HR Business Partner

Role overview

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) sits at the centre of the UK government’s reform agenda, focused on economic growth and better outcomes for people across the country. Its work covers local communities, local government, housing delivery, building safety, social cohesion and local growth. The department is known for an open, collaborative environment where people are valued and supported.

This role sits within the People, Capability & Change (PC&C) directorate, a fast-moving and collaborative function that helps build an inclusive, high-performing workforce. The team works flexibly across priorities, engages with other government departments and external partners, and looks for current and emerging best practice. Continuous professional development is actively encouraged.

MHCLG is hiring an HR Business Partner to join its HRBP team within PC&C. The team is high-performing, supportive, and made up of people with varied experience, where different perspectives are welcomed.

What the role is expected to do

HR Business Partners act as trusted advisers to senior leaders at Director level, helping them deliver objectives through their people agenda. This includes advising on organisational change, workforce shape and size, capability building, employee performance, diversity and inclusion, and wellbeing initiatives. The role also involves providing strategic HR advice, identifying people-related implications and risks, and helping leaders align workforce priorities with business plans.

The postholder will also work with colleagues across PC&C to shape people strategy and adapt the HR work programme as departmental needs evolve. Close collaboration with corporate teams, particularly Finance, is also part of the job.

Core responsibilities

Day-to-day duties include building trusted partnerships, influencing senior stakeholders, and providing constructive challenge where needed to support delivery. The role requires confident use of data and evidence to produce clear insight, identify risks, and strengthen HR practice and systems.

It also involves coaching and mentoring individuals and teams to lift capability and performance, supporting transformation and cultural change programmes, and applying employment law and employee relations principles appropriately.

Selection criteria

Applicants should have CIPD Level 5 and prior HRBP or equivalent HR experience. Strong relationship-building skills are essential, along with the ability to influence, challenge constructively, and give effective feedback to senior stakeholders.

The department is also looking for someone who can solve problems effectively, respond to unexpected demands, analyse and use data to assess the impact of people initiatives, and work comfortably in ambiguous situations. Candidates should remain effective under pressure, including when facing setbacks or difficult circumstances.

Salary and benefits

The salary is £58,092, and MHCLG contributes £16,829 towards membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Additional benefits mentioned include tailored career pathways, flexible working, the MyLifestyle Staff Benefits Scheme, childcare vouchers, and cycle to work schemes.

Application process

The selection process has two stages and assesses Behaviours, Experience and Strengths under Success Profiles. Applicants must not include personally identifiable information in their CV. Direct CV applications are not accepted; all applications must be submitted through the application link. The CV and cover letter must be combined into one document before upload.

At sift stage, candidates must submit a covering letter of no more than one page. The supporting statement must answer this question: describe a time you influenced, challenged and resolved a complex HR issue with senior leaders, outlining your approach and how you achieved the desired outcome. Extra relevant detail may be included, provided the one-page limit is not exceeded.

If technical problems arise during the application process, the Be Applied support team can be contacted at hello@beapplied.com.

At interview stage, candidates will be assessed on the behaviours Seeing the Bigger Picture, Leadership, and Communicating and Influencing, as well as strengths-based questions. A presentation will also be required, with further guidance shared in the interview invitation.

Assessment dates

Sifting is expected during the week commencing 06/07. Interviews are expected during the week commencing 13/07 and are currently planned to take place remotely by video call, though this may change.

Reserve list

If more candidates meet the standard than there are vacancies, a reserve list will be created for six months. Candidates on the reserve list may be offered a role at the same or a lower grade, and offers are made in merit order.

Equality and reasonable adjustments

MHCLG states that it is a Disability Confident employer and applies a fair, proportionate interview process. Under the Disability Confident Scheme, candidates who apply through the scheme and meet the minimum criteria are normally progressed, although high application volumes may limit interview progression to those who best match the role requirements. In those cases, the benchmark for interview may be raised for all applicants.

The recruitment process also includes reference to reasonable adjustments, the Disability Confident Scheme, the Redeployment Interview Scheme, and fair and open competition under Civil Service recruitment principles.

Security and clearance

Successful candidates must meet the required security and vetting standards before appointment and must also complete a criminal record check. Security clearance requirements listed include BPSS for the National Office, and BPSS plus CTC for the London Office. The role notes that the required level of security is counter-terrorist check, and that people working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard checks.

Eligibility and nationality requirements

This role is open to a broad range of candidates who have the right to work in the Civil Service, including UK nationals, Irish nationals, Commonwealth nationals with UK work rights, certain EU/Swiss/Norwegian/Icelandic/Liechtenstein nationals and eligible family members with settled or pre-settled status or a valid application under EUSS, certain individuals with limited or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible for EUSS before 31 December 2020, and Turkish nationals and qualifying family members who have acquired the right to work in the Civil Service.

Important application information

Candidates are asked to review the department’s career site information before applying, including guidance on security clearance, nationality, right to work, the Civil Service Code and recruitment principles, CV declaration, sponsorship, salary and grade, existing civil servants, conflict of interest, location and flexible working, internal fraud database, appeals and complaints, fixed-term appointments, and arrangements for external candidates, existing civil servants, secondments and MHCLG employees.

Feedback is only provided to candidates who attend an interview or assessment. Artificial intelligence may be used as support in applications, but all examples and statements must be truthful, based on the applicant’s own experience, and free from plagiarism or misuse of generated content.

Locations

The role is linked to Bristol, Darlington, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, and Wolverhampton.

Working location

The role is marked as remote, with interview arrangements currently being conducted by video call.