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.

Essential Criteria

Relevant qualifications in science and engineering fields, or equivalent experience, will be required.

The successful candidate will have:

• Experience of project management and delivery of scientific projects, including accurately tracking budgets, approvals, and associated project documentation, understanding and mitigating project risks

• Experience of liaising and working with a diverse set of stakeholders, including senior members of staff and external partners

• Strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills

• Experience working on environmental surveillance, sustainability or security is desirable.

 For more information on the role please contact the vacancy manager - frances.croxon-hall@justice.gov.uk  

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

Science Delivery Lead, MoJ Science Office, Ministry of Justice

Overview

The Ministry of Justice Science Office’s (SO) objective is to support the Chief Scientific Advisor in embedding science and engineering in decision-making across MoJ and raise the overall science and engineering capability in the department ensuring that our policy and operations are underpinned by robust and future proof scientific advice. The team supports a range of strategic functions, including supporting senior colleagues with delivery of their priorities, and planning and delivering pilots and projects. The team works with policy and analysis teams across HMPPS, HMCTS, MoJ, other government departments, devolved administrations and delivery partners to deliver a compelling vision and outcomes that meet the Department’s ambitions on science. The Science Office also acts as the vital link between the MoJ and the cross-government Chief Scientific Advisor network.

We are recruiting for a G7 Science Delivery Lead to spearhead our portfolio of applied science projects, including work on environmental surveillance, sustainability and security.   

Key responsibilities

The Science Delivery Lead is responsible for the day-to-day management and delivery of the Science Office’s applied science projects. Currently the brief includes environmental surveillance (wastewater-based surveillance, air monitoring & ventilation) and sustainability initiatives. The duties include include contract management, strategy development, continuous improvement and quality assurance of activities that are currently being delivered, as well as stakeholder engagement and business development activities.

More broadly, the post holder will contribute to the development of Science Office strategy, particularly where this relates to surveillance of environmental matrices and future engagement with sustainability and security initiatives. Additionally, the post holder may be requested to lead on the evaluation and delivery of new technologies, research projects, and pilot studies that have been requested to be considered for MoJ. Lastly, the postholder will be expected to play an active role in the leadership of the science office and to own corporate work strands.

The post holder will have line management responsibilities for 1-2 Senior Scientific Officers (SEOs). The post holder will require experience in project management and delivery, communication and relationship management skills, and subject matter expertise in environmental surveillance or sustainability.

The post holder will be non-operational HQ based within the MoJ Data & Analysis directorate. The post holder will report to the Deputy Chief Scientific Adviser (DCSA)

Essential Criteria

Relevant qualifications in science and engineering fields, or equivalent experience, will be required.

The successful candidate will have:

• Experience of project management and delivery of scientific projects, including accurately tracking budgets, approvals, and associated project documentation, understanding and mitigating project risks

• Experience of liaising and working with a diverse set of stakeholders, including senior members of staff and external partners

• Strong leadership, interpersonal and communication skills

• Experience working on environmental surveillance, sustainability or security is desirable.

Roles are open to: 

The role is available on a full-time working pattern and across all professions and non-badged analysts but it is expected that the post holder would be or be willing to become a member of the Government Science and Engineering (GSE) Profession. This role does not attract Specialist Allowance.

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, Birmingham, Bristol, Caernarfon, Cambridge, Chelmsford, Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Haverfordwest, Hull, Lincoln, Merthyr Tydfil, Manchester, Newport, Sheffield, North Shields, Norwich, Plymouth, Stafford, Truro, Weston-Super-Mare, Weymouth, Winchester, Wolverhampton and Wrexham.

Alternative locations may be available and will be discussed and agreed on the completion of background checks. The postholder will be expected to spend 60% of their time working from an office base and/or on site visits.

Interviews are likely to take place in late March 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.

Why work in the MoJ Science Office

In the MoJ Science Office (part of the Data & Analysis directorate), 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.

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 the ‘Essential Criteria’ section and use work you have completed to demonstrate how you meet each one. 

Selection Process

There will be an initial sift of applicants through comparing submitted evidence against the ‘Essential Criteria’. 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:

• Communicating and Influencing  

• Seeing the Bigger Picture

• Working Together

• Leadership

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 

For existing analysts from all professions, as well as the civil service behaviours stated above, you will be assessed on two sets of professional competencies at interview.

For external (non-Civil Service) candidates (and unbadged candidates within the Civil Service), as well as the civil service behaviours stated above, you will be assessed on your analytical knowledge, experience and abilities, and the impact of your analytical work. 

Please also refer to the Civil Service 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 

For existing analysts from all professions, as well as the three civil service behaviours stated above, you will be assessed on two sets of professional competencies at interview.

Professional Competencies

• Professional Competency (1) Knowledge & Skills

• GSS - Data Analysis.

• GORS - Knowledge and application of OR Skills and Techniques.

• GES - Analysis of Data.

• GSR - Knowledge and application of GSR technical skills

• Professional Competency (2) Influence & Impact

• GSS - Presenting and disseminating data effectively.

• GORS - Achieving impact with analysis.

• GES - Effective communication.

• GSR - using and promoting social research.

For more information regarding Professional Competency (2) please refer to the analytical profession internet links below. Please note that some aspect of the professional competency may overlap with the MoJ competencies listed above. We therefore recommend that in providing evidence for the professional competency, candidates focus on the technical and methodology aspects of the competencies that are specific to the profession. We will use evidence presented for the MoJ competencies in assessing the wider skills candidates have.

Government Statistician Group (GSG): Further information, including a user guide, can be found within the link below: 

GSS Competency Framework 2021

Government Social Research Service (GSR): Further information can be found within the link below:

GSR Competency Framework 2022

Government Operational Research Service (GORS): Further information can be found within the link below: 

GORS Competencies

Government Economic Service (GES): Further information can be found within the link below:

GES Professional Standards 2022

Applicants invited for Interview  

You will be required to give a 5-minute presentation. Details of this will be sent to those candidates who are invited for interview. 

Further Information

If you require any additional information about the role, please contact: Frances.Croxon-Hall@justice.gov.uk

Technical skill 2

Professional Competency (2) Influence & Impact
• GSS - Presenting and disseminating data effectively.
• GORS - Achieving impact with analysis.
• GES - Effective communication.
• GSR - using and promoting social research.

For more information regarding Professional Competency (2) please refer to the analytical profession internet links below. Please note that some aspect of the professional competency may overlap with the MoJ competencies listed above. We therefore recommend that in providing evidence for the professional competency, candidates focus on the technical and methodology aspects of the competencies that are specific to the profession. We will use evidence presented for the MoJ competencies in assessing the wider skills candidates have.

Government Statistician Group (GSG): Further information, including a user guide, can be found within the link below:
GSS Competency Framework 2021

Government Social Research Service (GSR): Further information can be found within the link below:
GSR Competency Framework 2022

Government Operational Research Service (GORS): Further information can be found within the link below:
GORS Competencies

Government Economic Service (GES): Further information can be found within the link below:
GES Professional Standards 2022

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, Experience and Technical skills.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 security 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.