26.43 Senior OD Consultant (People Policy) - Fixed Term Appointment

Job summary

Help shape the policies and cultural frameworks that define how colleagues experience work at DBS. You’ll lead research, benchmarking and policy development, working with stakeholders across the organisation to build modern, evidence‑based policies that genuinely improve the employee experience. This is a role for someone who loves clarity, cares about fairness, and can turn complex issues into simple, usable guidance. If you want to help make DBS a leading‑edge employer, this is where you’ll make your mark.

What you’ll need

• Strong experience developing and implementing HR policies, with a clear ability to translate insight, legislation and feedback into meaningful, easy‑to‑use policy.
• Confidence researching best practice, benchmarking externally and shaping proposals with evidence.
• Ability to influence and consult with stakeholders at all levels — including engaging constructively with Trade Union colleagues.
• Clear, compelling written communication skills and the ability to produce policy, guidance and supporting materials that colleagues understand and trust.
• Ability to use assistive technologies (like AI) confidently.
• Ideally, experience contributing to wider OD, people‑change or culture‑shaping initiatives.

Job description

Job Purpose:

A Senior Organisational Development Consultant within People and Inclusion, with primary responsibility for the review and development of people policies for DBS.

You will:

• Research, develop, write, implement, and evaluate people policies, procedures and guidance documents.
• Focus on building a suite of people policies and procedures and shaping our approach to people policy development, ensuring that we have policies and procedures that make a real difference.
• Work as part of the People Experience team and with managers, colleagues and representatives across DBS to contribute to wider People & Inclusion initiatives

Key Responsibilities

• As the lead advisor on People Policy Development, coordinate the policy review process for all people policies and procedures.
• In conjunction with colleagues across the wider People & Inclusion team, research, develop, write, and evaluate people policies and procedures to ensure they align to the strategic aims of the organisation, and meet legislative requirements.
• Undertake and coordinate research and benchmarking against other organisations to ensure that policies and procedures are fit for purpose and promote good practice.
• Inform, engage, and consult as appropriate with the Trade Union on the development and implementation of policies and procedures with support from the Head of OD & People Experience.
• Provide people policy advice to the wider People & Inclusion team, and stakeholders across the organisation, dealing with queries and researching policy issues.
• Carry out equality impact assessments on all new and amended policies and procedures.
• Work with colleagues across People & Inclusion to contribute to the development of supporting material for staff and line managers in the effective use of people policies and procedure.

• As a member of the People Experience team, contribute to the research and development of proposals for wider organisational development initiatives and undertake stakeholder engagement including gathering requirements and data, and presenting proposals. This will include undertaking external research.

  
  

• Support continuous improvement of our People & Inclusion function by proactively supporting senior colleagues to review and develop people processes and practices.

  
  

• Engage with the development of the wider team sharing your strengths and developing your specialist knowledge and practice.

  
  

• Use digital, data and AI‑enabled tools confidently to deliver efficient, high‑quality work. This includes making practical use of tools such as Copilot (where appropriate) to simplify tasks, improve accuracy and support a more modern, effective People Experience function.

Corporate Duties:

• Deputising
  From time to time you will stand in for the Head of OD & People Experience to support the effective running of the function.
• Safeguarding & Purpose
  Contribute to DBS’s safeguarding mission through professional, ethical, high quality work.
• Live the OneDBS Deal
  Role model clarity, consistency, care and connection in how you work and collaborate.
• Inclusion & Wellbeing
  Promote fairness, respect and psychological safety, supporting a healthy, inclusive culture.
• Digital, Data & AI Confident Working
  Use digital and AI enabled tools confidently (e.g., Copilot), applying the DBS AI & Automation Ethical Framework.
• Change Readiness
  Engage constructively with change, offering insight and feedback to improve how DBS works.
• Collaboration
  Work openly and supportively with colleagues across DBS, sharing knowledge and insight.
• Professional Integrity
  Uphold DBS policies, legal duties, health & safety requirements, and information governance standards.
• Continuous Learning
  Keep skills up to date, especially digital, data and inclusion literacy, and contribute to team learning.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

• Ability to write effective, easy to follow, clear and accurate policy and supporting documentation.
• Ability to work in a complex and varied environment.
• Effective presentation skills with the ability to present information in a simple and compelling manner to aid understanding for a variety of audiences.
• Confident using digital, data and AI‑enabled tools, with the ability to learn and adopt new technologies quickly.
• Understands and applies safe, ethical and responsible use of AI‑enabled tools.
• Able to support and encourage teams in adopting digital and AI‑enabled tools, helping colleagues build confidence and embedding responsible use in everyday work.
  
