Head of Talent

Overview

Drive Strategic Skills for Buckinghamshire Council and Our Local Community

Are you ready to make a real difference to the future of Buckinghamshire Council and the wider community? We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a dynamic HR professional to join us as Head of Talent on a fixed-term contract until July 2026. This pivotal role sits at the heart of our Resources – HR & OD team, reporting directly to the Service Director for HR & OD.

About the role

As Head of Talent, you will shape and deliver our strategic skills agenda – not only recruiting, developing and retaining talent within the Council, but also helping to drive employability and skills for Buckinghamshire residents. You’ll work closely with senior leaders, influencing at all levels, to design and implement innovative plans that improve organisational performance, talent management, and career pathways across the Council. You’ll also collaborate with key internal and external partners to ensure Buckinghamshire’s workforce is equipped for the challenges of tomorrow.

This is your chance to lead on strategic initiatives such as our Talent Strategy, performance appraisal processes, and learning management systems, as well as supporting year one of our Connect to Work Programme and Adult Skills devolution. You’ll be pivotal in identifying skills gaps, launching impactful training interventions, and attracting a diverse workforce, all while fostering a culture of adaptability, innovation, and collaboration. Your work will ensure our employees and the wider community have the skills and support to thrive now and into the future.

If you are passionate about talent development, have proven experience at a senior level, and want to play a key role in shaping the future for both our organisation and Buckinghamshire residents, we would love to hear from you.

Other information

For further information on this role please see the attached job summary.

Salary: Competitive

Closing date: Thursday 20th November

Interview date: Friday 28th November, in person at the Gateway

If you would like to have an informal conversation with the recruiting manager, please contact: [email protected]

This post is covered by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore applicants are required to declare:

• All unspent cautions and/or unspent convictions

For further information on how long it takes for cautions and convictions cautions to become spent, please refer to our guide on the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (updated 2023) | Nacro

We reserve the right to close the vacancy once we have received sufficient applications, so please be advised to submit your application as early as possible.

Our values and culture

We have a set of values, which our employees have chosen, that represent what we are – Proud, Ambitious, Collaborative and Trustworthy.

By joining Buckinghamshire Council, you can expect:

• a fair and inclusive culture
• the chance to really make a difference to those around you
• health and well-being initiatives including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and mindfulness workshops
• a unified voice through our Employee Representative Group
• ongoing support, and the opportunity to develop and progress in your career with us
• opportunities to take part in fun activities such as fundraising and social events

At Buckinghamshire Council, we know that our biggest strength comes from the people that work for us, and that’s why we’re working hard to ensure we continue to be an accessible and inclusive organisation.

From dedicated staff networks overseen by our Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Group, to proudly standing as a Disability Confident employer, it’s important to us that all our colleagues feel engaged, listened to, and valued. Our offer of flexible working empowers a productive and happy workforce and allows employees to combine work with other responsibilities and commitments.

We believe our workforce should reflect the diverse communities we service in Buckinghamshire, and are looking for like-minded individuals to join us in promoting equality, fairness, and inclusion for everyone.

About the Business Unit

Resources cover a wide range of specialisms, including Human Resources, Finance, ICT and Business Operations. Our main focus is supporting the other directorates to provide the best possible service to our residents. To do that, we have to make sure we have the right people in the right roles across the organisation. From our finance teams, working strategically to ensure the best value from public money; to HR keeping our employees healthy and happy, each service is vital in making sure Buckinghamshire Council has what it needs to run effectively and efficiently.

As well as providing high quality services to other areas of the Council, you could also be helping us build on the revenue which comes from our external clients. If you are ambitious, customer-focussed and bursting with new ideas, we want to hear from you.

We recognise and reward you

Hard work and success deserves recognition. That’s why we pride ourselves on the benefits we give our people. We actively encourage a good work-life balance and promote flexible and agile working arrangements. We provide discounts on various Cafés, restaurants, shops and auto enrolment onto our generous Pension Scheme. In addition to the opportunity to gain membership to Costco, we have discounted gym memberships, travel discounts with Arriva and much more.

https://jobs.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/working-buckinghamshire-council/