People strategy and workforce leadership:

• Lead the development and delivery of MHCLG’s People Strategy, ensuring the department has the capability, leadership and workforce planning in place to deliver its priorities.

Executive leadership and organisational insight:

• Provide expert advice and challenge to the Permanent Secretary and Executive Team on organisational effectiveness, leadership capability and workforce issues.
• Support the senior leadership community to strengthen leadership capability and organisational performance.

Organisational design, culture and change:

• Lead work on organisational design, culture, engagement and change, ensuring the department remains adaptable and able to respond to evolving government priorities.

Inclusion and talent:

• Drive progress on diversity, inclusion and talent development, strengthening representation and ensuring MHCLG attracts, develops and retains high-performing people.

Professional and corporate leadership:

• Contribute to the Civil Service HR leadership community, supporting cross-government priorities and strengthening the HR profession.
• Work closely with other functional leaders to ensure joined-up corporate leadership across the department.

This role requires a senior HR leader with the credibility, judgement and leadership capability to operate confidently at Executive Team level within a dynamic and high-profile environment.

You will bring a strong track record of shaping organisations through strategic workforce planning, leadership development and organisational design, helping leaders navigate change while maintaining organisational performance and engagement.

You will be comfortable advising and influencing at the most senior levels, building trusted relationships while providing constructive challenge when required.

The successful candidate will demonstrate strong systems thinking, recognising how leadership, culture, organisational design and workforce capability interact to shape outcomes.

You will also bring a collaborative leadership style and the ability to inspire high-performing professional teams while enhancing an inclusive and supportive working culture.

As one of MHCLG’s most senior leaders, you will act as a visible role model for the Civil Service leadership behaviours and values of impartiality, honesty, integrity and objectivity.

Applications are welcomed from candidates across central government, local government, the wider public sector, voluntary sector and private sector.

Essential Criteria

• A senior HR leader with experience leading a significant HR or people function and building high-performing professional teams.
• A strong track record of operating at executive or board level, advising senior leaders on complex organisational and workforce challenges, with the ability to drive delivery and achieve measurable results at pace.
• Experience of leading organisational change, including organisational design, workforce transformation or capability development.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, influence decision-making and deliver outcomes in complex environments.
• Strong strategic thinking with the ability to translate organisational priorities into clear workforce and leadership strategies.
• CIPD qualification or equivalent experience in a senior HR leadership role.