• Experience of HR policy development and implementation.
• Experience of researching best practice through external resources and networks.
• Evidence of effective stakeholder management, including engaging and consulting at senior levels
• Hold or be working towards a CIPD level 5 qualification or have equivalent successful professional experience.

Desirable Criteria

• Awareness of project methodology and Organisational Development approaches and methodologies
• Experience of developing organisation wide HR/OD/change initiatives.
• Experience of working with Trade Unions.
• Experienced operating in a regulatory agency or non-departmental public body (NDPB).

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Seeing the Big Picture

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £44,221, Disclosure & Barring Service contributes £12,810 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

What we offer

We are a modern, flexible and ambitious organisation. At DBS you’ll benefit from hybrid and flexible working, a culture centred on wellbeing and inclusion, dedicated time for learning, modern digital tools, and a fair, transparent total reward offer.

Pension

Alongside your salary of £44,221, Disclosure & Barring Service contributes £12,810 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Holidays & Leave

You’ll receive:

• 25 days annual leave, rising incrementally to 30 days with each year of service.
• 9 public & privilege holidays (bank holidays plus the Monarchs Birthday privilege day).
• Extensive special leave provisions for caring responsibilities, disability, volunteering / public / civic duties, and unexpected life events.

We offer a comprehensive range of family‑friendly provisions (some which include a qualifying period) including:

• Maternity: 26 weeks full pay, 26 weeks half pay.
• Paternity and Adoption: 3 weeks full pay.
• Shared parental leave.
• Special leave for fertility treatment and premature birth.

Learning Time & Development

You’ll have at least 5 days dedicated time available for learning, access to the DBS Academy, funded professional development (subject to policy), and the opportunity to build your capability through formal programmes, digital learning, and development pathways.

Wellbeing

• A comprehensive Wellbeing Support offer, including Mental Health First Aiders, wellbeing advocates, and resources.
• Eyecare voucher scheme and free sight tests.
• Occupational Health referrals including physiotherapy and counselling.
• 24/7 confidential counselling and wellbeing support.
• Free flu jabs and access to gym discounts.

Other Benefits

• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Enhanced retail & lifestyle discounts.
• Exceptional performance recognition & recognition vouchers.
• Season ticket loans for your commute.
• Payroll giving options for charitable donations.
• Ability to claim professional membership fees where relevant to your role.

DBS operates a flexible working policy however the post holder will be required to attend the xxx office on a regular basis and in accordance with business needs.

The DBS vision and purpose is to make people safer by being a visible, trusted and influential organisation, providing an outstanding quality of service to all our customers and partners, where our people understand the important safeguarding contributions they make and feel proud to work here. To do this, the DBS is committed to being an employer that is able to attract, develop, retain and engage diverse talent that is representative of the communities we serve, and to be an organisation providing outstanding service to all our existing and new customers, who are diverse and have a range of different needs. We want all our staff to be able to bring their ‘whole self’ to work.

Further Information:

To view the DBS Recruitment and On-boarding Privacy Notice, please click the link below:

DBS Recruitment and On-boarding Privacy Notice - GOV.UK (www.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

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.

To apply for this role, please provide a CV along with a personal statement of no more than 1000 words, outlining how your skills and experience meet the requirements of the role, including all essential and desirable criteria.

For all candidates who are successful at the initial sifting stage, you will be invited to interview.

The interview will consist of a panel-based interview.

The aim of the panel interview will be to assess your ability to demonstrate the following behaviours:

• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Bigger Picture
• Working Together

For all candidates who are successful at the initial sifting stage, you will be expected to deliver a 5 minute presentation to the panel followed by a panel-based interview. The details of presentation will be confirmed when you are invited to the interview.

Strengths-based questions will also form part of the interview. There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.

The following timetable outlines indicative dates. Please note, these dates may be subject to change without prior notice.

Closing date: 26th April 2026

The initial candidate sift is due to take place week commencing 27th April. Interviews are due to take place week commencing 18th May.

Whilst we will endeavour to provide some flexibility with regards to dates wherever possible, it is unlikely that we will be able to offer an alternative date once an appointment has been scheduled.

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

Security

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 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)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see theCivil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

• Name : DBS People Support Team
• Email : DBSPeopleSupportTeam@dbs.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : DBSPeopleSupportTeam@dbs.gov.uk

Attachments

SEO Senior OD Consultant - People Policy Opens in new window (docx, 452kB)