View Vacancy - Regional HR Deputy Head (PRT122)

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

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has set up a Regional Human Resources Hub (HR Hub) in Lisbon, overseeing 83 High Commissions, British Embassies and Consulates in 50 countries is Europe and Central Asia.

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 Regional HR Hub is to provide key HR services (recruitment, pay and reward, talent and performance management, HR enquiries, employee relations and learning & development through regional teams) to customers in the region and to provide a strategic and professional HR capability to support Regional Senior Leaders in delivery of business objectives.

This is a HR generalist role responsible for the oversight and delivery of key HR services and processes for locally employed staff working at British High Commissions, Embassies and other Offices located in the Region. The role reports to the Regional HR Head and will deliver through their HR hub team, working closely with their London based HR Policy leads, HR Business Partner and Regional Learning and Development team to develop and manage HR policies and processes, which are globally consistent but locally appropriate. You will be responsible for leading and managing high-level engagement with senior stakeholders and partners in the region.

This role offers a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the future shape and strategy of how we deliver HR services across the region. Working collaboratively with colleagues in HRD and across the Network, there is opportunity to contribute to HR functional areas and influence regional change and design. We are looking for a creative, innovative individual, who is able to work closely with the HR Head of Hub to deliver sound HR strategy, aligning to constantly changing organisational requirements.

The successful jobholder will be expected to work closely on this with a range of stakeholders, including at senior levels, in front-line policy and service delivery areas, as well as at Posts, encouraging them to adopt a higher standard and more consistent approach to local staff management.

We are looking for an enthusiastic member of staff who can work well as part of a busy team. We require strong leadership skills with excellent written and oral communication skills. The successful candidate will have a proven track record in managing and developing staff. The job would suit a well-motivated self starter, with HR professional skills, knowledge and expertise, excellent organisational skills, strong written and verbal communications skills.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • Provide professional and expert advice on HR policies, processes and programs like:

            - Coach/advise Posts on workforce planning;

            - Support line managers when dealing with employment relations issues;

            - Maintain overview of labour relations in Posts across the region;

            - Review and recommend on local staff terms and conditions ensuring regional consistency.

  • Drive stakeholder engagement and maintain a good relationship between posts and the Hub, reaching out to relevant audience with appropriate communication mediums. You will be responsible for customer satisfaction levels and implementing measures to improve service and address escalations and complaints;
  • Oversee delivery of effective management information on a range of HR indicators for your team and contribute to delivery of the Regional Hub, Service Level Agreement with Posts;
  • Analyse employee survey results and provide advice on areas for improvement and employee intervention programs, advising Posts on their implementation plans and monitoring progress;
  • 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 improvement grows within the HR Hub;
  • Perform job grading / evaluation processes for a range of positions regionally under central guidance;
  • Lead on development of regional HR Policies (e.g. consistency of Posts Terms and Conditions of Service, Labour law, Performance and Talent validation);
  • Line Management for 2-3 HR Strand Leads providing guidance, feedback on performance and development, and effective delegation of work;
  • Deputise for Head of Regional HR Hub;
  • Work closely with Regional HR Head in business continuity planning and arrangements;
  • Take part in the British High Commission emergency planning and any response to a crisis situation.
  • Degree in Business Administration, Human Resources Management or Social Sciences.
  • Experience in general HR Management and experience in operating in an international HR environment. Experience of leading a multifunctional HR team and a track record of delivery in a shared services environment.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, self motivated and results driven. Keenly aware of customer requirements and how to drive customer satisfaction.
  • English proficiency or similar level.
26 March 2017
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time
35
Europe, Eastern Europe & Central Asia
Portugal
Lisbon
British Embassy
1
EUR
42,525.00
5 June 2017

This is a permanent full-time contract (35 net per week) subject to a 240 day probation period.

The British Embassy in Lisbon aims to offer an attractive working environment and remuneration package for this role of €42,525 gross annual salary paid in fourteen installments, provided that the individual in question is subject to individual income tax (IRS) in Portugal on the employment income in question or, alternatively, is subject to income tax on such income in the UK; plus a monthly meal allowance of 134.00 Euros.

All staff recruited locally by the British Embassy in Portugal are subject to local Portuguese employment law as well as internal regulations in force at any given time.

The successful candidate will be subject to a professional background and security clearance and must have pre-existing work authorisation for Portugal in order to apply.

All applicants should have the right to live and work in Portugal. The British Embassy does not sponsor work permits.

The Embassy will not consider applications from existing staff who have not successfully completed their probation period or, in the case of staff on temporary contract who have not yet completed two thirds of their contract.

Please note that the deadline for applications is 23:55 on the day mentioned in the above field “Application deadline”.

We advise you to allow enough time to complete and submit your full application, since only applications completed and submitted before the deadline will be considered.

Please be aware that the deadline for submitting applications is considered to be the time zone for the country where the vacancy has arisen.

Please be advised that the Embassy will not be able to meet the travel costs incurred when travelling to the interview, nor the costs connected with relocation if offered a job.

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.