About the job

Job summary

This position is based nationally

Job description

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Do you have the passion, values, and ability to help us solve the biggest problems of the justice system?

Data Literacy Lead, Grade 7, Data & Analysis, Ministry of Justice 

1.    Overview

We have 1 role in the Data Improvement team, within the Data & Analysis Directorate.

We welcome applications from candidates based across the UK. Candidates will have the option of being based in the Leeds or London HQ offices (with flexible working arrangements available) or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. These are based at the following JCCs: Cardiff, Leeds, Nottingham, South Tyneside, Brighton, Ipswich and Liverpool, and the following JSOs: Ashford, Beverley, Haverfordwest, Hull, Merthyr Tydfil, Manchester, Newport, Birmingham, Sheffield, North Shields, Bristol, Wolverhampton, Weston-Super-Mare, Stafford, Truro, Winchester and Leeds.

Alternative locations may be available and will be discussed and agreed on the completion of background checks.

Interviews are likely to take place in February 2024 and will be held via MS Teams. We will keep a merit list for a year for those who successfully pass the interview board but who are not offered a post.

2.    About the Data Improvement Team

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is committed to using our data assets in an exemplary way to deliver for citizens and to change lives for the better. We’re investing in essential work to improve justice outcomes for millions of people through data-driven insight and innovation, ensure that data meets user needs and to build a culture that really values data as a strategic asset. To do this, MoJ has created the Data Improvement team within the Data & Analysis Directorate. We have launched the data strategy for MoJ and are working on improvements across data governance, architecture, literacy, culture, dissemination and linking. You can read more about the Data Strategy in this blog post. 

-    Becoming a truly data-led justice system  https://mojdigital.blog.gov.uk/2022/08/30/becoming-a-truly-data-led-justice-system/ 

Within MoJ, we are developing tools, approaches and solutions to improve the quality of our data, to make it easier to find and access the right data, and to build the data skills of people across the organisation from front line staff to senior decision-makers. By fixing these issues, we can better understand how our services are performing and take better-informed decisions to improve them – which will make a huge difference to the millions of people who interact with and rely on the justice system, whether that is frontline staff, senior leadership, citizens and more. 

In parallel, the MoJ in partnership with the Home Office are leading on a data improvement plan across the Criminal Justice System (CJS) to improve the way we link, share and use data, from Ministers and Permanent Secretary level, all the way down to operational users. This work will directly influence strategic, policy and operational decisions.  

Why work in Data and Analysis?

In Data and Analysis, we want all our people to feel valued for who they are and for the work they do. We provide a warm, inclusive place to work and offer a wide range of flexibilities and benefits as part of our people offer to reward our staff.

What we offer 

•    Flexible working arrangements and a focus on equality of opportunity – including welcoming part-time and/or job-share arrangements, compressed hours, working from home or your nearest Justice Collaboration Centres or Justice Satellite Office.
•    Career development – regular development and promotion opportunities across a wide range of roles, career development support, with a generous individual learning and development budget.
•    Range of new areas of work and new tools and techniques – we pride ourselves on our excellent deployment of well-established analytical methods, but also our progress to date. Progress such as our ambitious and innovative transformation programme to leverage departmental data and drive evidence-based decision-making using cutting-edge tools and techniques (for example: experimentation, personalisation, artificial intelligence).
•    Analysis is at the centre of the Department’s decision making – our transformation programme is focused on maximising our impact on departmental outcomes. The Ministry of Justice’s Senior Team and our Ministerial Team want all decisions to be evidence driven – your analysis will be key in influencing decisions and real-world impact
•    Vibrant community – part of a multidisciplinary team that has a supportive culture and is looking to further develop the community with the help of everyone.
•    See the frontline and what your work is influencing – regular opportunities to visit our front-line service providers, including courts, prisons, and probation to better understand the areas your analysis is affecting.

3. What you’ll do 

You will be joining at an exciting time for the literacy workstream. At this early stage in our growth, we are looking for someone to shape and lead the programme and help us to make an impact. You will champion data skills as a priority, build a centre of excellence on data skills for MoJ and its agencies, design and implement data literacy activities, and support the work of the CJS programme as needed. You will be the subject matter expert for data literacy within the team. We are currently hiring a literacy SEO and have plans to grow the team over the next two years. We have developed some prototypes of data literacy tools to support our stakeholders, such as a data skills proficiencies framework and skills assessment, and you will continue to test, improve and build on these through pilot projects to make sure they are meeting our users’ needs. 

