43384 - Head of Business Strategy and Change- London

£54,982 - £65,123
1
12 Months
London, National
London
NPS MITRE HOUSE LONDON, SE1 1JD
Other
NPS Pay Band B
Permanent
Full Time
Business Management & Improvement

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

Please note that the location is flexible.

Overview of the job

To provide management and leadership within the Probation System National Probation Service (NPS) and Community Rehabilitation Companies (CRCs) with responsibility for resources and the operational and strategic direction and management of Business Strategy and Change services within Divisions and/or diverse functional areas of activity such as NPS Estates, NPS Facilities Management, HMPPS EQuiP, NPS ICT, ViSOR, HDC.

To represent the Divisional and/or BSC Deputy Director with external agencies/ stakeholders and staff as appropriate and at Senior NPS and HMPPS meetings.

In line with NPS policies and procedures, the job holder must at all times demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusion and an understanding of their relevance to the work they do.

The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position.

May be required to participate in out of hours senior management on call rota.   Post holders will report to the Probation Deputy Director for Business Strategy & Change with a dotted line to the Divisional Probation Deputy Directors.

The posts will be regional and HQ based and will manage the Divisional BSC Teams as well as specialist teams such as the HMPPS EQuiP Team and NPS HDC Team.

Summary

The role sits within the Business Strategy & Change Directorate with responsibility for developing and implementing a sustainable and effective whole systems model of delivering probation services across the public and private sector during the development of and delivery of the new operating model and then continuing to lead and coordinate whole system service improvement and change.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

Heads of Business Strategy & Change may be required to undertake any combination, or all, of the duties and responsibilities set out below.

  • Lead, innovate and develop local and national strategies in line with the national operating model and delivery plan.
  • Strategic subject expert lead on an allocated area of NPS business – ViSOR, EQuiP, HDC, etc.
  • Take a lead role for the delivery of change across the Probation System, working with the Deputy Director and other senior managers to implement change initiatives.
  • Contribute to National Probation Service change plans and identification of national and divisional strategic priorities.
  • Work with MoJ Policy Leads to develop policy and report to and respond to Ministerial interest.
  • Develop Divisional change plans and narratives and an effective means to communicate them to the Division including staff engagement strategies.
  • Mobilise change teams – even where these are virtual project teams, and ensure that they are effectively managed.
  • Identification and management of key workstreams within each change project, including identifying the work to be carried out, defining the business case, implementation plans, resource requirements and managing change management teams.
  • Assess the costs and delivery challenges and provide clear business cases to support implementation.
  • Work alongside Probation System colleagues to plan the implementation of change plans and mitigate risks, and engaging frontline staff in continuous improvement exercises.
  • Implement key actions and work shoulder-to-shoulder with Divisional managers to ensure successful implementation and delivery.
  • Development of stakeholder management plans.
  • Identification of key stakeholders and implementation of stakeholder interventions to ensure successful delivery.
  • Manage interdependencies between different directorates within the organisation and projects within the Divisions and ensure that these are managed through effective communications.
  • Monitor the delivery of change plans across the Division and assist to ensure performance against the plan.
  • Improve local coordination of delivery of Divisional change projects.
  • Represent the NPS at national partnerships and development meetings in line with delegated functional lead and decision making responsibilities.
  • Manage devolved budgets in accordance with the financial procedures outlined in the budget delegation.
  • Manage competing demands within (geographical) area of responsibility.
  • Responsible for the various functions across the NPS; including line management of middle managers.
  • Manage resources effectively.
  • Accountable for overseeing delivery and development of nominated contracts within Divisions.   Responsible for identifying, negotiating and agreeing changes and efficiency savings (have just done this recently with the 12 month rolling contract for Crown, 2 year contract for EQuiP hosting, annual renewal of licences for the whole organisation).
  • If qualified to do so, where operating on the On Call Rota to make decisions and provide advice on the management of offenders where senior management authorisation or involvement is necessary e.g. authorising the recall of offenders to prison.
  • Undertake all Human Resources (HR) related policies and practices including overseeing local recruitment, Attendance Management, Disciplinary Investigations, Performance Management and Staff Appraisals, chair grievance and other hearings.
  • Work effectively with your respective Divisional Senior Leadership Team and take lead responsibility nationally for specific projects/portfolios.
  • Deputise for the Deputy Director as required in the Divisional and wider NPS area of activity.
  • Work with MOJ/HMPPS Communications on a range of products.
  • Implement HMPPS equality strategy.
  • Responsible for ensuring the defined work areas and associated activities comply with Health and Safety legislation. Ensure all risk assessments are undertaken and staff are made aware of their personal responsibility towards Health and Safety compliance.
  • Management of estates across the Probation System (NPS and CRC).
  • Demonstrate pro-social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro-social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes.
  • Work within the aims and values of NPS and HMPPS.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alternations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Behaviours

