Head of Business Partnering and Workforce Planning
- Civil Service
- Part Time
- Keynsham
- 72,840
Job Description
Job summary
Do you want to work on one of the most exciting transformation projects in the public sector?
The Defence Housing Service (DHS) is being created through the Armed Forces Bill to deliver a step-change in housing for the UKs Armed Forces and their families following the publication of the Defence Housing Strategy on 3 November 2025, which marked the most significant change to Armed Forces housing in over 50 years. DHS will bring a dedicated focus to improving the homes, communities and lived experience of Service personnel, placing families firmly at the heart of everything it does.
This is one of the most ambitious housing transformation programmes in the UK today. Backed by a 9.2 billion investment, DHS will modernise tens of thousands of homes, introduce a more proactive and customer-focused approach to maintenance, and unlock new opportunities to develop housing on Defence land. DHS will have the focus and agility to deliver change at pace, combining public service values with greater flexibility to build the skills, systems and partnerships needed for the future.
This is a rare opportunity to be part of shaping its culture, influencing how it works, and helping deliver lasting improvements for Service families across the UK.
The Defence Housing team is currently part of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO), who respond to the evolving needs of our military personnel, and the ways in which they live, work, train and deploy. We are proud to be the expert partner Defence needs for all their infrastructure requirements. From large scale infrastructure projects such as runways for the F35 fighter jets to net carbon-zero accommodation for our Service families, our activities focus relentlessly on our customers, and our outputs are unique in the UK and across the globe! DIO , What we deliver every day.
The future delivery model for this team is currently under review and may change as part of potential organisational developments. This could include the team or function transferring to a different employer or organisational structure in the future. Should activities transfer out of the Ministry of Defence existing employees transferring with those activities will maintain the same or substantially the same terms and conditions of employment.
Job description
Reporting to the HR Director, this role is a critical link between the business and the wider HR function, leading the development of strategic workforce plans that support delivery of the business plan and help shape the people strategy driving DHS's transformation agenda.
Working closely with senior stakeholders and using people data and insights, you will develop workforce strategies across the full employee lifecycle, including talent acquisition, talent development, organisational effectiveness, leadership capability and organisational change. Collaborating with senior HR colleagues, you will ensure the organisation has a workforce that is fit for the future while building and strengthening housing-related skills and capabilities.
You will communicate, collaborate and influence at senior levels within a complex and transforming environment and be comfortable operating at pace, demonstrate strong commercial acumen, and make well-informed recommendations and decisions that balance strategic objectives with business needs. Building trusted relationships, providing adaptable leadership and driving positive change will be central to your success.
What youll be doing;
- Act as a trusted strategic partner to Directors and senior leaders, shaping people and workforce strategies that enable delivery of DHS priorities and transformation objectives.
- Drive organisational effectiveness, workforce performance and leadership capability, ensuring the organisation is equipped to deliver the Forces First commitment and future business requirements.
- Lead strategic workforce planning, including capability assessments, workforce modelling, succession planning and the development of people interventions to address current and future workforce needs.
- Influence, challenge and coach senior leaders to make informed people decisions, build high-performing teams and deliver sustainable business outcomes.
- Lead the people aspects of organisational change and transformation, fostering a positive culture, strengthening employee engagement and embedding new ways of working.
- Work in partnership with the HR Director and senior HR colleagues to design and deliver an integrated people agenda aligned to DHS strategic objectives.
- Shape and promote HR best practice, ensuring business requirements are translated into effective people solutions and strategic workforce interventions.
- Collaborate with the Head of Pay and Reward to ensure reward strategies support workforce priorities, organisational performance and talent retention.
- Partner with the Head of HR Services to align workforce plans with resourcing and operational delivery requirements, providing insight to inform service provision.
- Work closely with the Head of Learning and Organisational Development to develop leadership, capability and skills strategies that build organisational resilience and future readiness.
- Lead the strategic use of workforce data, people analytics and customer insight to inform decision-making, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and drive improved organisational performance and business outcomes.
- Lead on complex employee relations and engagement matters, building effective relationships with recognised trade unions and key stakeholders to support organisational performance, workforce wellbeing and successful change delivery.
Whilst this role is advertised as a full-time position of 37 hours per week, we recognise the benefits of flexible working and are open to discussing part-time hours, job share arrangements, or other flexible working patterns with suitable candidates. Regular in person attendance is required (this is expected to be approximately 60% of your working week) to promote the benefits of face-to-face collaboration alongside flexibility of hours to support work-life balance and business need. Initially, you may be expected to attend more frequently to familiarise yourselves with the site, the team, and your role.
Person specification
To be successful with your application, you'll need to show that you meet the following essential criteria:
- Significant experience of business partnering at a senior level, with a proven track record of partnering leaders through transformation and change, and developing organisation design and development interventions to improve organisational effectiveness.
- Successful experience across a broad range of HR disciplines, including workforce planning, resourcing, employee relations, organisational development, culture and change, and the development of people policies and strategies.
- Credibility, resilience and personal impact, with the ability to build trusted relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Strong understanding of diversity and inclusion, with experience of building a diverse, capable and engaged workforce.
- Strong business and commercial acumen, with an understanding of key financial drivers and the ability to use workforce data and insight to inform strategic decision-making.
- Comprehensive knowledge of employment legislation and HR best practice.
