People Capability Lead
| Posting date: | 19 January 2026 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £44,241 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 06 February 2026 |
| Location: | Hastings |
| Company: | Government Recruitment Service |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 443813/2 |
Summary
Are you looking to work in a varied, dynamic and fast paced environment, where you set the direction of your work and how it is delivered?
Can you act as a people change agent, building consensus through an understanding of stakeholders operating contexts, creating a compelling vision, while taking on other’s needs?
Do you enjoy enabling organisations and their people to build and develop their capability so they can meet current and future business objectives - ensuring they have suitably skilled and capable employees at all levels?
Have you got experience engaging at all levels in business to influence and form consensus, agree strategies while also being robust, enable others to deliver those people strategies and plans whilst coaching and maintaining their focus and drive to deliver?
The Department for Transport (DfT) seeks an experienced strategic HR leader to strengthen relationships, drive people-focused change, and enhance outcomes for its Project Delivery Profession and Function. DfT manages one of the largest and most complex government project portfolios, worth over £119bn, supported by 500+ project professionals and additional staff in its Arm’s Length Bodies.
The Project Delivery and Performance Directorate (PDPD) ensures the Department has the capability to deliver projects successfully. Its People Team has shifted to a strategic advisory role, focusing on building capability, talent, and resourcing, including accrediting 25% of professionals to boost credibility. The next phase involves deeper collaboration with DfT’s wider family and other government departments, influencing best practices and fostering consensus
This role offers a challenging opportunity to work with senior leaders, leverage data and expertise, and shape HR strategy in a dynamic environment—ideal for those aspiring to become a trusted voice in HR and beyond.
Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary. Read more about Civil Service Pensions here
- 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays a privilege day for the King’s birthday
- Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance
Read more in the Benefits section below!
Find out more about what it's like working at DfTc roles: Department for Transport Central - Department for Transport Careers
Your responsibilities will include, but aren’t limited to:
Build relationships with PD Profession Teams across DfT’s Arm's Length Bodies and Executive Agencies (organisations) to strengthen leadership capability building.Drive delivery of 75% of DfT centrals’ PD Professionals achieving NISTA's PD Accreditation by 2030 and coordinate rollout with DfT organisations to enhance their capability and credibility.Lead the annual Project Delivery Fast Stream graduate Scheme Bidding (March), coordinating (June/July) and onboarding process (September and October), manage funding and ensure accurate financial records and payments.Use people data to provide insights and advise Senior Project Leads on capability and capacity, and support annual Director Talent exercise.Develop strategies for project delivery improvement using data-driven insights; engage and motivate stakeholders in change initiatives;Act as relationship lead with NISTA and key partners to influence and collaborate on improving People capability and Capacity project outcomes.Work cross-functionally within the team, Directorate, and wider Government; undertaking ad-hoc tasks as requiredDeputise for the Head of the People Team at meetings and Boards as requiredFor further information on the role, please read the attached role profile. Please note that the role profile is for information purposes only - whilst all elements are relevant to the role, they may not all be assessed during the recruitment process. This job advert will detail exactly what will be assessed during the recruitment process.
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