  • Changing and Improving
  • Leadership
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Seeing the Bigger Picture

Essential Experience

  • Must have seasoned professional senior leadership level experience within a broad range of complex organisations including within a probation environment.  
  • Senior leadership experience across a range of disciplines including HR, Finance, Programme & Project Management, Estates & FM, ICT, Change Management, Contract Management, Trade Union Relations, Process Management, etc.
  • Experience of implementing quality assurance frameworks and continuous improvement strategies in a large organisation.
  • Detailed understanding of the concepts, principles and practices of European Excellence, project and change management, knowing when and how to adopt these or not as the situation demands.  
  • The post holder requires considerable skills in negotiating, influencing and facilitation activities in order to deliver the direction of travel for the whole probation system and bring private and public-sector stakeholders around the table locally to deliver benefits for the system as opposed to individual organisations. Stakeholders will include but are not limited to HMPPS Executive Leaders, NPS Leaders, managers and staff, Trade Unions, multiagency partners including Sentencers, Police Services and Local Authorities, etc.
  • The post holder will need to have led on large scale complex change initiatives within large unionised organisations. The post holder will also require high levels of resilience.  

Technical requirements

  • Essential - Level 5 Degree/Diploma in Probation Practice or equivalent, or equivalent professional qualification.
  • Desirable - Level 7 Masters Degree/Diploma in Leadership/Business Studies.

Ability

  • Good written and oral communication skills.
  • IT skills (Microsoft: Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint).
  • Ability to operate within broad organisational objectives and policy, developing medium to long term objectives across the whole probation system typically over 2 to 5 year timeframes.
  • Able to think and act strategically, developing practical, innovative and creative solutions to the management of strategic issues and complex operational issues.
  • Proven ability to manage complex programmes of work within challenging, dynamic delivery landscapes, while delivering efficiency savings and improved performance.
  • Ability to work within general policies, principles and goals to create a vision and strategies to embed a whole systems approach to delivering probation services.
  • Ability to react to new and changing priorities and demands through taking an analytical, reflective and creative approach to problem solving.
  • Ability to work within a highly politicized environment understanding and reacting to evolving political landscapes bringing clarity and professional and managerial judgement to complex and sensitive situations.

London weighting

In addition this post attracts a London allowance payment which will be discussed at interview

Working Arrangements & Further Information

Standard working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after ten years’ service.

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.

Pension

The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Please visit www.gmpf.org.uk for further information.

Please note: Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme.

Training

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Support

  • 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.
  • For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • 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.

Eligibility

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

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.

Interviews are expected to take place on 28th May 2021

12/05/2021, 23:55 hours.

If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com. Please quote the job reference - 43384.

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 click here for further guidance.

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

We have provided detail of the assessment stages and areas being assessed to help you prepare for completing your application form, and to advise of what will be assessed following this, if you successfully pass the application stage.


Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Changing and Improving - 250 word limit
Leadership - 250 word limit
Managing a Quality Service - 250 word limit
Delivering at Pace - 250 word limit
Seeing the Big Picture - 250 word limit

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Behaviours
Changing and Improving
Leadership
Managing a Quality Service
Delivering at Pace
Seeing the Big Picture
Strengths may also be assessed at interview but these are not shared in advance.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit : https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families

· 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

This Vacancy is closed to applications.