About the job

Job summary

Please refer to job description

Job description

POL

Closing date: 15 August 2024

Salary Range: £45’908 (MoJ London SEO range applies)

Contract type: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Hours: 37 hours per week

Number of posts: 1

Location: The Royal Courts of Justice, Strand, London

Context:

A truly unique opportunity to work in a key role at the heart of Justice and the Rule of Law as part the team supporting the Master of the Rolls (MR) and Deputy Head of Civil Justice (DHCJ) in leading the Civil Justice System. 

Civil Justice is wide-ranging and underpins many areas of life. The Civil Justice System provides for people to vindicate their rights and resolve disputes across almost every area of their lives. Examples include Anti-Social Behaviour, Contract breaches, Copyright, Personal Injury, Medical Negligence, and housing rights. This means our work interacts with work happening right across Government. We are an engine of economic growth.

This is an opportunity to do work which will have real and significant impact at the highest level and you will occupy a prominent position alongside judges at the heart of the civil justice system.

The role:

Within the Master of the Rolls Private Office you will primarily be responsible for maintaining oversight of operational performance and operational policy in the Civil County Court.

Your responsibilities and tasks will be varied but will include: the production of policy papers and briefing; representing the Master of the Rolls and DHCJ at meetings; and helping to shape the strategic direction of Civil Justice policy.

You will be directly responsible for critical governance boards and executive committees at the most senior level. You will engage across government and the judiciary, in particular with HMCTS, and will be expected to offer guidance, support and appropriate challenge on behalf of the judiciary. Often to those at more senior grade than yourself.

You will work closely and directly with the Deputy Head of Civil Justice (Sir Colin Birss). You will be his primary point of contact and dedicated support within the Private Office team. Your work will be of critical importance in supporting him to effectively carry out his role.

You will be part of the Master of the Rolls Private Office Team. The team is small, friendly, and social and we prioritise and enjoy supporting each other.

We see development as a critical part of this role. It is an ideal jumping off point into wider management and leadership at a more senior level. The combination of private office functions and responsibilities with wider policy work provides significant levels of exposure as well as opportunities to expand your leadership skills and influence senior decision makers directly.

Specific responsibilities:

Current work includes:

• Supporting the MR and DHCJ in developing and delivering key operational policy to support the effective functioning of the civil justice system. Working collaboratively with other Private Offices, Judicial HR, HMCTS and MoJ to ensure that civil judicial leadership is properly resourced, authorised and deployed. Working closely with HMCTS operations to analyse civil system performance and supporting the implementation of pilots to improve performance.
• Devising a strategic programme of court visits and judicial engagements for the Civil Leadership Group to ensure leadership judges are visible and understand local concerns. Task managing an EO to deliver the administration.
• Supporting the DHCJ as lead AI judge to deliver and update guidance for responsible judicial use of AI and consider where appropriate how AI may support the judiciary as a tool in future.
• Leading on coordinating the Deputy Head of Civil Justice’s participation in the HMCTS Reform Programme, including commissioning and providing briefings for his attendance at Programme Board and other groups;
• Working closely with the teams responsible for the ongoing digitisation of the civil, and wider justice system, the Civil Procedure Rule Committee (CPRC), and the Online Procedure Rule Committee (OPRC) to ensure that work is properly resourced and developed;
• Acting as secretariat for the Civil Executive Team, and Civil Leadership Group, respectively made up of senior and representative judges drawn from across the Civil Justice System. Ensuring that their work managing the operations of the Civil Justice System is supported and taken forward, and that they are linked in with others across the Judicial Office, or wider civil service as appropriate.
• Providing guidance and advice to the MR and DHCJ with regards to other specific projects, or engagements which may arise.
• Drafting documents and providing support to the MR and DHCJ in their responsibilities for judicial appointments as necessary.
• Deputising where necessary for the Private Secretary.
• The post offers opportunities for line management.

Skills and Qualifications:

The successful candidate will be organised, strategic and be able to prioritise and handle multiple issues concurrently. They will have excellent and concise communication skills. The post holder must be able to perform independently at a high level.

