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.
Building/Site WALES OFFICE CARDIFF (CF10 4DQ) or WALES OFFICE LONDON (SW1A 2NP). All OSSW staff must follow UK and Welsh Government guidance, where applicable, on travelling to work and working from home during the coronavirus.
Grade Higher Executive Officer (HEO)
Organisation Grade for MoJ C
Post Type Permanent or Loan
Duration of appointment If Loan for a period of up to 2 years
Working Pattern Part time (2.5 days per week)
Role Type Policy
Job description
Why work at the Wales Office? The exposure to Ministers is second to none in Whitehall and so this role will really suit an individual who wants to hone their policy experience and skills and who is not daunted by working with senior officials or Ministers. Being the smallest UK Government department, we pride ourselves on our ability to punch above our weight and cover multiple and wide-ranging policy portfolios.
The Office of the Secretary of State for Wales is the face of the UK Government in Wales and the voice of Wales in Westminster. We support the Secretary of State (SoS) for Wales and the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales (PUSS) in representing Wales at the heart of Government. We work in partnership with other UK Government Departments and stakeholders to deliver a stronger Wales within a strong United Kingdom.
Our departmental values are Commitment, Collaboration and Quality. These shape how we operate in a challenging, demanding and fast paced environment which requires flexibility, transparency and professionalism.
Being part of a small team delivering the SoS’s priorities, you will get unparalleled access to Ministers. Suitable candidates will be comfortable working in a fast paced and varied policy environment.
As a member of the Office of the Secretary of State for Wales, the successful candidate would be an employee of the Ministry of Justice, as parent department.
The Office is based over two sites, in Cardiff and Whitehall. The job could be based either in Whitehall or Cardiff but travel between sites and elsewhere may be required, subject to UK and Welsh Government coronavirus guidance, respectively, in order to build relations with policy colleagues and stakeholders and ensure a unified and effective department.
Policy Branch Descriptions
The Policy Team supports ministers and senior officials to ensure that Wales' interests are fully represented in UK Government policy-making and implementation, and works to promote a wider understanding of UK Government policies in Wales.
The successful candidate will join the infrastructure teamas Policy Advisor working particularly on digital but also other aspects of infrastructure. This is a high-profile, exiting and active policy area to work on. The UK Government is committed to levelling-up across the UK, reaching net-zero and strengthening the Union. Infrastructure plays an important role across all three policy agendas – and more. Covid-19 and the shift towards hybrid working models, coupled with increasing digitisation across the wider economy, services and society, has increased the importance of being able to get online. Your role will be to understand the current digital policy landscape and work to ensure that Wales’ unique circumstances and opportunities are well-understood across Whitehall and beyond.
In any given week, you could find yourself:
- Working with policy colleagues internally and across the UK Government to raise awareness of Ministers’ infrastructure priorities and ensuring that commitments to Wales, such as in the UK Government’s Plan for Wales, are progressed and delivered, including by finding and utilising opportunities to influence policy.
- Undertaking high-level research, analysis and collaborative policy development work relating to your infrastructure portfolio, with a focus on digital, and using your political antenna to identify emerging challenges and opportunities to the infrastructure policy landscape in Wales.
- Considering the implications for Wales of proposed UK Government policy initiatives or legislation.
- Briefing Ministers in advance of engagements with internal and external stakeholders or on policy topics of interest as and when required.
- Replying to written correspondence from Parliamentarians, external groups or members of the public, for example, and supporting Ministers to prepare for Parliamentary engagements, such as Welsh Affairs Committee appearances and Welsh Orals sessions in the House of Commons.
- Building and maintaining relationships with the Welsh Government and external stakeholders to understand emerging Welsh infrastructure priorities.
The work will be fast-paced and varied, providing a unique opportunity to work on salient policy areas right at the centre of the UK Government.
Job Description
As the Wales Office is not a direct policy delivery department, we rely on our ability to influence to deliver Ministerial priorities. You will need to quickly establish and maintain relationships with stakeholders both within Whitehall and outside. You will also need to be prepared to challenge and stand your ground or push back when under pressure as you deliver Ministerial priorities. You will need to work at pace to often challenging deadlines with an ability to draw together different sources of information and make sense of it for busy Ministers.
There will be a need for an excellent political antenna and so you will be proficient in keeping abreast of the latest developments in Wales and the rest of the UK. You will need to show leadership not only in the way you drive forward progress on your particular area of expertise, but also to members of the team.
Person Specification & Recruitment Process
You will be an experienced policy official and effective at briefing others. You will be well organised and able to deliver at pace. You will be capable of learning new policy areas quickly. You will have well-honed interpersonal skills to establish rapport with stakeholders quickly and have the confidence to provide challenge to colleagues where appropriate.
This vacancy will use the Success Profiles Framework and you will therefore be expected to demonstrate the following elements at the various stages of the selection process.
In the Personal Statement please evidence of the following experience and abilities:
- Given the need to cover multiple policy portfolios you will need to show experience of working in an environment where a multi-tasking approach and the need for prioritisation has been required.
- Demonstrable experience of giving effective policy advice to Senior Officials or Ministers through both oral and written briefing and correspondence*.
- Clear evidence of experience of working in a time pressured environment.
- Excellent written and oral business communication skills*
- Oral and written Welsh language skills would be an advantage but not essential.
Under each of the Behaviour sections of the application form, please provide specific examples that demonstrate competence at the HEO level for the following three areas:
- Making Effective Decisions*
- Working Together*
- Managing a Quality Service*
*Asterisked criteria above will be re-tested at interview as will the “seeing the bigger picture” of shortlisted candidates.
Additional Information
Working Arrangements & Further Information
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. 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.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
Generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 25 days per year, and rising as your service increases. There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
Including: a range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share; access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services or any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers; paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave; and free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.
Networks
The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
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
Expected week commencing: 4/10/2021
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.
Success Profiles
Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles
if you feel that your application has not been treated in line with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance
TOP