Head of HR Services (Maternity Cover)

Job summary

House of Lords – Head of HR Services (maternity cover)

BELONG HERE. TOGETHER, WE MAKE PARLIAMENT HAPPEN.

As the Head of HR Services, you’ll play an important role in supporting the UK’s parliamentary democracy. Your work will help members carry out their responsibilities effectively — contributing to something bigger than any one role.

You’ll be part of a collaborative community, working alongside colleagues from a wide range of professions. Together, we make Parliament happen.

You’ll be based on the Parliamentary Estate in Westminster as part of a hybrid working pattern — a unique working environment shaped by history and powered by the people who work here today.

Job description

What you’ll be doing

In this role, you’ll:

• Lead a committed team with a range of specialisms to deliver effective HR services (HR Operations, Recruitment, Pay and reward, Policy, HR Systems and Workforce insights) to c.650 colleagues across the House of Lords Administration,
• Deliver a pay and reward strategy that enables Our People Strategy, attracting and retaining colleagues from a wide range of professions and different backgrounds, as part of a diverse and inclusive workforce.
• Continue to develop our newly created HR Operations teams, and contributing more widely to the development and continuous improvement of HR services, including maximising the potential of HR systems.

Person specification

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for someone who can bring their skills and experience to make a meaningful contribution here.

You’ll have:

• Strong experience across HR services and knowledge of public sector reward systems and trade union engagement
• Proven experience of managing multiple priorities successfully, setting and meeting deadlines, adjusting plans in response to changing circumstances
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to communicate clearly in writing and orally and influence a wide range of stakeholders

For full details, please see the job description.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £75,000, House of Lords contributes £21,727 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).

What you’ll get in return

Working at the House of Lords means joining a community that values your wellbeing, growth and contribution.

You’ll benefit from:

• 30 days annual leave (rising to 35 after one year)
• Reduced office attendance during parliamentary recesses
• Generous Civil Service pension scheme
• A comprehensive Parliamentary health and wellbeing programme
• Access to a wide range of learning and development opportunities across diverse professions
• The chance to witness democracy in action and work in a place of historic national significance

The work we do is vital to the House of Lords — the second chamber of the UK Parliament. It plays a critical role in making laws, scrutinising government, and providing independent expertise on national issues.

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

Ready to apply?

If you’re looking for an employer where you can belong, grow and thrive, we’d love to hear from you.

Please complete your online application by 23:59 on Sunday 13 September 2026

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

Security

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).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

Please note this Post is NOT regulated by the Civil Service Commission.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 : Recruitment Team
• Email : hlrecruitment@parliament.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : hlrecruitment@parliament.uk

Further information

House of Lords Administration

Attachments

JD HL9 Head of HR Services (maternity cover) August 2026 Opens in new window (docx, 1225kB)