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.

Job title: Head of Design and Digital Learning

Team/Directorate: MoJ People Group Learning and Development

Grade 7

Overview of the role:

This is a significant leadership role, based within MoJ People Group's Learning and Development Team, responsible for setting up, implementing, and leading a team of highly skilled designers and digital specialists. Reporting directly to the Head of L&D, this role is part of the SMT and integral to the high quality and consistent standards of product design and development of new and existing learning services, resources, and products. 

This post is for a 2-year loan for existing Civil Servants or 18 months fixed term contract for non-Civil Servants.

As part of the L&D transformation, this role will lead the way in introducing innovation and cutting-edge practices to the design of learning products and services. This is a critical post which requires the navigation of key stakeholders and subject matter expert requirements to continually strive for excellence in measurable learner outcomes which meet the needs of MOJ and HMPPS.

The job holder will be responsible for the management and direction of the Design and Digital Team, providing high quality products that are built with integrated quality and evaluation parameters, that meet the needs of the business, the learner and comply with all internal and external scrutiny.

The job holder is primarily responsible for the design and development of blended learning products (including face-to-face and E-learning) that build workforce capability, are flexible, personalised, value for money and future-proof.

The job holder will be responsible for the leadership of the Design and Development across the following areas:

•    Officer Apprenticeship curriculum and the continual transformation of a flexible and modularised operational officer training package
•    Operational Support Grade (OSG) Training
•    Continuing professional development of staff in Public Sector Prisons
•    Major projects or business change programmes, by supplying blended learning products and services that meet the business need
•    Manage a geographically dispersed team
•    Identify requirement for and manage project resource for continuous improvement projects and curriculum reviews

Summary:

This role is part of the L&D SMT and will represent the Design and Digital aspect of the L&D service.

The job holder will lead and manage the Design and Digital Team to provide the end-to-end learning design and development function; overseeing the (re) design and development of learning products, digital learning resources and experiences; monitoring the level of engagement and contribution from SMEs and application of evidence-based practice research and quality controls; collaborating with critical stakeholders including quality, delivery and strategy. 

The job holder will be responsible for the development of professional and measurable digital and face to face content for the L&D curriculum, to reach all learners and satisfy required learning outcomes. The key focus is to continually improve content and user experience including the Learning Management System (LMS) to promote higher level use.

Managing a large team of technical and design experts, the job holder will work in collaboration with internal departments including Quality and Service Improvement, Delivery, Strategy and Enablement, recognising that an integrated approach is essential to successful learning product design.

The job holder will be a strong advocate for change, championing and nurturing the new L&D model, processes and ways of working; motivating others to understand and embrace the change in culture for learning and continuous professional development across the organisation.

The post is a Grade 7 to ensure senior status within the business and an ability to engage and influence Senior Policy Leads, Governors, PGDs as well as internal and external stakeholders.

Flexibility to work outside of the core role to aid personal development whilst reacting to changing priorities of the business is an expectation of the G7 role.

Responsibilities, activities and duties:

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities, and duties: 

People

•Provide Digital and Design expertise and effective leadership skills to develop, set and sustain the strategic direction of the Learning and Development (L&D) team. 
•Focus on delivery through people, defining, setting and contributing to the team’s objectives in line with the L&D strategy and overall aims. 
•Responsible for a team of Designers, Digital Specialists, and the Learning Management System (LMS) Team with two SEO direct reports. 
•Responsible for building, developing, and leading the Design and Digital Team: from managing recruitment, succession planning to identifying talent and coaching to enable the team to realise their potential. Creating a positive and vibrant environment where the leadership approach is enabling and empowering.

Ways of Working/Planning

•Responsible for the design and implementation of the L&D Design and Digital business process mapping which outlines the ways of working, governance and decision-making processes and dependencies with stakeholders.
•Responsible for the clear communication and engagement with key stakeholders and external partners ensuring complete transparency in decision making procedures and design pipeline activity.
•Overall responsibility for the pan-MOJ learning management system (LMS). 
•Collaborate with Designers and the wider team to set and evolve the design vision for the product and the organisation.