Part of the enjoyment and challenge of working in a private office is that work is occasionally fast paced and unpredictable. It will be important that the job holder is willing and able to be flexible in the tasks they take on.

The strongest applicants are likely to have proven experience of drafting, committee work, IT skills, communication and influencing skills. Prior experience of working with the judiciary and knowledge of the Civil Justice System is desirable but not essential.

You will be required to provide evidence of the following Behaviours:

Seeing the Big Picture:

• Develop an understanding of own area’s strategy and how this contributes to Departmental priorities
• Be alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact or benefit own and team’s work
• Actively seek out and share experience to develop understanding and knowledge of own work and of team’s business area.

Changing and Improving

• Regularly review procedures or systems with teams to identify improvements and simplify processes and decision making
• Actively encourage ideas from a wide range of sources and stakeholders and use these to inform own thinking
• Be willing to meet the challenges of difficult or complex changes, encouraging and supporting others to do the same

Making Effective Decisions:

• Explore different options outlining costs, benefits, risks and potential responses to each
• Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making to help build engagement and present robust recommendations.
• Make decisions when they are needed, even if they prove difficult or unpopular

Working Together:

• Establish relationships with a range of stakeholders to support delivery of business outcomes
• Actively seek input from a diverse range of people
• Encourage collaborative team working within own team and across the Department

Communicating and Influencing

• Clarify strategies and plans, communicate purpose and direction with clarity and enthusiasm
• Stand by, promote or defend own and team’s actions and decisions where needed, including against challenge from Senior judiciary, or other stakeholders
• Confidently engage with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels to generate commitment to goals

Delivering at pace

• Clarify business priorities, roles and responsibilities and secure individual and team ownership
• Act as a role model in supporting and energising teams to build confidence in their ability to deliver outcomes
• Maintain effective performance in difficult and challenging circumstances, encouraging others to do the same

Additional Information  

Working Arrangements & Further Information

Judicial Office are an Arm’s Length Body of MoJ, and are subject to their terms and HR policies. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. 

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.

There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

Interview dates:  

The full details of the interview dates, times and locations will be made available to successful candidates in due course.

Closing Date:

15 August 2024

Contact:

For details about the role itself please contact the Sam Allan, Line Manager on 0207 947 7830  or Grace Hodges the current post holder via Grace.Hodges@judiciary.uk

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk Please quote the job reference 22778.

Level of security checks required:   

Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC)

To apply for roles in MOJ you will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of application so that pre-employment checks (BPSS) can be undertaken. If you have spent significant time abroad (a total of 6 months in the past 3 years) you would be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why. 

For some roles you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Counter Terrorism (CTC), Security Clearance (SC) or Developed Vetting (DV) level as a condition of appointment. To meet CTC/SC/DV requirements you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 3/5/10 years prior to the date of application (The level of checks that are required are stated in the advert).

If you do not meet the above requirements, you may still be considered if, for example:

• You've been serving overseas with HM Forces or in some other official capacity as a representative of HM Government
• You were studying abroad
• You were living overseas with parents

In such cases you will need to be able to provide referee cover for the period(s) of residence overseas. The duration of overseas residence and the country of abode will also be taken into account. 

Candidate Application Information

As part of your application, you will need to provide a CV and a Statement of Suitability for the Role.

You will also be required to provide statements describing your skills and experience relevant to each of the identified behaviours. We recommend that you structure any examples as Situation, Task, Action and Result.

For more information about the recruitment process and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.

Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ

In the event of a large number of applications, we reserve the right to undertake the following processes:

• An automated online test where a benchmark must be passed to progress;
• A sift on the lead selection criteria. If this happens, the lead criteria will be the first one listed in the advert.

During the selection process, you may be asked to undertake an additional assessment (such as written test). If this is applicable you will be notified of this when you are invited to interview.

Person specification

Please refer to job description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £45,824, Ministry of Justice contributes £12,784 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, Strengths 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. Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window). 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.