View Vacancy - Deputy Head- Pay & Benefits, HR Regional Corporate Service Hub

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)
RCSH (Regional Corporate Service Hubs)

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has a Regional Finance, Human Resources, and Procurement hub based in Washington DC, overseeing 59 High Commissions, British Embassies and Consulates in North, South and Central America, the Caribbean, and British Overseas Territories.

The Regional 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 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. 

The role reports to the Regional Head of HR and has responsibility for management of the HR Hubs day-to-day operations, specifically those related to Pay and Benefits. The incumbent will work closely with the Head of Regional HR, with the Business Partner (based in London) and with HR policy leads to develop and manage HR policies and processes, which are globally consistent but locally appropriate. He/She will be responsible for leading and managing high-level engagement with senior stakeholders and partners in the region. Leading a diverse group of HR professionals, creating a high performing team within a culture of excellence in a fast-paced environment.

Roles and Responsibilities: 

Hub Management

  • Lead  Pay & Benefits (P&B) team and oversee smooth and efficient running of key P&B processes
  • Directly line manage the team, assisting with people matters and their performance
  • Ensure that robust processes are in place to deliver quality service to customers while minimizing risks.
  • Lead assigned HR change and improvement projects, in collaboration with Hub Managers.
  • Work closely with HR colleagues to ensure consistency in process improvements, data handling, incident management and reporting across all strands driving a cohesive team oriented culture within  the HR Hub
  • Promote a culture of excellence with all customer interactions and work products.  

Regional Stakeholder Management & Support

  • Proactively engage with and manage senior HR hub stakeholders, including Heads of Mission, Deputy Heads of Missions, Corporate Services Managers and staff from other Government Departments.
  • Become a go-to County Based Staff HR Lead for assigned posts and P&B matters
  • Work with senior management to provide advice and explore solutions on both P&B and broader Country Based Staff HR matters
  • Build the HR Hub’s reputation as a professional partner by conducting regular (proactive) outreach to customers across different media to discuss customer requirements and hub services.
  • Perform job grading / evaluation processes for a range of positions regionally.
  • Function as the HR liaison between the HR Directorate and the Region on P&B and assigned portfolio of activity, ensuring all new HR policies are communicated and implemented within the network
  • Review and make recommendations on Country Based Staff Terms and Conditions of Service ensuring regional consistency where possible
  • Oversee delivery of effective management information on a range of HR indicators for the P&B, Recruitment and Advisory team and contribute to delivery of the Regional Hub, Service level agreement with Posts.
  • Monitor customer satisfaction levels and propose then  implement measures to improve service
  • Develop MI & Reporting dashboards production and continuous improvement of performance measurement for the overall HR Hub Delivery.
  • Regularly analyse official KPI’s, reports and ad hoc metrics for the HR Hub Team and other stakeholders within the region and make strategic recommendations on improvements.
  • Advise the HR Hub Management and stakeholders in HRD on metrics creation, development and maintenance for all HR processes including Recruitment, HR Direct and Pay and Benefits

Project management: Payroll, Pay Review & P&B Projects

  • Manage and oversee timely delivery of payroll processing by the Payroll team to ensure accurate payments of salaries across the region.
  • Provide technical and expert input into Payroll and Reconciliation Processes – advise on payroll policy, processes and management practices.
  • Establish a support service to senior stakeholders in London by analysing pay data and compiling reports that provide reliable information to drive decision making on Country Based Staff in the Americas region.
  • Project manage pay exercises across the region, advising and making recommendations to Post Leadership teams, hub management and Local Pay Policy Team in London.
  • Provide feedback and input into Country Based Staff Policy with particular reference to Pay Reviews and Payroll practices
  • Facilitate Joint Pay Review model with DFID (Department for International Development) and FCO (Foreign Commonwealth Office) posts.
  • Manage relationships with Post Leadership and payroll software vendor to resolve pay related matters/issues.
  • Manage interaction with external consultants during pay review projects; organise, analyse and propose draft information and materials for Consultant briefing on the Pay Review model and schedule. This includes LTR (light touch reviews) and FPR (fundamental pay reviews).
  • Coordinate hub response to any future developments of FCDO Pay Policy and the Pay Review process, according to central directives/guidance. 

 

  • Minimum 8 years experience in a HR role, preferably in a HR generalist capacity. 3-5 years of work experience in Payroll.
  • Demonstrated ability to operate in a shared services environment.
  • Proven ability to influence Senior Managers in HR Project rollout and implementation activities.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, self-motivated and results driven. Keenly aware of customer requirements.
  • Strong quantitative skills.
  • Excellent customer service skills.
  • Proven organizational skills and attention to detail are required.
  • Excellent IT skills in Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint
  • Understanding of a multifunctional or shared service environment.
  • Experience in any of the specialist fields in Human Resources.

Under US State Department requirements, the UK Government in the US may only employ, as non-diplomatic staff, persons who are US citizens, US Permanent Residents or A visa holders with EAD cards*. If you hold a visa other than an A visa you are not currently eligible to work at our office. Please refer to our website for information on exceptions to this policy at www.gov.uk/government/world/usa. All selected candidates are subject to background checks and will require a security clearance prior to starting work. *A visas are acceptable at the Embassy and Consulates. The UK Mission to the UN (UKMIS) accepts G visas, and British Defence Staff (BDS) outposts accept A or NATO visas.

  • Experience working with ADP Workforce Now software.
  • Experience  using a cloud based Recruitment Tool - Automated Tracking System.
  • HR professionally qualified – PHR or equivalent.
28 November 2021
Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Full-time, Permanent
40
Americas, Caribbean & Overseas Territories
United States
Washington
British Embassy
1
USD
$85,686
10 January 2021

The UK Government operating in the US offers a substantial benefits package including generous leave, a choice of medical insurance, 401(k) matching up to 7%, extensive learning opportunities and a great work/life balance. 

Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, eg some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount. 

Internal candidates must inform their supervisor before they apply to a different position. Only successful candidates will be contacted. Please do not phone the British Embassy to follow-up on your application. Due to the high volume of resumes we receive, we cannot guarantee consideration of your application if the submission instructions are not properly followed.

The British Embassy is committed to a policy of equal opportunities and to creating a diverse working environment, free from discrimination, where everyone is included and treated fairly, based on merit alone. We are an equal opportunity employer, making all employment decisions without regard to race, gender, gender identity, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or any other criterion protected by law.

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.