About the job

Job summary

This is a Nationally based role

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.

Overview

We are HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) - the Agency responsible for running the criminal, civil and family courts in England and Wales and tribunals in England, Wales and Scotland. We are recruiting for two great roles as part of a team focusing on the future of the justice system.

Our courts and tribunals underpin justice and affect the lives of millions every year.  We process more than four million legal cases a year, ranging from serious crimes to traffic offences and minor misdemeanours. We are exceptionally proud of the services we provide and of the important part they have played in our history as a nation founded on justice, human rights and fairness. We are now transforming to meet the changing demands of the population and to respond to the technological opportunities of the 21st century, making sure our justice system continues to lead the world. You can find out more about what we do and how we work here.

These roles are based in the Business Strategy Division, which works with the Senior Management Team and Board to set future priorities and direction and to deliver the department and judiciary’s objectives. You will work alongside a team focused on strategy, innovation, insight and programme delivery, covering all aspects of the courts and tribunals system. All our strategy roles cut across the full breadth of the team’s work, and you could be involved in a wide range of priorities. However, the initial focus of these two roles is set out below.

Job description

Job 1: Strategy Manager, Policy and Legislation Team

We are looking for an ambitious policy professional to support the Team Lead in the development of the Policy and Legislation function within the Strategy division, bringing a strategic approach to policy and legislative implementation across the organisation. This will involve working closely with teams across both policy and operations to drive high quality strategic engagement on policy development for the courts and tribunals, as well as coordinating HMCTS input into ministerial and judicial briefing, including around major fiscal or policy events such as Spending Reviews, Budgets or elections, working closely with Private Offices, Finance and other teams across the organisation.

This role includes enhancing capability to drive HMCTS strategic engagement on policy development. This will involve identifying and working with others, carrying out deep dives into specific areas of interest, measuring impact and providing insight to improve future policy development and implementation.

This role will involve working closely with others – this will include Service teams who are responsible for the operational implementation of policy, MoJ Policy teams, the Court and Tribunals Joint Unit, the CEO’s office, and colleagues in the wider Strategy team. We are looking for a candidate who excels at working with and through others, has a good understanding of and interest in policy development and can think strategically and analytically to proactively drive change.

The key responsibilities of the role include:

• Support the development of the policy and legislation function within the Strategy division, building relationships with other teams and developing ways of working.
• Support HMCTS engagement with policy development, scoping work ongoing, facilitating high quality engagement and providing key operational and strategic insight from an HMCTS point of view.
• Coordinate and input to policy planning groups, ensuring the right HMCTS input is sought on policy briefing and co-ordinate HMCTS responsive policy and operational advice for ministers and judiciary.
• Provide strategic advice and insight on the engagement processes between MoJ and HMCTS on policy and implementation affecting HMCTS and support the development of a methodology for carrying out implementation deep dives to drive better policy implementation.
• Work with the parliamentary team in MoJ to influence and inform legislative development on behalf of HMCTS, working with Service teams and others to identify needs, and oversee HMCTS input into the ‘write round’ process on x-Whitehall legislation.

Job 2: Strategy Manager, Strategy Development Team

You will be joining a small team within the Strategy Division, working to the Strategy Development Lead. The primary focus of this role will be working with senior leadership to set out future priorities and shape the strategic vision and direction of HMCTS in the medium to long-term. You will be working across the whole business, to establish and articulate our overall strategy, and drive long-term strategic planning.

We work closely with and through others across HMCTS, the Ministry of Justice and wider justice system to help the organisation to meet strategic challenges and innovate. We are looking for someone who is proactive, excels at working with and through others and enjoys finding innovative solutions to complex challenges.

Key responsibilities

To be successful in this role you must have the ability to use personal initiative to find solutions to challenges and to deliver high quality work at pace. You will be a critical thinker, with the ability to synthesise information into clear written and verbal communication.

The team manage a fast paced, high volume set of activities and projects. You will work with a small team with the Strategy Lead to develop and lead our future strategy and strategic alignment work. This will typically include:

• Leading your own specific strategic projects and supporting the Strategy Lead – e.g. conducting research, interpreting data, engaging with wide range of colleagues to gather views, and prepare reports/advice. You will typically work on 2-3 projects at any one time.
• Developing subject matter expertise and a network of contacts so that you can produce progress reports for a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Responding at pace to ad hoc requests for briefings for senior management on a range of strategically important issues.
• Working with internal and external stakeholders to make links and align efforts between areas of work, especially where we want to seek their support or input
• Providing secretariat for senior stakeholder group meetings.
• Contributing to corporate activities aimed at developing team capabilities.
• The successful candidate will ideally have some knowledge and understanding of issues facing the courts and tribunals system.

Essential Criteria for roles 1 and 2:

We are looking for independent strategic thinkers. We welcome applications from all backgrounds who feel that they can meet the criteria.

You will:

• Be skilled at working with and through others to make change happen, bringing about new ways of working.
• Have strong written skills, with experience producing policy papers, briefing and/or submissions for a senior audience.
• Have strong relationship building and communication skills, both at senior and operational level.
• Have a broad understanding of the policy environment and civil service, if new to justice, a keenness to quickly develop your knowledge on courts and tribunals.
• Be able to surge and flex effort onto emerging issues.

Desirable Criteria for roles 1 and 2:

You will:

• Have some knowledge and understanding of issues facing the judiciary and wider courts and tribunals system.
• Have experience working at the interface of policy and implementation.
• Be able to work with data and analysis to draw out key insights, make reasoned recommendations and decisions.

How to Apply

To apply for this position please submit a statement of suitability of up to 1000 words demonstrating how you meet the skills and experience set out above, along with your CV. We use a name blind application process - please be assured your application will be anonymised prior to sifting.

Please also specify your preference of which role you would like to be considered for.

Candidates invited to Interview

During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours and Strengths from the success Profiles framework. You can refer to the CS Strengths dictionary for more details: Success Profiles - Civil Service Strengths Dictionary (publishing.service.gov.uk)

You will also be asked to give a presentation to the interview panel lasting 5-10 minutes (Topic TBC).

Candidates who pass the required standard for the role may be placed on a reserve list should the successful candidate decide not to take up the appointment or whereby further opportunities arise in the near future. Candidates will be kept on a reserve list for up to 12 months.

Eligibility and experience

The post is advertised to suitably qualified people on level transfer or promotion.

Appointment term

This is a permanent appointment.

Location of post

National. The team is currently London based so a non-London appointee is very welcome but would need to be prepared to travel regularly to see the team and wider division.

Job sharing

Applications for job sharing will be considered and treated fairly on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the MoJ’s flexible working policy and equality policy.

If you wish to discuss either role, please contact naomi.fawcitt@justice.co.uk

Person specification

Please refer to Job Description

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £39,868, HM Courts and Tribunals Service contributes £10,804 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.