Senior HR Adviser (Onboarding & Employee Lifecycle)

Job summary

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is the UK’s principal competition and consumer protection authority. We promote competition and protect consumers with a clear end goal in mind: to drive economic growth and improve household prosperity. The CMA has a range of powers, which it uses to undertake a wide variety of cutting-edge, high profile and complex work, spanning merger and market inquiries, competition and consumer law enforcement, our role in the digital markets competition regime, subsidy advice, and internal market advice.

You can read more about the CMA in our candidate pack.

The key purpose of HR is to build the culture, capacity, capability and commitment of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and its people in order for the CMA to be a high performing organisation and to achieve the CMA’s strategic objectives.

You will work in our HR Operations team, delivering a high quality and customer focused HR Operations service to internal CMA customers, external stakeholders and other parts of the People, Capability and Culture department. You will also play a significant contribution to organisational development, with involvement in substantial change projects. Experience of supporting changes of HR Systems and ways of working would be preferred.

You will report to the HR Operations Manager and will have overall responsibility for delivering all Employee Lifecycle activity, including onboarding. You will manage a team of HR Advisers and HR Officers who will provide the first line and day-to-day support on HR Operations casework including pre-employment matters.

This role is initially offered on a fixed-term contract, with the possibility of conversion to a permanent appointment, subject to organisational requirements and individual performance.

Job description

• Managing and developing a small team who deliver expert services and processes for: pre-employment; onboarding; security clearance; leavers; contract changes; flexible working; right to work; secondments and loans; leave and absences including maternity / shared parental / adoption / paternity / parental leave.
• Acting as the employee lifecycle casework expert and the point of escalation for the team, advising colleagues on pre-employment, employee lifecycle policy, contracts and legislation as required.
• Leading transformational change projects, including the implementation of new systems and ways of working to ensure that we are delivering a customer-focused and modern HR service.
• Advising on complex or contentious casework and supporting Senior HR Business Partners as required.
• Ensuring the timely delivery of all casework; ensuring customers receive a high-quality service and support that is timely, informative and focused on the customer’s needs.
• Encourage a culture of continuous development and improvement of the HR Operations Employee Casework toolkit, ensuring that processes are documented, and casework is delivered in a consistent, professional and timely way.
• Working closely with the Senior HR Adviser – Payroll and Pensions to manage the team to deliver a seamless transactional service across HR Operations.
• Supporting on cross-organisational activities relating to HR operational and transactional processes.
• Contribute to delivering Civil Service Employee Policy initiatives and updating policies as required, working with and supporting the HR Operations Manager by attending policy group meetings.

Person specification

It is essential that you can provide evidence and examples for each of the following selection criteria in your application. For tips on how to make the most your application, please have a look at our guidance document.

• Significant experience of working in a customer-facing HR role, using knowledge of employment law and HR best practice to manage and advise on employee casework (Lead criteria).
• Proven experience of managing, developing and motivating individuals and teams, creating a working environment that encourages equality, diversity and inclusion (Lead criteria).
• Experience of change management including, developing, implementing, maintaining and reviewing systems, processes and service standards (Lead criteria).
• Ability to set teamwork priorities, create clear team plans and manage all work to meet the needs of the customer and the business.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to prepare HR communications appropriate to the audience.
• Professional, self-motivated, resilient and able to work and problem solve with minimal supervision.
• Confidence in using IT software, including MS Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Teams.

DESIRABLE

• A HR / CIPD qualification.
• Experience of using Agresso or similar system and MS SharePoint.

Behaviours

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

• Managing a Quality Service
• Developing Self and Others
• Making Effective Decisions
• Changing and Improving
• Communicating and Influencing

Technical skills

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

• Use of IT software, particularly MS Excel, MS Outlook, MS Word, and MS PowerPoint. Experience of using Agresso and MS SharePoint is desirable.

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £49,400, Competition & Markets Authority contributes £14,311 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

You’ll also get:

• 25 days leave (increasing to 30 days over five years), plus 8 public holidays and an additional day off for the King’s birthday. In addition, you’ll be able to access a wide range of other types of leave as and when you need it, including generous maternity, paternity, shared parental leave and adoption options, as well as paid special leave for volunteering
• Season ticket loans, cycle to work scheme, flu vaccinations and eye tests
• Access to the Civil Service Sports & Leisure, giving discounted gym membership, high street discounts, free access to UK wide attractions and a free Tastecard
• A range of wellbeing benefits, including an employee assistance programme, flexible working options and family friendly policies, regular networking events and professional learning opportunities at work

You can read more about our benefits in our candidate pack.

Our Values

We are Ambitious and Evidence-based, and always strive for Excellence.​ We treat everyone with Respect and are Collaborative and Inclusive.​

Everything we do is underpinned by the Civil Service values: Honesty, Integrity, Impartiality and Objectivity.

You can read more about life at the CMA in our candidate pack

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, Experience and Technical skills.

Application and sift stage

• As part of the application process, you will be asked to complete a CV, personal statement, and an online application form. Further details about application requirements are listed on the application form.
• The selection process is noted below and will comprise of the sift (CV & application review), presentation and interview. Arrangements for the presentation and interview will be enclosed in the invitation.
• Please note that it is essential that your personal statement is aligned to provide evidence that you have the knowledge and experience for each of the essential criteria (as included on the role profile attached and listed above under 'Person Specification') in your application. Your personal statement should be no more than 1250 words. You will first be sifted on the first three criteria points (Lead Criteria). If your application progresses to a full sift, all elements of the essential criteria listed under Person Specification will then be considered.
• We may raise the score required at sift stage to progress to interview if we receive a high number of applications and take through the highest performing candidates to the interview stage.
• Successful candidates at sift will be invited to an interview.

Interview stage

• At the CMA we apply a blended interview technique, allowing us to find out more about you and we use the Success Profiles framework assessing the Behaviours, Technical skills and Experience (essential criteria) listed in the advert and attached role profile.
• The first part of the interview you will be asked to prepare and discuss a short presentation based on the technical skill outlined, details of which will be sent with your interview invitation.
• The second part of the interview will be a 45 minute - one hour panel interview in which you will be asked questions based on Behaviours, Technical and Experience outlined in the role profile.
• A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.

Timeline (the dates outlined below are indicative and may be subject to change)

• The advert closing date is 17 June (23:55). We are not able to accept late applications.
• The sift is scheduled to take place between 18 June and 23 June 2026.
• Interviews will be held from the week commencing 01 July 2026.
• Interviews will be held on Microsoft Teams.

Reasonable adjustments

Our recruitment process is fully inclusive and we can make adjustments to provide you with the opportunity and support to bring your best self to the recruitment process. This could include having an interview buddy, extra time at interviews/assessments, or receiving interview questions in advance. We will be happy to discuss any person-centred adjustments you’d like us to make to the process and you can contact us by emailing our dedicated mailbox at adjustments@cma.gov.uk

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

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a 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

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.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 : Vidya Krishnamoorthy
• Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : recruitment@cma.gov.uk

Further information

If your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact Recruitment@cma.gov.uk in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive you can contact the Civil Service Commission http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.

Attachments

Role Profile_Senior HR Adviser Opens in new window (pdf, 280kB)