HR Capability Supervisors

Job summary

We're looking for two experienced HR professionals to join our People function as HR Capability Supervisors, leading talented teams that deliver high-quality people services across Dstl.

This campaign offers opportunities:

• HR Business Partner Capability Supervisor – 2 year fixed term appointment. This position can be based in Dstl Porton Down or Dstl Portsdown West, this role will require travel to both sites.
• HR Delivery Capability Supervisor – Permanent appointment. This position will be based in Dstl Porton Down.

Across both roles, you'll be responsible for developing capability, fostering collaboration, using insight and data to inform decision-making, and creating an environment where people and teams can thrive. You'll work closely with colleagues across the wider People function and business areas, helping to shape the future of HR within a unique organisation that supports UK defence and security through science and technology.

Dstl recognises the importance of diversity and inclusion as people from diverse backgrounds bring fresh ideas. We are committed to building an inclusive working environment in which each employee fulfils their potential and maximises their contribution.

Job description

As a HR Business Partner (HRBP) Capability Supervisor you will be responsible for leading and developing a high-performing and expert HRBP team that delivers a consistent One Dstl approach.

You will be accountable for building and sustaining a high-performing HRBP team that delivers a consistent, evidence-based business partnering service, delivering effective coaching interventions that increase leadership capability, and provide high-quality challenge, support and assurance to leaders.

As a HR Delivery Capability Supervisor will lead and develop a diverse team of HR professionals delivering high-quality services across HR Technical Services and Business Services.

You will combine people leadership with hands-on HR delivery, spending around 40% of your time undertaking technical work across areas such as pay, HR systems, reporting and contracts. Working closely with the other Capability Supervisors, you will help manage priorities and resources to deliver an effective and joined-up HR service.

For more information on the job responsibilities, please see both job profiles attached below.

Person specification

These roles are ideal for individuals who are passionate about developing people, leading high-performing teams and driving continuous improvement.

Whether your expertise lies in strategic business partnering, organisational development and leadership coaching, or operational HR delivery, systems, reporting and technical services, you'll play a key role in helping Dstl deliver excellent people outcomes.

If you're an experienced HR professional with strong leadership skills, a collaborative mindset and a passion for delivering exceptional people services, we'd love to hear from you.

For more information on the essential criteria for both jobs, please see the job profiles attached below.

Important Information:

Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats.

For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.

This role will require full UK security clearance and you should have resided in the UK for the past 5 years.

Qualifications

Essential:
•HR Business Partner Capability Supervisor: Chartered Member of CIPD (MCIPD), working towards or equivalent professional HR experience.

•HR Delivery Capability Supervisor: CIPD qualification, working towards a relevant CIPD qualification, or equivalent HR knowledge and experience.

Behaviours

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

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing and Improving
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Developing Self and Others

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £51,568, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £14,939 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).

Benefits

Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:

• Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.

• Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).

• Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.

• Where you work: Depending on your role, blended working may be available including remote working to suit you and your team. This can be discussed at interview.

• Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.

• Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid

• Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.

• Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.

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 and Experience.

We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk and we will do all we can to support you.

At the application stage, we will assess your submitted application against the essential criteria set out in the job profile.

Sifting will take place week commencing 30th November with interviews to held face to face at Dstl Porton Down from January 2027.

Your interview will consist of behavioural and technical competency-based questions.

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security 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

Open to UK nationals only.

This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.

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.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 : Dstl Recruitment Team
• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk

Further information

Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email dstlrecruitment@dstl.gov.uk stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.

Attachments

L6, HRBP Capability Supervisor, Strategic People Partnering, Chief People Officer. v3 Opens in new window (pdf, 182kB)L6, Capability Supervisor Technical Services, HR Delivery, Chief People Office Opens in new window (pdf, 182kB)Dstl Candidate Pack Opens in new window (pdf, 4978kB)