Design of Learning Products

•Management of innovative and potentially complex learning design and professional e-learning content for Operational Training, Officer Apprenticeship and LMS.
•Work with broader learning team to incorporate e-learning elements into current programmes and act as a subject matter expert to support and guide MoJ and HMPPS colleagues.
•Work with internal and external colleagues to ensure the design of learning products and services are inclusive, culturally aligned and reflect differing learning and development needs.
•Create the design principles, processes, and systems to realise the vision and set the bar for excellence in quality design. 

Leadership and Management

•Collaborative working – working across functional and organisational boundaries, representing L&D professionally and consistently. Attend meetings, project boards that impact L&D delivery to provide up to date and transformational delivery methods.  
•Management and resources – provide leadership and management of resources including ensuring excellent return on current and future investment
• Develop strategic plans and solutions in a timely and flexible way, deploying resources (people, technical and financial) appropriately to ensure they are properly implemented and monitored.
• Responsible and accountable for the effective management of costs/budget
•Act as a role model displaying leadership behaviours in accordance with the L&D’s values and behaviours.
•Actively encourage, support, reward and develop staff.
•Line management of staff including systematic touchpoint meetings, development conversation and all aspects of performance management. Continually develop yourself and your team through CPD.
•Responsible for the recruitment, appraisal and development of the Design and Digital Team.

L&D Operating Model

To achieve the L&D Vision, an L&D overarching strategy will include setting and implementing the strategic direction for Design and Digital Learning, Governance and Assurance, Continuous Improvement, Enablement and Delivery of learning.  All L&D staff members are expected to contribute appropriately to the successful delivery of the strategy. Challenge conventional ways of thinking; promote the L&D operating model and new ways of working and encourage a culture of learning and continuous development across the organisation. L&D is committed to delivering a high-quality learning service and expects all staff to strive for excellence in their function. 

Values

Proactively promote and model the values and behaviours of L&D and embed the organisational mission and vision within L&D.

Support the wellbeing of our L&D family by making it a priority, ensuring that wellbeing is at the forefront of our conversations and interactions. 

The duties/responsibilities listed are not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder. 

Essential knowledge, experience, and skills:

The job holder will be an experienced Learning & Development professional with demonstrable experience in learning technology. They will have good experience in leading teams to respond flexibly and promptly to customer needs whilst maintaining the focus on high quality products and measurable impacts.

Technical Experience

•    Graphic design, visual communication, digital design, or related areas of experience
•    Experience in digital and content design in a learning or educational setting
•    Technically minded and comfortable learning new software quickly
•    Detail-oriented with exceptional organisational skills with the innate ability to multi-task and prioritise
•    Good understanding of working around various schedules and deadlines
•    Excellent communications skills
•    Confident when presenting ideas to team members, stakeholders, policy leads and external parties
•    Manage projects and resources (people, material, support) to get things done in an effective and efficient way.

Desirable knowledge, experience, and skills:

Proven experience of successfully managing highly complex programmes or projects. 

• Experience of developing and managing learning technologist professionals

Qualification related to instructional design, education technology, learning design and e-learning or psychology.

The job holder will be expected to be continually learning and upgrading their skill set.

We may consider any evidence within the application form that demonstrates meeting the desirable criteria as set out in the job description. This will only be after essential criteria is scored and where there is a need to differentiate between closely scored candidates.

Application process:

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.

Sift:

Behaviours - Please provide examples of how you have met each one of the behaviours listed below:

Leadership (lead)
Changing and Improving
Seeing the Big Picture

Experience:

-Please provide a CV.
-Please provide a statement of suitability describing how you meet the essential criteria as set out in the job description.

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

Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the lead behaviour of Leadership. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.

Candidates invited to Interview:

Please note that interviews will be held remotely. During the interview, we will be assessing you on the Behaviours below, and Strengths from the Success Profiles framework. You will also deliver a presentation (details will be provided to candidates invited to interview).

Leadership (lead)
Changing and Improving
Seeing the Big Picture

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, 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. 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.