Assistant HR Business Partner

Job summary

The FSA is a non-ministerial department of over 1600 people. We play a critical role in protecting public health and consumers’ wider interests in food across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Our vision is an important one - to drive change, delivering “food you can trust” and working towards a healthier and more sustainable food system.

Job description

Are you looking for a role where you can do varied, meaningful work that makes a genuine difference?

At the Food Standards Agency (FSA), our mission is simple but vital: to protect public health and ensure that food is safe, authentic and trusted. As an independent government department, our work impacts people and businesses across England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

We’re now looking for an Assistant HR Business Partner to join our HR Business Partnering team at an exciting time of change and opportunity.

This is a fantastic opportunity to work at the heart of the organisation, supporting strategic priorities while delivering high-quality, day-to-day HR advice. You’ll work across a broad range of areas including workforce planning, organisational change, recruitment, and casework, helping to shape effective people solutions that make a real impact.

You’ll build strong relationships with senior leaders and line managers, acting as a trusted partner and coach. You’ll also use data and insight to support evidence-based decision making and contribute to key HR projects that shape the future workforce.

You’ll be joining a small but highly collaborative team that is passionate about delivering an excellent business partnering service. The team works closely with colleagues across HR, Finance and the wider business, ensuring a joined-up approach to delivering organisational priorities.

There is a strong sense of respect, support and openness within the team, with colleagues bringing different perspectives and experiences to develop innovative solutions together.

This is a unique opportunity to join the FSA during a period of significant change, where you’ll play a key role in shaping the future of the organisation. The work is fast-paced and challenging, but offers excellent opportunities to develop your skills, gain exposure to strategic projects, and make a real difference.

We’re looking for someone who is proactive, curious and confident in building relationships. You’ll be comfortable working in a dynamic environment, willing to challenge how things are done, and interested in using data to drive better outcomes. Most importantly, you’ll be motivated by making a positive impact.

Working pattern guidance

If applying as a job share partnership you should both complete separate application forms on Civil Service Jobs but should make it clear that you are applying as job sharers. Further details on job sharing can be found here JSF – What is the recruitment process for job sharers? , Civil Service Careers (civil-service-careers.gov.uk)

Please read before applying

The post is a temporary Fixed Term / Loan appointment available until 31/03/2027 due to limited funding for project work. There may be the potential, but no guarantee, of extension or permanency.

Candidates that are already established Civil Servants or from non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) will come to the FSA on a Loan basis and will need to request permission from their Home Department for the Loan prior to applying for this vacancy.

Note for FSA employees

You must seek approval from your substantive manager before applying for any non-permanent vacancy - please refer to the ‘Temporary internal appointments framework’ on the FSA intranet for more details. Please note that if applying for a temporary post within the FSA or elsewhere on promotion, successful appointment will not automatically result in a permanent promotion - you will revert to your current substantive grade at the end of the Fixed Term or Loan period (unless funding has been approved to make the post permanent).

If you are applying for a vacancy on a Loan basis you MUST seek approval from your Director in line with our FSA Staff loans policy

Person specification

Please read the attached Candidate Pack to discover further details about the role, our organisation, who we are looking for and the criteria we will assess against during the selection process.

We look forward to receiving your application and wish you every success.

Qualifications

Associate membership CIPD - or currently working towards it.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £42,596, Food Standards Agency contributes £12,340 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.Our candidate pack details the benefits that the FSA has to offer. Please also refer to the attached Terms and Conditions statement.

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 Strengths and Experience.

Full details of the selection process can be found in the attached candidate pack.

Application and shortlisting

You will be asked to provide personal details (not seen by the Panel) and to confirm your eligibility to apply for the role.

Technical: You will be asked a question to confirm that you meet the Technical requirements of the role.

• Do you hold - Associate CIPD Membership or are currently working towards it?

If you cannot answer yes to this question – you will not be able to proceed further with your application.

You will then be asked to complete an application which will be used to assess you against the following essential criteria.

Essential criteria

Experience

• Lead criteria: Evidence of generalist HR experience in particular providing advice to Managers and employees on all aspects of the HR function.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop successful networks

• Strong understanding of UK employment law and demonstrable application of how this is applied in practice.

• Understanding of organisational change principles and demonstrable experience of supporting change activities.

• Ability to review and interpret HR data, understanding trends and offer credible interventions and solutions to people issues.

Technical

Associate CIPD Membership or currently working towards it.

Lead Criteria An initial sift will take place on the Lead Criteria.

An initial sift will take place against the lead criterion. This is the most critical requirement for the role.

In the event that we receive a high volume of applications, we may raise the pass mark for this criterion at shortlisting stage. Candidates who apply under the Disability Confident Scheme (DCS), Great Place to Work for Veterans (GPTW), or Redeployment Interview Scheme (RIS) and meet the minimum requirement will not be affected by any increase to the pass mark.

Only candidates who meet the required standard in the lead criterion will progress to a full sift against the remaining criteria.

Interview

If successful at shortlisting stage, you will be invited to a final interview in whichwe will assess you against the following Experience requirements of the role.

Experience

• Evidence of generalist HR experience in particular providing advice to Managers and employees on all aspects of the HR function.

• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to develop successful networks

• Strong understanding of UK employment law and demonstrable application of how this is applied in practice.

• Understanding of organisational change principles and demonstrable experience of supporting change activities.

• Ability to review and interpret HR data, understanding trends and offer credible interventions and solutions to people issues.

Strengths

We will also assess you against a number of Civil Service Strengths – these are not disclosed prior to interview.

Expected Timeline

Advert closes: 14th June

Sift: Expected to take place w/c 15th June

Final panel interview: Expected to take place w/c 29th June

Interviews will be held remotely via MS Teams. (If you do not have the Microsoft Teams application installed on your computer, you can join on the web without installing the application).

Please note that indicated dates may be subject to change.

Childcare Vouchers

Any move to the Food Standards Agency 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

Reserve List

A reserve list will be held for a period of up to 12 months from which further appointment may be made.

Candidates that do not pass the interview but have demonstrated an acceptable standard may be considered for similar roles at a lower grade.

Visa Sponsorship

Please note that the FSA does not offer visa sponsorship and cannot provide advice on visa applications

Regrettably we are unable to refund travel costs if candidates attend an interview/selection stage for the vacancy.

Making a complaint

The law requires that selection for appointment to the Civil Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles.

If you feel your application has not been treated fairly in accordance with the principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should email the FSA’s Director of People at jo.bushnell@food.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response, you can contact the Civil Service Commission.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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 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.The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

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

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).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 : Nicky Allen
• Email : nicky.allen@food.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk

Further information

If you wish to raise a complaint then please email hr.recruitment.campaigns@food.gov.uk in the first instance.

Attachments

Candidate Pack - Assistant HR Business Partner (SEO) 464810 Opens in new window (pdf, 1003kB)Terms and Conditions as at April 2020 Opens in new window (pdf, 42kB)