Latac Head Of People

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer.We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability.We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds.We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law.We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow.The FCDO operates an agile workforce and to facilitate this, you may be required to undertake other duties from time to time, as we may reasonably require.Job Category Department for Business and Trade roles (DBT) Job Description (Roles and Responsibilities) Main purpose of job: The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is responsible for promoting UK trade and investment with the rest of the world.We are the department for economic growth.We support businesses to invest, grow and export, creating jobs and opportunities across the UK.DBT divides the world into 9 regions, each led by His Majesty's Trade Commissioner.LATAC is a rich region full of business opportunities that support the growth agenda of the UK government As Head of People for the DBT LATAC Network, you will lead the strategic direction of all HR and people-related initiatives across the region.This role requires a high degree of autonomy, judgement, and leadership, with responsibility for shaping the region's workforce strategy, driving engagement, creating and implementing the People Plan and supporting senior leadership in delivering the Regional Trade plan.This is a regional role and location will depend on the successful candidate.Roles and responsibilities: Strategic HR Leadership: Lead all HR and People function across the LATAC Network, acting as the primary advisor to senior leadership on workforce planning, engagement, and development.Annual People Plan: Design and implement a region-wide People Plan that aligns with strategic objectives, ensuring teams are supported, upskilled, and engaged.Implement strategies to measure the success of initiatives and adapt when necessary.Engagement Strategy: Oversee the annual People Survey, analyse results, and develop targeted regional interventions to improve engagement scores year-on-year.Findings and recommendations will be presented to Senior Leadership.Workforce Planning: Provide strategic advice on the composition and direction of LATAC staffing, ensuring the network is structured to deliver on trade priorities.This includes scenario planning and advising on future workforce needs.Change Management & Transformation: Lead change initiatives across the LATAC network, including organizational transformation, cultural change, and process improvement.You will develop and implement change strategies, engage stakeholders, and ensure successful adoption of new ways of working.Skills Development: Ensure the network has the right capabilities to deliver the Regional Trade Plan.Lead on identifying skills gaps and develop and implement an action plan to address those gaps.Learning & Development Fund: Manage the regional L&D fund, ensuring effective allocation of resources to support professional development and organizational priorities.Performance Management: Monitor staff performance across the network, intervening where necessary to support improvement.You will advise managers in the region and ensure performance frameworks are applied consistently.Recognition & Rewards: Lead the quarterly bonus awards process, ensuring transparency, fairness, and alignment with organizational values.HR Advisory: Provide expert guidance on personnel issues, interpreting local labour law, Post TACOs, and individual circumstances for LATAC region.This includes advising senior managers on complex or sensitive cases and working closely with CSMs and DHMs in the region.UKB Staffing: Lead the planning, recruitment, and onboarding of UK-based staff, ensuring a smooth and strategic process aligned with regional needs.Data & Compliance: Ensure all staff data, HR processes, and commissions are accurate, up to date, and compliant with internal and external requirements.When necessary, lead on HR commissions from HQ.Resources managed (staff and expenditure): Line Manage 1 internL&D budgetStaff Awards budget Language requirements: Language: English, Portuguese Level of language required: Fluent written and spoken (CEFR C1 essential; C2 in at least one language preferable) Essential qualifications, skills and experience Essential on arrival: Undergraduate degree Excellent written and spoken English Experience of working with teams across multiple countries and cultures in LATAC.Understanding of HR/people issues across the LATAC region.Experience on change management and transformation.Understanding of trade and investment work.Proven ability to lead and deliver on projects.Ability to deliver hard and difficult messages to seniors and peers.Required behaviours Changing and Improving, Communicating and Influencing, Working Together Application deadline 27 October 2025 Grade Higher Executive Officer (HEO) Type of Position Full-time Region Latin America and Spanish speaking Caribbean Country/Territory Brazil Location (City) Rio De Janeiro, Sao Paulo Type of Post British Consulate General Number of vacancies 1 Start Date 1 April 2026 Other benefits and conditions of employment External applicants and non-DBT internal applicants must have the legal status to live and work in Brazil.Internal DBT candidates are encouraged to apply for any vacancy for which they are qualified regardless of its listed location.If an internal DBT candidate's application is successful, consideration will be given to determine if the role can be performed from the successful candidate's current location or if it should remain at the advertised location.There is no guarantee a role will move and each decision will be made on a case by case basis.Please note that if a role is approved to move to a different location, the new location's terms & conditions of service will apply, including salary, benefit offerings, internal policies, etc.Employees who are not liable to pay local income tax on their Mission salary, e.g. some non-local national staff and some spouses or partners of UK diplomatic staff, will have their salaries abated by an equivalent amount.Appointable candidates who were unsuccessful may be placed on a 'reserve list'.If during the reserve period of 12 months the same or a largely similar role becomes available, that role may be offered to the second or subsequent candidate.The British Embassy Network offers a strong benefits package.This package includes generous vacation and leave time, flexible working patterns, and enriching learning and development opportunities.Please note that internal candidates applying for positions in other Posts, if they are successful should resign their contract in the respective Post to be admitted in the Post where the position has been advertised.Learning and development opportunities DBT's strong L&D offer includes access to a range of in-house and e-learning opportunities; a regional L&D fund; shadowing and mentoring opportunities; masterclasses from experts and opportunities to get involved in the corporate work across our global network