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UK Health Security Agency

HR Business Partner

The closing date is 21 December 2025

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Job summary

The UKHSA People and Workplace function plays a key role in supporting the business through change and ensuring we recruit and retain the very best people to achieve our vision. Our people and culture are central to our identity, and the success of our strategy and operations for protecting the public depends on attracting, developing and engaging high-calibre colleagues who work well together. We deliver customer-focused, solution-driven support across the full HR spectrum.

This is an exciting opportunity to join our well-established HR Business Partnering team within the People and Workplace directorate in UKHSA. We're committed to making a real difference - not only through the services we deliver but also by creating an inclusive, high-performing workplace where every colleague can thrive.

Working in partnership with leaders across public health, clinical, and corporate services to drive transformation, support workforce wellbeing, and build organisational capability for the future. Collaboration, innovation and trust are key to how we work - you'll be empowered to contribute ideas, influence change, and see the tangible impact of your work.

Although this post is initially offered on a fixed-term basis, there is potential for extension or permanence as we continue to evolve. We are also aiming to create a reserve pool of high-calibre candidates for future vacancies. If you're looking to make a meaningful difference and be part of a supportive, ambitious team in a purpose-driven organisation - we'd love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

As part of the main duties, you will be expected to:

  • Develop a deep understanding of UKHSA's business plans and people priorities to identify workforce requirements.
  • Collaborate with key stakeholders to design and deliver effective workforce planning strategies.
  • Partner with key leaders through organisational change, ensuring people impacts are fully addressed.
  • Work with senior managers and leadership teams to provide strategic HR advice on critical business issues.
  • Support leaders in building staff capability, skills, and engagement.
  • Build strong stakeholder relationships, guiding business areas though change and coaching senior leaders.
  • Develop HR solutions aligned with business needs, embedding diversity and inclusion, and working closely with trade unions.
  • Provide expert people management advice and interpretation of UKHSA policies and employment law.
  • Contribute to the development and review of employment policies, using business insight to inform improvements.
  • Lead HR projects and initiatives across the People agenda.
  • Manage job evaluation activities.
  • Deputise for Head of HR Business Partnering and support delivery across all people and organisational development initiatives.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list.

About us

We pride ourselves as being an employer of choice, where Everyone Matters promoting equality of opportunity to actively encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce.

UKHSA ethos is to be an inclusive organisation for all our staff and stakeholders. To create, nurture and sustain an inclusive culture, where differences drive innovative solutions to meet the needs of our workforce and wider communities. We do this through celebrating and protecting differences by removing barriers and promoting equity and equality of opportunity for all.

Please visit our careers site for more information https://gov.uk/ukhsa/careers

Details

Date posted

01 December 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£56,185 to £70,566 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

919-JP-305832-EXT

Job locations

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London

E14 4PU


Job description

Job responsibilities

Essential Criteria

  • Proven experience supporting organisations through significant change and transformation programmes.
  • Demonstrated ability to partner with and influence senior leaders and stakeholders on a broad range of people priorities and change initiatives.
  • Skilled in interpreting, analysing, and communicating highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information to diverse and influential audiences.
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate issues, plan effectively across multiple time horizons, and adapt priorities and resources as circumstances change.
  • Chartered Member of the CIPD (MCIPD) or working towards full professional membership.

Desirable role criteria

  • Experience managing or leading job evaluation activities and pay and grading reviews.
  • Extensive strategic HR experience within a complex, fast-paced, and evolving organisational environment.
  • Experience in designing and delivering organisational development or workforce planning initiatives.
  • Strong understanding of talent management, leadership development, and succession planning processes.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to respond effectively to unexpected and challenging situations.
  • Proven capability to evaluate complex situations, identify and appraise multiple options, and make sound, evidence-based decisions.

Selection Process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours and strengths.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:

  • an application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
  • a 1000 word supporting statement
  • a 250 word behaviour statement on the lead behaviour (Communicating & Influencing)

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

  • Meets all essential criteria
  • Meets some essential criteria
  • Meets no essential criteria

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist against the lead behaviour - Communicating & Influencing.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.

Please do not exceed 1000 words for your statement of suitability and 250 words for your behaviour statement. We will not consider any words over and above these numbers.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a remote interview.

Behaviours and strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

  • Communicating and influencing (Lead behaviour)
  • Changing and Improving
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Seeing the Bigger Picture
  • Working at Pace

Interviews will be held week commencing 19th and/or 26th January 2026. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs in either Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London.

We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month).

Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard clearance.

