42423 - Law Commission: Business Manager and HR Lead

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

Overview

The Law Commission is the statutory body set up under the Law Commissions Act 1965 to keep the law of England and Wales under review and to recommend reform where it is needed. It operates as an independent non-departmental body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice.

The Commission’s aims are:

• To ensure that the law is as fair, modern, simple and as cost-effective as possible
• To conduct research and consultations in order to make recommendations for reform for consideration by Parliament
• To codify the law, eliminate anomalies, repeal obsolete and unnecessary enactments and reduce the number of separate statutes

Job Description

We are now seeking a new Business Manager to play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of the organisation by taking responsibility for resolving all HR issues, managing the Commission’s recruitment processes and running the annual Research Assistant recruitment campaign. The post holder will report to the Head of Corporate Services.

The role provides an excellent opportunity for the post-holder to gain policy, operational and programme management experience across the breadth of the Law Commission’s work. Additionally, the successful applicant will work closely with the Chief Executive and members of the Commission’s Senior Management Team.

This is a particularly wide-ranging post and flexibility will be key given there will also be occasions where the post-holder will have opportunities to work on discrete projects for the Head of Corporate Services, as required.

Key responsibilities include:

• Provide advice and support to Commissioners, lawyers and Chief Executive on a wide range of general HR issues, including recruitment and advice on individual HR cases.
• Develop and implement L&D strategies for the Commission.
• Take lead on all recruitment campaigns, including the annual Research Assistant campaign, managing all stages of the process from advertising, sifting, interviews and appointments.
• Take lead on the annual induction process for Research Assistants, ensuring logistical arrangements are in place and a programme of effective support is available which helps Research Assistants settle into new roles.
• Lead on work on the People Survey and accompanying action plan.
• Oversight of the Commission’s responsibilities in relation to Health and Safety.
• Line management of one Band E.
• Work alongside the Law Commission’s diversity champion create and implement diversity and inclusion strategies.
• Manage projects through the life cycle – being able to use sound judgement and evaluate actions taken.
• Identify opportunities for collaborating with other government departments.
• Work with the Communications Manager to ensure new HR, Health and Safety and L&D information is clearly publicised and accessible on the intranet.
• Support improvement initiatives
• Review and update recruitment processes

The Person

Essential criteria:

• Good written skills, with experience of writing clear emails and documents without the need for oversight.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to build confidence and trust both internally and externally.
• Ability to work autonomously and proactively under tight deadlines.
• Ability to juggle competing priorities, excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Good understanding of Microsoft Office
• Proactive and wiling to learn

Desirable

• Experience of leading a team would be a key asset.
• Experience of HR processes, including use of online recruitment tool would be valuable.
• An understanding of programme and/or project management
• Experience using government recruitment tools

Behaviours

You will be asked to supply evidence of meeting these competencies when you apply:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Working together
• Managing a Quality Service
• Changing and Improving
• Leadership

If we receive a higher volume of applications than expected, we will use Communicating and Influencing as a lead behaviour. Any applications that meet the benchmark for this behaviour will then progress to a full sift

Technical

You will be asked to supply evidence of your skills and experience of using HR recruitment systems/programmes.

Experience

You will be asked to provide your employment history.