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.
The Policy and Strategy Directorate is recruiting permanently for one SEO (Band B Equivalent) Strategy Advisor. This campaign is open externally and to current civil servants on level transfer and suitable candidates on promotion internal candidates.
Location:
Successful candidates will have the option to be based at one of the following locations:
- 102 Petty France, London
- 5 Wellington Place, Leeds (occasional travel between Leeds and London may be required post Covid-19)
Ways of Working
At the MoJ we believe and promote alternative ways of working, these roles are available as:
- Full-time, part-time or the option to job share
- Flexible working patterns
- Flexible working arrangements between base locations, MoJ Hubs and home.
At the moment the majority of our staff are hybrid working (a combination of working from home and working in the office).
If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.
Job Description overview
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Strategy Unit, a small team that sits at the centre of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). As a strategy advisor no two days will be the same. In a given week you might scope a new project, brief a minister, prepare a paper for Cabinet, or work with analysts to understand the impact of a decision. You can expect a lot of independent work and significant opportunities to engage and advise senior officials and Ministers.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
MoJ is one of the largest government departments, employing around 70,000 people (including those in the Probation Service), with a budget of approximately £10 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.
What we do
Strategy Unit – who are we and what do we do?
This is an exciting opportunity to join the Strategy Unit, a small team that sits at the centre of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). It is our role to develop the department’s strategy and make sure we are providing the best possible advice to ministers on a range of important policy and delivery issues. We help the department make better and more coordinated decisions, plan for the long-term and achieve its aims across Whitehall.
The Strategy Unit’s work focuses on three closely related areas:Â
- Priorities and coordination. We set the strategic direction for the department in line with the Secretary of State’s priorities – ensuring our resources and policies are aligned with the Government’s agenda and that we can clearly articulate MoJ’s priorities across government. Over the next six months, a key focus in this area will be managing outcomes from the 2021 Spending Review working with colleagues in the Finance team.
- Criminal justice system future demand. We help the department understand the long-term challenges the justice system may face and coordinate work across MoJ and government to develop plans for responding to those challenges. A key element of this is working closely with analytical colleagues and senior stakeholders to coordinate the department’s modelling of justice system demand over the next decade – ensuring decisions are taken in a coordinated way across the system and in light of the best available evidence.
- Strategic projects. We help progress priority issues and address strategic gaps in the department’s thinking by leading projects on important cross-cutting or longer-term issues. Recently this has included coordinating the department’s planning for recovery from Covid; priorities for the next few months are likely to include work on how the justice system embraces innovation.
The team has a wide range of experience - some have worked in different parts of MoJ and other central government departments, while others have joined the Civil Service from other parts of the public sector or the private sector.
Strategy Advisor – the role
We’re looking for a Strategy Advisor to join the team and primarily support on Strategic Projects, with opportunities to be involved in the other two areas.
We have a flat structure, and given we work at the centre of the Department you can expect a lot of independent work and significant opportunities to engage and advise senior officials and Ministers. You can also expect variety and flexibility. We cover the whole remit of the Department, which will give you the chance to gain experience on topics ranging from how to manage prison capacity to the future of the justice system.
There is no typical day in the team. In a given week, you might scope a new project, brief a Minister, prepare papers for Cabinet, work with analysts and other departments to understand the impacts of recruiting additional police officers on demand for the justice system, or develop a plan for helping the Department articulate a medium-term strategy. This is a great role for someone seeking to bring their intellect and abilities to bear on some of the most important issues facing society, while developing their knowledge and understanding of Government and the Justice system.
The Strategy Unit is a small, collaborative team. Members are often asked to support projects across the team, providing a breadth of strategy experience. The team is also encouraged to work on corporate activities like learning and development, induction, staff engagement and others.
Application process
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.
To apply, you will be asked to upload your CV alongside a statement of suitability (no more than 750 words). This statement should explain your relevant experience and why you believe you are a suitable candidate for this role, focusing on how you meet the key skills listed below. We encourage you to use examples from your previous experience to help demonstrate this.
We are looking for applicants who can:
- Think critically and analytically. This role will require you to understand and assess trade-offs and break down complex problems. To succeed, you will need to be comfortable interpreting and analysing information from a variety of sources and thinking critically to develop advice.
- See the bigger picture. We work at the heart of the Department and closely with the centre of Government. You will need to be able to develop an understanding of how your work fits into the department’s priorities and provide strategic insight, drawing on your understanding of the wider context to ensure communications are clear, effective and relevant.
- Communicate and influence. A large part of our role is to make the complex simple for Ministers and others, translating analysis to inform policy advice and persuasively presenting the ‘MoJ view’ to others in Government.
- Work together. As a central team, we rely on our ability to build relationships across the Department, draw on them to get things done and balance interests to build consensus. We also have a part to play building relationships with officials in other departments and external experts, drawing on these to further MoJ’s interests or bring in fresh thinking.
- Deliver at pace. Finally, no two days are the same in the SU, so we are looking for applicants who are able to work flexibly in picking up new tasks and supporting your peers, as well as delivering at pace and managing your workload effectively. You’ll also need to be comfortable working in an ambiguous environment where priorities can change at short notice.
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (Level 3 – Band B or SEO equivalent):
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf
Candidates invited to Interview
You will be required to give a 10-minute presentation at interview. Details of this will be sent to those candidates who are invited for interview and materials will be provided on the day.Â
The interview will be a blend of questions about the Strengths and Behaviours needed for the role.
The behaviours we are looking for are as follows:
- Delivering at Pace
- Making Effective Decisions
- Communicating and Influencing
- Working Together
During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours and Strengths from the success Profiles framework.
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (SEO): CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf
Strengths are assessed blind (we will not tell you the specific strengths before or during the interview process).
Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely.
Interviews are expected to take place in December 2021.
At interview stage, if candidates do not score high enough to be appointed to a Band B role, but have passed the minimal requirements, they could be offered a Policy role at the more junior level of Band C.
The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description.
Contact information Â
Please do get in touch if you would like to know more about the role or what it is like working in our team. Holly Murphy, Head of Strategic Projects – holly.murphy1@justice.gov.uk
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