Salary Guide (Grade 7)

National £56,185 - £66,581Outer £58,340 - £68,574Inner £60,494 - £70,566

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Essential Criteria

  • Proven experience supporting organisations through significant change and transformation programmes.
  • Demonstrated ability to partner with and influence senior leaders and stakeholders on a broad range of people priorities and change initiatives.
  • Skilled in interpreting, analysing, and communicating highly complex, sensitive, or contentious information to diverse and influential audiences.
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to anticipate issues, plan effectively across multiple time horizons, and adapt priorities and resources as circumstances change.
  • Chartered Member of the CIPD (MCIPD) or working towards full professional membership.

Desirable role criteria

  • Experience managing or leading job evaluation activities and pay and grading reviews.
  • Extensive strategic HR experience within a complex, fast-paced, and evolving organisational environment.
  • Experience in designing and delivering organisational development or workforce planning initiatives.
  • Strong understanding of talent management, leadership development, and succession planning processes.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to respond effectively to unexpected and challenging situations.
  • Proven capability to evaluate complex situations, identify and appraise multiple options, and make sound, evidence-based decisions.

Selection Process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your behaviours and strengths.

Stage 1: Application & Sift

You will be required to complete an application form. You will be assessed on the listed essential criteria, and this will be in the form of:

  • an application form (Employer/ Activity history section on the application)
  • a 1000 word supporting statement
  • a 250 word behaviour statement on the lead behaviour (Communicating & Influencing)

This should outline how your skills, experience, and knowledge, provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with reference to the essential criteria.

Please note you will not be able to upload your CV. You must complete the application form in as much detail as possible. Please do not email us your CV.

The Application form and supporting statement will be marked together.

Longlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will longlist into 3 piles of:

  • Meets all essential criteria
  • Meets some essential criteria
  • Meets no essential criteria

Only those meeting all essential criteria will be taken through to shortlisting.Shortlisting: In the event of a large number of applications we will shortlist against the lead behaviour - Communicating & Influencing.

Desirable criteria may be used in the event of a large number of applications / large amount of successful candidates.

If you are successful at this stage, you will progress to interview and assessment.

Please do not exceed 1000 words for your statement of suitability and 250 words for your behaviour statement. We will not consider any words over and above these numbers.

Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Stage 2: Interview

You will be invited to a remote interview.

Behaviours and strengths will be tested at interview.

The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

  • Communicating and influencing (Lead behaviour)
  • Changing and Improving
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Seeing the Bigger Picture
  • Working at Pace

Interviews will be held week commencing 19th and/or 26th January 2026. Please note, these dates are subject to change.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Location

This role is being offered as hybrid working based at any of our Core HQs in either Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London.

We offer great flexible working opportunities at UKHSA and operate using a hybrid working model where business needs allow. This provides us with greater flexibility about how and where we work, to get the best from our workforce. As a hybrid worker, you will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of your contractual working hours (approximately 3 days a week pro rata, averaged over a month).

Our core HQ offices are modern and newly refurbished with excellent city centre transport link and benefit from benefit from co-location with other government departments such as the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Eligibility Criteria

Open to all external applicants (anyone) from outside the Civil Service (including by definition internal applicants).

Security Clearance Level Requirement

Successful candidates must pass a disclosure and barring security check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is Basic Personnel Security Standard clearance.

Salary Guide (Grade 7)

National £56,185 - £66,581Outer £58,340 - £68,574Inner £60,494 - £70,566

If you are successful at interview, and are moving from another government department, NHS, or Local Authority, the relevant starting salary principles for level transfers or promotions will apply. Otherwise, roles are offered at the pay scale minimum for the grade, but in exceptional circumstances there may be flexibility if you are able to demonstrate you are already in receipt of an existing, higher salary. Pay increases are through the relevant annual pay award for the role and terms.

Person Specification

Application form and supporting statement

Essential

  • Application form and supporting statement

Behaviours

Essential

  • Communicating and influencing
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Making effective decisions
  • Working at Pace
  • Changing and improving
Person Specification

Application form and supporting statement

Essential

  • Application form and supporting statement

Behaviours

Essential

  • Communicating and influencing
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Making effective decisions
  • Working at Pace
  • Changing and improving

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London

E14 4PU


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

UK Health Security Agency

Address

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London

E14 4PU


Employer's website

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-health-security-agency (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Recruitment Officer

Jon Payne

jonathan.payne@ukhsa.gov.uk

Details

Date posted

01 December 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£56,185 to £70,566 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number

919-JP-305832-EXT

Job locations

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London

Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool or London

E14 4PU


Privacy notice

UK Health Security Agency's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)