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 International Justice Policy Division, International, Rights and Constitutional Policy Directorate, in the Ministry of Justice is recruiting for permanent roles at HEO grade. Roles are available across our teams, including international bilateral engagement, criminal justice policy, trade, multilateral engagement, rule of law, private international law and international strategy and priority projects teams. The team also covers crisis work from an international perspective. We are looking for highly motivated candidates with experience of or an interest in working internationally.
This campaign is being run externally and so is open to all who consider themselves suitable for the roles and meet the eligibility criteria in the wider advert within Civil Service Jobs.
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)
Our staff, who have an HQ building as their base location, are expected to work in an office at least 2 days per week.
Ways of Working
At the MoJ we believe in and promote alternative ways of working. This role is 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.
If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we will 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
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)
MOJ is one of the largest government departments, employing over 77,000 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.
Diversity
At MoJ, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels they belong and can thrive. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice and all qualified applicants will receive due consideration for employment. We encourage applicants from all parts of society and walks of life, especially those who are under-represented in our workforce, and irrespective of background, identity, life experience or circumstance. We value inclusivity and fully recognise that it is vital that those who work within our justice system are as diverse as the society we serve.
Description of Directorate
The International, Rights and Constitutional Policy Directorate (IRCPD) delivers some of the most exciting and central elements of the government’s policy agenda. We have responsibility for the international work of the department, including setting the direction and priorities for MoJ’s international strategy. We have responsibility for the human rights framework in the UK, and internationally in relation to our human rights obligations with the United Nations and the Council of Europe. We also have responsibility for constitutional policy, which includes managing our relationships with the Crown Dependencies and the Devolved Administrations.
In IRCPD, we are committed to diversity and being inclusive. We value everyone, supporting and encouraging them to be the best they can be. Our shared values are based on what we all feel makes MoJ a great place to work. The value adopted by the directorate is “Humanity”. We believe that we should treat others as we would like to be treated. We have also adopted ‘Race Commitments’, fully endorsed and led by our Director, as part of our wider, corporate efforts to ensure and promote a diverse and inclusive directorate with the ultimate objective of allowing everyone to safely be their authentic self at work.
Please indicate on your application if you have a preference of which area you would like to work in.
The Role
Roles are currently available in the International Bilateral Engagement team. Suitable candidates may be offered roles in the other teams from a merit list.
International Bilateral Engagement Team
The MoJ’s International Bilateral Engagement team works to deliver the Secretary of State’s international priorities and engagement. It is a varied, high-profile and stimulating role that offers exposure to working on justice elements of foreign policy in many countries and regions of the world. The structure of the team is based on the desk officer model, which is used widely throughout Whitehall to drive forward and coordinate international engagement and foreign policy. The roles combine elements of policy, strategy, engagement and delivery. The team takes a cross-cutting view of the Department’s international priorities, including through close working with many policy areas, including legal services, rule of law, foreign national offenders, private international law, human rights and counterterrorism.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of an expanding team. There are many opportunities to drive forward work independently, and we encourage applications with an ability to craft their own areas of development. Work of the team includes:
- Maintaining strong working relationships with Embassies across the globe via the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
- Developing international engagement strategies in support of Departmental objectives
- Briefing and delivery of Ministerial engagements with international counterparts, including inward visits
- Creating comprehensive engagement programmes for Ministerial travel overseas
- Working closely with a range of internal policy leads, understanding their international priorities and identifying cross-cutting links and deliverables
Private International Law
The Private International Law (PIL) negotiations and strategy teams are responsible for developing the UK’s future strategy on Private International Law, working with Ministers and negotiating agreements in international institutions such as the Hague Conference and the Council of Europe. Private International Law agreements ensure that families and businesses across the globe can carry out their affairs in multiple countries with the assurance that any disputes can be resolved and judgments recognised across borders. We develop and maintain relationships with governments across the globe and engage high-profile stakeholders across the legal sector both domestically and internationally. Work of the team includes:
- Leading on the UK’s international civil and family agreements with other countries, including analysing the use and effectiveness of the UK’s historical bilateral agreements, assessing the UK’s position on other countries applying multilateral agreements, liaising with FCDO, and advising Ministers accordingly.
