent leadership skills with a track record of developing high-performing and diverse teams through effective leadership and role modelling.

Desirable Criteria:

• A fully qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) is desirable

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 6th February 2022