View Vacancy - Regional Head of Human Resources Asia Pacific

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.  We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Operations and Corporate Services)
HR

Main purpose of job:

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has a Corporate Services Centre consisting of a Global Transaction and Processing Centre and Regional Finance, Human Resources, and Procurement hubs, as well as a based in Manila. The HR Hub oversees 34 British Embassies, High Commissions and other Offices located in the Asia Pacific Region.

The HR hub is an integral part of the global HR team serving staff working in the overseas network for the UK Government.  The role of the Regional HR Hub is to provide key HR Services (recruitment, pay and reward, talent and performance management and HR enquiries) to customers in the region and to provide a strategic and professional HR capability to support Regional Senior Leaders in delivery of business objectives. The Regional Human Resources Head is the strategic lead on all HR aspects for local staff working at British Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates located in the region. This position will lead on all regional specific HR issues in collaboration with the London based HR Directorate.

The Regional Head of HR will be a key member of the Hub Leadership Team.  He/she will report to the Head of Local Staff Pay (based in London) and will deliver through their HR hub team of 13 staff, working closely with HR Policy Leads, HR Business Partner (based in London) and Regional Learning and Development colleagues.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

 

Leadership and Management (35%)

  • Provide overall strategic direction and leadership of the HR Hub, in line with London priorities and the agreed role of the hub, working closely with regional leaders to ensure appropriate HR support for business priorities. Promote the FCO values of responsibility, creativity, collaboration, and compliance with the FCO’s Global People Principles.
  • Deliver an effective regional HR strategy, guided by central HR policy, with clear prioritisation to reflect regional needs and global change programmes.
  • Lead the HR Hub Governance to ensure HR Hub resilience; leverage team expertise, skills and abilities for best HR services delivery across the region as well as create great learning and development opportunities and support wellbeing.
  • Build the capability of the HR Hub team and provide guidance, feedback on performance and development, and effectively delegate work to stretch learning and build resilience
  • Keep professional knowledge up-to date, following trends, ideas and innovations occurring within the HR sphere, to ensure services standards are met and a culture of continuous improvement develops.

Stakeholder Management (30%)

  • Act as key influencer to the main regional stakeholders, including; Senior leadership at Posts,  FCO Geographic Directorates, HR Leaders in London, Regional HR Business Partners, Resource Management Directorate and Regional Diplomatic Academy Regional Teams(L&D partners).   
  • Manage stakeholders from other UK Government departments working on the FCO platform, to ensure the HR offer also reflects their needs and requirements.
  • Work closely with other Regional Heads of HR to ensure consistency and sharing of best practice globally.
  • Ensure effective strategic communication between the Hub and targeted partners takes place and evolves depending on government priorities.

Strategic HR Support (35%)

  • Make strategic recommendations based on main Key Performance Indicators measured by the Hub and ensuring delivery of Hub SLAs
  • Monitor customer satisfaction and feedback and recommend necessary adjustments in processes, workflows, staffing levels, etc.
  • Advise and support in handling complex and sensitive issues regarding local staff management or senior stakeholders requests
  • Review and make recommendations on local staff terms and conditions ensuring regional consistency where possible.
  • HR liaison between HR in London and locations in the Region on their portfolio of activity, ensuring all new policies are communicated and implemented.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

  • Direct staff management responsibility for the Deputy Head of HR
  • Counter-signing responsibility for four team members
  • HR Hub budget (staff salaries and benefits; travel; learning & development) 
  • Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Human Resources Management or Social Sciences (or equivalent evidence of vocational learning).
  • 5 years team management experience preferably in a shared services environment.  
  • Extensive experience in general HR management and experience of operating in an international HR environment.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, self motivated and results driven.
  • Ability to work well in a fast paced environment with little supervision. This role will involve a lot of autonomy and will be distance line managed.
  • Ability to travel both domestically and internationally.  
  • Keenly aware of customer requirements.

 


Language requirements

Language:  English

Level of language required:  Fluent written and spoken  


Desirable:  

  • HR professionally qualified – CIPD or equivalent
  • Experience of working in a regional role and of managing customers remotely
  • Six Sigma or Lean qualification.
  • Change management experience
16 January 2018
Grade 7 (G7)
Fixed Term
36 Hours
12 months
Asia Pacific
Philippines
Manila
British Embassy
1
PHP
PHP 244, 180
15 March 2018

The British Embassy offers a competitive compensation package, 36-hour work week, guaranteed 13th and 14th month pay, 20 days paid annual leave (calculated on Pro-rata basis if joined after 1 January), extensive medical insurance, life insurance and access to a guaranteed 5 days of learning opportunities a year.

No accommodation or relocation expenses are payable in connection with this position. You must have work authorisation for the Philippines in order to apply.

Employment offers are subject to successful clearance of pre-employment checks. Staff recruited locally by the British Embassy Manila is subject to Terms and Conditions of Service according to local Philippine employment law.

Candidates are expected to have a valid NBI Clearance.

  • Employees who are not eligible to pay local income tax: e.g. certain third-country nationals and spouses/partners of UK diplomats will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.
  • Reference and security clearances checks will be conducted.
  • Any questions you may have about this position will be answered during the interview, should you be invited.
  • Information about the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Competency Framework can be found on this link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/civil-service-competency-framework
  • Successful candidates not resident in Country will be personally liable for costs and arrangements to relocate, including accommodation and work permits.   
  • Complete the application form in full as the information provided will be used for screening purposes.
  • Check your application and attachments before you submit your application, as you will not be able to make any changes once submitted.
  • We regret to advise that only short-listed candidates will be contacted.

All applications must be received before 16 January 2018 at 23:55 Manila time.


Incomplete application forms will not be taken into consideration, so please ensure you provide the information requested. We regret to advise that we will only be contacting short-listed candidates. Applicants called for an interview will be assessed on the core competencies listed above.


Interviews for this position will commence during the week of 16 January 2018.


The successful candidate should be able to start as soon as possible.


Please be aware that you will only be able to apply to vacancies for Country Based Staff roles with the British Government through this official tal.net site (operated by Oleeo). Jobs may be advertised on third party websites, however our adverts will always link back to the official tal.net site. If you complete and send an application through any other site, we will not receive it.

This opportunity is closed to applications.