Introduction

Thank you for your interest in becoming the Human Resources Director or the Finance Director of the House of Commons. This pack will give you lots of detail about the posts themselves, but I would like to take this opportunity to tell you about the House Service and the background to these new roles.

The House of Commons is a complex and fascinating place.  It balances traditions that date back to the earliest days of our democracy with all the demands of a modern, inclusive and dynamic workplace. With a workforce of over 2,600 people and an annual budget of over £500 million, the House of Commons Service covers multiple skills from baristas to barristers, from researchers to security officers. It also welcomes and manages more than a million visitors a year who come to see the wonderful neo-gothic palace and witness our Parliament in action.

In July 2018, the current Managing Director of Corporate Services, Myfanwy Barrett, announced her intention to leave the service of the House to relocate away from London and start a new career as a non-executive director in the public sector and visual arts.  We decided to restructure the Corporate Services team, covering finance and HR, with two new teams, headed by a Human Resources Director and a Finance Director.   Both new roles will be members of the House of Commons Executive Board.  This will give both professionalisms a presence at the Board, helping to take forward some of the most important people and finance objectives.  Our Corporate Business Plan provides more information about these objectives and the challenges ahead. 

In early 2018, both Houses of Parliament agreed that the best and most cost-effective way to carry out the restoration and renewal of the Palace of Westminster was to temporarily move out of the building in order to carry out the work in a single phase. Nothing on this scale has been undertaken since the Palace was built.   Both new roles will have parts to play in successfully contributing to the substantial financial and people implications of this decision.

On 15 October, Dame Laura Cox DBE, published her report into the Bullying and Harassment of House of Commons staff.  The House of Commons Commission, of which I am a member, considered the report on 24 October and their statement can be found here.  The new HR Director will lead the HR teams in working with colleagues across the whole organisation to ensure that the issues raised in the report are addressed.  

So I am looking for two inspiring leaders who will have the opportunity to shape and deliver an agenda and vision in an organisation at a time of significant change.  In return we can offer you a truly unique and inspirational working environment, a challenging and varied agenda which will develop your professional and leadership skills, and the chance to play a very active role in supporting our thriving parliamentary democracy.

Sir David Natzler
Clerk of the House and Head of the House of Commons Service