Chief Human Resources Officer

The Government of Montserrat is inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the post of Chief Human Resources Officer in the Montserrat Public Service.

The Government of Montserrat is inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the post of Chief Human Resources Officer in the Montserrat Public Service.

JOB PURPOSE

The Chief Human Resources Officer will be responsible for developing the HR strategy and for driving clear and succinct policies to support the development and expert delivery of public services. The role is both strategic and operational and requires hands-on capability, leadership, organisational development and design, and a strong sense of delivery.

At a strategic level the role will be focused on ensuring that the Human Resource Management Unit (HRMU) is building a management team that delivers. Accordingly, the role will set the HR strategy, to include recruitment, retention and development strategies for the public service.

At an operational level the role will be to lead, and manage the development and delivery of HR policies, programmes and tools in the areas of:

• Talent Management 
• Learning and Development 
• Recruitment and Selection 
• Remuneration and Benefits 
• performance management 
• Organisation and Management Development 
• Employee Relations

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide advice to the Governor, Deputy Governor/Head of the Public Service, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments on all human resource management and establishment matters in the Public Service;
  
  
• Develop and implement HR policies, programmes and tools in the areas of talent management, learning and development, recruitment and selection, remuneration and benefits, performance management, organisation and management development and employee relations in alignment with the Government of Montserrat’s policy agenda and the reform strategy for the Public Service.
  
  
• Ensure the creation, coordination and implementation of policies, projects, strategic and operational plans related to the Human Resource Management portfolio. 
  
  
• Review and work on the refresh of General Orders, and legislation to govern the operations of the public service
  
  
• Ensure that rewards are in alignment with the national strategic agenda.
  
  
• Work with the Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments to provide human resource management leadership; establishing a strong direction and managing and engaging with people in a straightforward, truthful and candid manner.
  
  
• Work with the Governor to support her independent departments to ensure best practice is followed in line with Montserrat laws and professional standards.
  
  
• Leads the resolution of complex or extremely sensitive human resources issues at the highest levels of the organisation, drawing on advice from colleagues as necessary.
  
  
• Develop strong and trusted partnerships with leaders and managers to provide challenge, guidance and advice.  Focusing on building the capability of managers to skilfully handle situations rather than manage the issue for them. Challenges line managers to understand and address difficult people issues in a timely manner.
  
  
• Partners closely with the most senior managers, acting as a confidant and coach when needed and to provide a safe haven for difficult conversations.
  
  
• Build relations with external counterparts to keep abreast of emerging trends, ideas and sector insights, locally, regionally and internationally.
  
  
• Lead and champion the implementation of organisational change activities such as, restructuring and outsourcing.
  
  
• Look ahead and challenge leaders to ensure that the right organisation and capability is in place to deliver the results in the immediate and longer term.
  
  
• Shape the culture of the organisation in anticipation of future challenges and in response to current challenges.
  
  
• Provide advice to the Head of the Public Service on all matters relating to human resource management and establishment in the Public Service, to undertake overall human resources strategic planning and bring relevant matters to the attention of the Public Service Commission and to take action with regards to their recommendations and the Governor’s decision.
  
  
• Advise Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Departments on the allocation of staff, and to manage the overall workforce.
  
  
• Develop and maintain resource procedures (including recruitment, probation, discipline, termination etc.) and to ensure the Procedures Manuals are kept updated and communicated across the public service.
  
  
• Chair the National Training and Scholarship Award Committee (NTSAC)

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATIONS

Applicants for the position of Chief Human Resources Officer in the Montserrat Public Service will be expected to demonstrate competency against the full range of leadership and core skills identified for senior public officers outlined in the Public Service Competency Framework.

Job Specific Skills:

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

• The ability to work at strategic level, collaborating with Ministers and supporting them in their role.
  
  
• The job holder needs to be an exceptional communicator, an HR expert and have a passion for change and transformation.  Development of people is at the heart of this role.
  
  
• Strong leadership and management skills and the ability to create a strong and motivated team.
  
  
• Ability to conceptualize complex business changes and structures and the ability to plan, articulate and implement the resulting organizational change.
  
  
• The ability to work right and fast with a strong bias for action and the demonstrated ability to drive assignments to closure within stated deadlines.
  
  
• Have excellent oral and written communication skills coupled with similar interpersonal skills.
  
  
• Have knowledge of Public Finance Management and Accountability Act, Financial Regulations and General Orders.
  
  
• Have a thorough understanding of Government policies, role, and functions.
  
  
• Competence in strategic planning, managing change, problem solving and team working.
  
  
• Demonstrate their ability to conform to the highest tenets of leadership.

Academic Qualifications and Job Experience

• Be Chartered Institute of Personnel Development (CIPD) qualified to Membership level or hold the equivalent Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) certification.
• Have a Bachelor's Degree and ideally a Master’s Degree with a focus on Organisational Design and Development/ change management/leadership and /or people development
• Have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in successfully managing the HR function of an organisation with emphasis on demonstrating a broad understanding and technical capability across all HR professional areas and specific capability in:
• Organisational Development, conducting organisational reviews and developing organisational structures 
• Strategic Planning, Employee Relations, Recruitment and Retention, establishing HR systems, capability development and workforce planning, writing job descriptions and contract management, preparing framework programmes and policies
• Talent management and succession planning and how this could apply within the organisation.
• Ability to work at pace and demonstrated ability to drive assignments to closure within stated schedules.
• Proven ability to work at senior level, collaborating with senior managers such as Permanent Secretaries and supporting them in their role. 
• Strong leadership and management skills and the ability to create a strong and motivated team.
• Experience in leading successful transformational change particularly changes in HR processes.
• Has a deep understanding of the organization’s strategy, performance goals and drivers and knows how to develop organization strategies and operating plans. 
• Knowledge of how to use a wide range of sophisticated interpersonal skills and behaviors in combination with HR technical skills to impact the organization.
• Be a decisive thinker, skilled influencer, role model.