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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 Private Office Directorate in the Ministry of Justice is recruiting for a permanent SEO Ministerial Visits Manager role. This campaign is being run externally and is open to all who consider themselves suitable for the role and meet the eligibility criteria in the wider advert within Civil Service Jobs. 

This post is only available on a Full-Time basis. 

Location:

Successful candidates will have the option to be based at one of the following location:

102 Petty France, London 

Ways of Working

Due to the nature Private Secretary roles which involve a significant amount of interaction with Ministers, the successful candidates will need to be able to work in the office when the principal is present. Unfortunately, the role is unsuitable for part-time or flexible working, but Jobsharers are welcome to apply. When the Minister is out (for example during parliamentary recess, or when on a visit), there are opportunities for flexible working such as working from home. 

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. 

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity 

Job Description overview

If you are a communications or events professional with the resilience and judgement to operate in one of Whitehall’s biggest departments, this job could be for you. 

Working closely with Ministers, Special Advisers, private offices and communications, you will lead the coordination and delivery of Ministerial visits. The events lead will form a key part of the Deputy Prime Minister’s (DPM) private office, promoting our work on: 

• reforming prisons, probation and youth justice to improve public safety and reduce re-offending;
• undertaking the biggest programme of courts reform anywhere in the world to renew public confidence in the justice system and better protect the vulnerable; and
• modernising the human rights framework and upholding the rule of law. 

You will work closely with MoJ Press Office and External Affairs team to create an events and visits programme that showcases the work of our department and helps to cement relationships with our stakeholders. You will be someone who thrives under pressure and enjoys identifying innovative national and regional media visit opportunities as part of a wider visits’ strategy.  

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 £9 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

The Ministry of Justice’s Private Office Division is a supportive and collaborative group. It is also a busy and interesting place to work – it is the interface between Ministers, the rest of the Department and Whitehall. The Department is at the forefront of the Government’s programme to tackle serious crime and support victims.  

Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice 

Ministerial Visits Manager– the role

• Coordinate and deliver a strategic programme of DPM and ministerial visits, working closely with the external affairs team and press office to manage the delivery of events for all announcements.
• Taking ownership of both physical and virtual visits (such as virtual summits and roundtables) and working with colleagues across the department to deliver on logistics.
• Compile and coordinate ministerial briefings, itineraries, and other materials to support visits.
• Work closely with ministers and private office to be a central point of contact on visits.
• Work closely with policy, press office and communications colleagues to ensure visits and events are delivered successfully and key messages are communicated clearly, accurately and creatively to the media.
• Provide proactive direction and guidance to ministers’ offices and policy officials on visits and events managed by the team, working closely with the external affairs team to do this.
• Work with the Press Office and External Affairs team to provide regular media handling advice to the Secretary of State, Ministers, senior officials, and colleagues on sensitive, complex and high-profile issues.
• Use the full range of channels in promoting our priorities, maximising digital tools and using relevant insight to get the best possible results.
• Co-ordinate visits and events attended by the Special Advisers and the Policy Adviser.
• Ability to accommodate overnight travel and early starts/late finishes in order to deliver and support the DMP and ministers on their events.
• You will work closely with the Special Adviser to the DPM who leads on all media matters. You’ll support them to drive forward priorities and support them working with the department. 

Skills and Experience

• You will have experience of delivering visits, excellent judgement, be politically savvy and with outstanding media skills gained from working in a communications environment. 

• The ability to build effective relationships and use them to influence others and negotiate diplomatically to meet your ends is essential. You should have the confidence and ability to deal with senior officials, Ministers and special advisers in order to deliver appropriate comms outcomes. 

Application process

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

Experience

You will be asked to provide a CV and a Statement of Suitability during the application process in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role. Please note the CV is for information purposes only and will not be scored. 

Please provide a Statement of Suitability (max 1,000 words) which details why you want the role and why you believe your skills and experience meets the tasks and responsibilities in this job description.

Candidates invited to Interview

For the interview we will also be assessing you on the following Behaviours and GCS Professional Competencies.

Behaviours

Please provide examples of how you have met each one of the behaviours listed below (see Annex A for more information): 

• Managing a Quality Service
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating and Influencing 

Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade (Level 3 – HEO or equivalent):

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf 

GCS Professional Competencies 

You are expected to be proficient in each of the Government Communication Service (GCS) competencies to SIO level particularly skills and knowledge under the ‘Press and Media’ discipline. The brief summary below is not exhaustive - you should examine the full version on the GCS website. 

Communications: Ideas - core 

Communications: Impact -core 

·  Initiate and lead the development of both reactive and proactive, integrated media campaigns that build on insight and tracking data. Work constructively with policy colleagues and partners to gain expert opinions. 

·    Analyse media monitoring results to reassess the effectiveness of media strategies and inform future proactive and reactive media campaigns. 

Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely. 

During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours and Strengths from the success Profiles framework. 

Interviews expected to take place early February 2022. 

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  

Please do get in touch if you would like to know more about the role with Sinead Reynolds – Head of Communications Director’s Office email: ComCIDHDO@justice.gov.uk or Elyse Jenkins - Deputy Principle Private Secretary to the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice at Elyse.Jenkins1@justice.gov.uk or on 07967 792 308