You will be passionate about improving people’s skills so they are better equipped to do their current role, or get the next job they really want. You will be able to spot opportunities for collaboration with partners across a range of disciplines so that we can improve outcomes for all our users through better data skills, and design and deliver the activity they need. You will always be looking for ways to improve your knowledge of best practice in the field, horizon scanning across the private and public sectors. You will have a strong focus on delivery and making an impact on an organisation. You will be able to see how data literacy supports our wider data strategy and the work of other areas of the Data Improvement team including data governance, data culture etc. 

Key Responsibilities 

•    Establish and grow the Data Literacy team as a centre of excellence for data skills, developing the strategic direction in line with the Data Improvement team’s goals and MoJ’s data strategy, and designing and managing our approach to delivering data literacy activity 
•    As the most senior subject matter expert on data literacy within the team, provide advice and recommendations to the senior leadership team on future direction setting, prioritisation and allocation of resources 
•    Lead engagement and own relationships with learning and development teams, hiring managers and wider stakeholders within Data & Analysis and across MoJ, to understand their needs around data skills, and to advocate for and support them to deliver high-quality data training 
•    Understand and prioritise requests for support with data skills from across MoJ, and identify new opportunities for collaboration 
•    Iterate and improve the data literacy tools and solutions we use to support our stakeholders and deliver data literacy activity and improvements, through user testing, prototyping and piloting  
•    Be an expert on improvements and changes in best practice for data literacy across the public and private sector, and use that knowledge to champion best practice in MoJ and the CJS. Represent MoJ at cross-government working groups to learn from and share ideas with other departments.  
•    Line manage a small team (currently one SEO in recruitment, with more hires planned) to deliver our data literacy activity, including: 
o    developing and iterating our data literacy products and catalogue of training opportunities 
o    building and maintaining a network of specialist training suppliers 
o    monitoring the effectiveness of our training approach and solutions

4. Who you are

The following experience and skills will be required:

•    Data literacy expertise – understanding of data literacy fundamentals and experience in designing and delivering a literacy programme, training and tools to support stakeholders – with a keen understanding of learning methodologies and principles, how to identify needs and evaluate impact  
•    Strategy - experience setting strategic direction of and establishing a service, embracing the opportunity to shape and drive its success.  
•    Horizon scanning – proactive learning about changes to current best practice thinking and technologies to shape approach and delivery 
•    Engagement - Strong skills collaborating with a variety of stakeholders to understand user needs and advocate for data and data literacy 
•    Testing and improving - Understanding of an agile approach to prototyping and development of a new service, tools or training offering and track record of identifying driving improvements to improve a service or product 
•    Self-starter - able to take a vision and goal and work proactively to make them a reality. 
•    Leadership – able to effectively lead a project and manage and mentor others.  

The following experience and skills are desirable:

•    Experience working and sharing learning across multiple organisations 

5. How to apply 

You’ll need to submit an anonymised CV and Statement of Suitability as part of your application. You will not be considered if you do not provide both. 

Your CV should be no more than 2 pages long and should show us your work history and previous experience. It should be well structured, succinct and written in clear language. 

Your Statement of Suitability should be no more than 750 words and should give us examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role. Consider giving examples that cover all the requirements in the ‘Who you are’ section and use work you have completed to demonstrate how you meet each one. 

5a. Selection Process 

There will be an initial sift of applicants through comparing submitted evidence against the ‘Who you are’ bullets. This usually takes two weeks, depending on the number of applications. 

Those who make it through the initial sift will be invited to a Civil Service Success Profile interview. In the Civil Service we use Success Profiles to help us find the right person for the job. We will be using a mixture of methods to assess your abilities, strengths, experience, technical skills and behaviours. We highly recommend learning about Success Profiles and using the Situation, Task, Action, Result and Reflection (STARR) framework when structuring your answers.

The highest scoring candidates that pass the interview will be offered the roles. The whole process can take up to a month. 

Behaviours

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework at interview stage:

•    Developing Self and Others
•    Changing and Improving 
•    Seeing the Bigger Picture 
•    Working Together 

Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade.

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf

6. Applicants invited for Interview  

You will be required to give a 5-minute presentation at interview to demonstrate your data literacy technical expertise. Details of this will be sent to those candidates who are invited for interview. 

7. Further Information 

If you require any additional information about the role, please contact:

Miriam Raines, Head of Data Improvement, miriam.raines@justice.gov.uk  

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £54,358, Ministry of Justice contributes £15,165 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.

Things you need to know

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check. People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

• UK nationals
• nationals of the Republic of Ireland
• nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
• nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
• individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
• Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window). The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.