Head of HR & Business Partnering

Are you interested in joining an organisation committed to being inclusive, entrepreneurial, and disruptive?

Could you help us navigate the people opportunities and challenges both in the short and long term to ensure we remain a special place to work?

In our strategic vision: Archives for Everyone, we set ourselves the challenge of becoming the 21st Century national archive – a different kind of cultural and heritage institution: Inclusive, Entrepreneurial, Disruptive. This means we are often at the forefront of innovation including advances in preserving the physical record and in digital technologies and solutions. The realisation of this vision though won’t happen overnight. It will take time, and continued focus, effort and daring.

You will therefore be joining an organisation steeped in history that is also constantly evolving to meet the challenges of the modern world. As a non-ministerial department, and the official archive and publisher for the UK Government, and for England and Wales, we are the guardians of over 1,000 years of iconic documents from the Domesday Book and Shakespeare’s will, to Government tweets and everything in between.

To do this we are looking for someone who can demonstrate the following: –

Evidence of leading high performing multi-functional HR teams within a similar sized complex organisation that has had a positive impact on both the team and the organisation’s success.

Credible leader through an in-depth knowledge of employment law, HR business partnering, talent acquisition, pay and reward, and the role that HR can play in terms of culture change and improving the effectiveness and efficiency of organisational business processes.

CIPD qualification (or alternative qualification or extensive previous experience).

Evidence of operating and influencing at a senior level across an organisation, with a people and user focused approach that inspires others through an open and transparent leadership style.

Ability to operate between the strategic and operational, influencing and shaping strategic decision making whilst being able to translate this to others to empower them regarding delivery.

Coaching and mentoring skills that have been used to support and develop HR professionals.

Creative problem solver with an ability to work within a framework to identify innovative yet pragmatic ways forward to complex and/or complicated issues.

We would particularly like to encourage applicants from backgrounds currently underrepresented in archives, including those who identify as Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT+), from Black, Asian and minority ethnic cultural backgrounds, those who are neurodivergent, and those with hidden or visible disabilities.

This is a full time post. However, requests for part-time working, flexible working and job share will be considered, taking into account at all times the operational needs of the Department. A combination of onsite and home working is available and applicants should be able to regularly travel to our Kew site at least 2 days a week.

How to apply:
To submit your application please click the ‘Apply’ button on this page. You will be directed to our application site and asked to provide a supporting statement and CV details. In your statement please explain, using examples, how you meet the essential criteria. You may draw on knowledge, skills, abilities, experience gained from paid work, domestic responsibilities, education, leisure interests and voluntary activities. Please note selection for interview will largely be based on the information you provide in your statement.

Any move to The National Archives from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk;

Job contact :

• Name : Recruitment Team
• Email : careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk
• Telephone : 020 8392 5359

Recruitment team

• Email : careers@nationalarchives.gov.uk