- Supporting UK negotiations and representation in the Hague Conference in Private International Law, the Council of Europe and the European Judicial Network in Civil and Commercial Matters, liaising with MoJ colleagues, other government departments and the devolved administrations.
- Supporting international family justice work, including leading on the grant MoJ pays to Reunite International, liaising with the charity and monitoring performance.
Trade policy
The UK aims to secure agreements with countries accounting for 80% of UK total trade in 2019 within three years of having left the EU. As the government pursues an ambitious agenda of trade agreement negotiations to meet this target, our trade policy team leads on MoJ’s interests from the development of negotiating mandates through to live negotiations and final signature. The team has expertise in trade policy and leads on policy ownership of specific areas of MoJ interest, consulting with other lead departments in preparation of policy positions and in response to policy developments as negotiations progress.
International Criminal Justice
The International Criminal Justice team is responsible for setting the Ministry of Justice’s direction of travel in international criminal matters and working bilaterally with international partners as well as with international institutions such as the Council of Europe and the UN.
The team leads on one of the biggest international policy workstreams and ministerial priorities in the Ministry of Justice. This involves delivering a suite of Prisoner Transfer Agreements (PTAs), to be negotiated between the UK and EU countries, to enable Foreign National Offenders to be transferred out of UK prisons, and back to their country of origin to serve their sentence, and then for release and rehabilitation.
Multilateral Engagement and Rule of Law
The Rule of Law and Multilateral Engagement team is responsible for delivery of the Department’s strategic interests in promoting the rule of law overseas and in multilateral engagement. We deliver some of the MoJ’s key strategic objectives internationally, through projects promoting the rule of law overseas, and in ensuring the department is represented at key multilateral engagements such as the Commonwealth, Council of Europe and United Nations.
International Strategy and Priority Projects Team
The International Strategy and Priority Projects Team manages the International Strategy of the Ministry of Justice, which focuses on delivering policy outcomes in a number of ministerial priority areas. The team also leads high priority projects and crisis work. The team is looking for strategic thinkers capable of building relationships with different stakeholders, responding at pace to competing demands and prioritising in order to effectively support MoJ strategic priorities. The team’s work involves monitoring progress in delivering the International Strategy, taking a proactive approach to identifying issues and solving problems, building and managing the relationships with key MoJ stakeholders, maintaining an understanding of priorities in their policy areas and identifying cross-cutting links and deliverable and assisting with drafting good quality briefings and advice.
Skills and Experience for all roles
- Strong relationship-building skills, including with counterparts across Whitehall
- Sound judgement and an ability to make evidence-based decisions
- Demonstrated ability to work flexibly to fast-paced deadlines, manage competing demands and prioritise where appropriate
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Attention to detail
- Proactive attitude and a drive for learning and personal development
- Interest or experience in foreign policy and international engagement
Application process
You will be assessed against the Civil Service Success Profiles framework.
Experience
You will be asked to provide a CV during the application process in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.
Behaviours
Please provide examples of how you have met each one of the behaviours listed below (see Annex A for more information):
Behaviours relevant to all roles are:
- Seeing the bigger picture
- Delivering at pace
- Communicating and influencing
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
Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the lead behaviour of Seeing the Bigger Picture. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.
Candidates invited to Interview
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. You will also be asked to give a short presentation (details of the presentation will be provided in advance).
You can refer to the CS Strengths dictionary for more details: Success Profiles - Civil Service Strengths Dictionary (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Interviews are expected to take place in May 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 roles or what working with us is like: Cristiano@justice.gov.uk and anna.wardell@justice.gov.uk
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