HR Business Partner

Job summary

Are you an HR Business Partner looking for an opportunity where you can operate as a trusted and strategic partner to add value to an organisation that’s a leader in its sector?

We are here to collect and preserve the public record, to connect citizens with their history through unrivalled collections and to partner with archives everywhere.

We’ve set ourselves the challenge of becoming the living digital archive of the state by 2038. This means we are often at the forefront of innovation including advances in preserving the physical record and in digital technologies and solutions. The realisation of this vision won’t happen overnight though. It will take time, and continued focus, effort and daring.

You will therefore be joining an organisation steeped in history that is also constantly evolving to meet the challenges of the modern world. As a non-ministerial department, and the official archive and publisher for the UK Government, and for England and Wales, we are the guardians of over 1,000 years of iconic documents from the Domesday Book and Shakespeare’s Will, to Government tweets and everything in between.

Job description

We are seeking a highly credible HR Business Partner to join our friendly and supportive team for a 6 month period, operating as a strategic partner with a particular focus on delivering organisational change.

In this role you will provide specialist HR expertise, supporting and challenging business leaders to achieve our strategic goals. You will apply your significant experience of managing the HR technical aspects of change to deliver our operating model. Using your strong relationship-building skills, you’ll coach and advise managers in order to raise capability and engender a culture of high performance.

You will design and deliver high impact people solutions which align with our values, using management information to inform business decisions and anticipate trends. Working collaboratively across our wider People, Inclusion and Change team, you will proactively share best practice, raise capability and continually improve the level of service we provide.

This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department. A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site for a minimum of 60% of their work time.

We are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.

Person specification

Essential criteria:

• Qualified to MCIPD, or equivalent practical experience
• Significant HR experience operating in a strategic business partner model in complex organisation(s) with multiple stakeholders
• Demonstrable experience of using communication skills to explain HR concepts clearly to deliver business impact
• Extensive experience of handling complex employee relations cases and applying relevant legislation to achieve positive outcomes
• In-depth experience of leading and managing the HR technical aspects of change across organisations including formal consultation and restructures.
• Strong relationship builder – ability to work in collaboration with team and across other functions to fully understand the needs of the business
• Innovative thinker with the ability to offer solutions to the organisation which reflect current thinking in HR trends

Application Process

• Interview: Interviews will be held on-site. Candidates will be asked to prepare a short, informal presentation.

• Personal Statement: We ask all applicants to submit work history details and a personal statement, not exceeding 1200 words

Selection for interview will be based on the ‘essential’ requirements shown above so please ensure that your application demonstrates in detail how you meet these requirements.

If we receive a large number of applications candidates will initially be assessed on the following criteria:

• In-depth experience of leading and managing the HR technical aspects of change across organisations including formal consultation and restructures.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £54,000, The National Archives contributes £15,643 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).Generous benefits package, including pension, sports and social club facilities, onsite gym, discounted rates at our on-site cafe and opportunities for training and development.

Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk;

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

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 (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

Reasonable adjustments:

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

• Contact The National Archives via [email removed] as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
• Complete the “Assistance required” section in the “Additional requirements” page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you’re deaf, a Language Service Professional

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

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)
• 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