Job Opportunity for Deputy Head – Compensation and Benefits at British High Commission in New Delhi

Position – Deputy Head – Compensation and Benefits – FCDO HR Hub, Grade HEO, New Delhi

Main purpose of job:

The Country Based Staff(CBS) Regional Human Resources Hub based out of New Delhi, serves the South Asia region and covers 7 British High Commissions and Embassies in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and The Maldives.

CBS HR Hubs provide key HR Services including recruitment, HR advisory and HR enquiries, pay and benefits/reward, talent and performance management, and strategic HR support to customers across the region. The CBS HR Hub works with the Missions’ Corporate Services Teams and Senior Leaders to ensure HR best practices, to support operationally and to advise strategically. The Hubs coordinate with Human Recourse Directorate in UK, Corporate Boards, Finance and Procurement Hubs to bring greater strategic coherence and consistency in HR delivery. By centralising HR work, Hubs provide the Missions with access to subject matter experts that are committed to high performance standards and agreed service levels.

This role is responsible for the overall management of Pay and Benefits operations and project management in the Regional HR Hub including oversight of payroll delivery, pay awards, pay modelling and advice on country based staff pay policies in the FCDO South Asia region. This encompasses approximately 1800 Country Based Staff (CBS) employed at British High Commissions, Embassies and other Offices.

The role reports to the Regional Head of HR and will deliver through the Pay and Benefits team in the HR Hub, working closely with the UK based Pay Policy Team. This role will be responsible for leading and managing high-level engagement with senior stakeholders and partners in the region.

Roles and responsibilities / what will the jobholder be expected to achieve?

Hub Management (40%)

• Lead the Pay & Benefits (P&B) team and oversee smooth and efficient running of key P&B processes including accurate payments of salaries across the region.
• Line manage the team, assisting with people matters and their performance
• Ensure that robust processes are in place to deliver quality service to customers while minimizing risks.
• Provide technical and expert input into Payroll and Reconciliation Processes – Advise on Pay Policy, Processes and Management Practices
• Work closely with HR Hub colleagues to ensure consistency in process improvements, data handling, incident management and reporting, driving a cohesive team oriented culture within the HR Hub
• Promote a culture of excellence with all customer interactions and work products.

Regional Stakeholder Management & Support (20%)

• Proactively engage with and manage stakeholders, including Heads of Mission, Deputy Heads of Missions, Corporate Services Managers and staff from other Government Departments.
• Be the go-to CBS HR Lead for P&B matters
• Work with senior management to provide advice and explore solutions on both P&B and broader CBS HR matters
• Build the HR Hub’s reputation as a professional partner by conducting regular (proactive) outreach to customers across different media to discuss customer requirements and hub services.
• Support the HR Directorate and the region on P&B and assigned portfolio of activity, ensuring all new HR policies are communicated and implemented within the network
• Review and make recommendations on CBS Terms and Conditions of service ensuring regional consistency where possible

Project management: Payroll, Pay Review & P&B Projects (30%)

• Provide technical and expert input into Payroll and Reconciliation Processes – advise on payroll policy, processes and management practices.
• Establish a support service to senior stakeholders in UK by analysing pay data and compiling reports that provide reliable information to drive decision making on Country Based Staff in the Americas region.
• Project manage pay exercises across the region, advising and making recommendations to Post Leadership teams, hub management and CBS Pay Policy Team in UK to facilitate Pay Review/Awards.
• Provide feedback and input into Country Based Staff Policy with particular reference to Pay guidance and payroll practices
• Manage relationships with Post Leadership and payroll software vendor to resolve pay related matters/issues.
• Coordinate hub response to any future developments of FCDO Pay Policy and the Pay Review process, according to central directives/guidance. Make recommendations on Annual Pay
• Settlements in collaboration with Head of HR to Posts, Directorate on most affordable and appropriate pay approaches.
• Provide input to the Pay Team in UK on Pay & Reward Policy dealing with CBS pay in South Asia and feed in recommendations for the development of the Pay Review Model

Information Management and Reporting (10%)

• Develop MI & Reporting dashboards production and continuous improvement of performance measurement for the P&B delivery
• Oversee delivery of effective management information on a range of HR P&B indicators for your team and contribute to delivery of the Regional Hub, Service Level Agreement with Posts.
• Monitor customer satisfaction levels and implementing measures to improve service
• Regularly analyse official KPI’s, reports and ad hoc metrics for the HR Hub Team and other stakeholders within the region and make strategic recommendations on improvement.

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

Direct Reportees – 1 Manager

Countersigning officer for – 3 Officers

Essential qualifications, skills and experience –

• 5 years’ experience in a HR role. Experience in Payroll, Compensation and Benefits preferably in a shared service environment.
• Proven ability to influence Senior Managers in HR Project rollout and implementation activities.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, self-motivated and results driven. Keenly aware of customer requirements.
• Excellent organisational ability, with proven ability to manage, plan, and prioritise tasks and workload. Proven organisational skills and attention to detail
• Resourcefulness in solving problems and demonstrates good judgement. Ability to respond quickly and flexibly to meet multiple and changing priorities.
• Solid experience in Management Information & Reporting
• Excellent IT skills in MS Word, Outlook, Excel, PowerPoint