21220 - Head of Sponsorship
Role Purpose
We manage the relationship with five independent scrutiny bodies. They are HM Inspector of Prisons and HM Inspectorate of Probation who, alongside the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, provide a vital independent assessment of how the prison and probation system is working. Independent Monitoring Boards (IMBs) provide us with insight into whether the treatment of those detained in prisons is fair, just and humane. Lay Observers perform a similar role for those in court custody or escorted by private escort companies to ensure they are treated with decency and respect.
We provide funding of circa £17 million to the scrutiny bodies. The purpose of this Band A role is to oversee the sponsorship function of the team. This will include ensuring value for money, resourcing, assurance, national appointments and promoting engagement with policy developers. This is a time of reform for our scrutiny bodies including new national appointments, changes to their governance, and the introduction of new inspection methodologies.
We provide a high volume of advice and briefings to Ministers and to our Director General.
Responsibilities
We are seeking to appoint a self-motivated Band A who can continue to build and develop the sponsorship function at a time of reform and change. Key aspects include:
- Lead on sponsorship of the independent scrutiny bodies. This includes managing relationships with the bodies, supporting the recruitment process for our public appointees, championing the bodies within MoJ, and promoting better links with policy makers and others in MoJ and beyond.
- Policy development – provide advice to Ministers and senior officials for meetings with the heads of our scrutiny bodies, manage the team’s response to a high volume of Ministerial correspondence, Ministerial advice and Parliamentary Questions, lead full consultations with internal and external stakeholders, including the Justice Select Committee, on protocols with the scrutiny bodies and take forward any legislative changes (primary and secondary) to reform governance.
- Manage a small team consisting of one Band B, one Band C and one Band D, who each manage the relationship with at least one of our bodies.
- Manage the financial relationships with the scrutiny bodies, working closely with the Arm’s Length Body finance business partner on the Medium Term Financial Plan round, monitoring budgets, critically assess in-year bids and report on financial risks and chair quarterly holding to account meetings with the scrutiny bodies, ensuring appropriate risk management.
Knowledge, Skills and Behaviours
- We are looking for someone with experience of drafting high volumes of briefing, Ministerial correspondence and Parliamentary Questions.
- Excellent stakeholder management skills are needed as the post holder will lead on sensitive handling and engagement (e.g. HR, finance, legal issues) with counterparts in the scrutiny bodies.
- We require someone with a working knowledge of the legislative process e.g. experience of working on a Bill team or experience of drafting secondary legislation.
- We require an experienced leader to manage the team and ensure performance management is carried out in accordance with departmental guidelines.
- An understanding of the financial allocations process is essential as the post holder will be expected to advise the Director General on draft delegation letters (provided by finance colleagues), monitor budgets on a monthly basis and scrutinise in-year bids.
- A knowledge of prisons and probation services or the work of the independent scrutiny bodies would be desirable.
Civil Service Competencies
Setting Direction
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Changing and Improving
- Making Effective Decisions
Engaging People
- Leading and Communicating
- Collaborating and Partnering
Delivering Results
- Delivering Value for Money
- Delivering at Pace
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:
Annual Leave
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.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
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 salary sacrifice arrangements for childcare vouchers, and voluntary benefits such as retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
- 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 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.
05/11/2018, 23:55 hours.
Closing Date: 5th November 2018 at 23.55 hours
If you require any assistance please call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk Please quote the job reference.
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.
Candidate Information
You may be required to provide statements describing your skills and experience relevant to each of the selection criteria. We recommend that you structure any examples as Situation, Task, Action and Result. For more information about the recruitment process and answers to general queries, please click the below link which will direct you to our Candidate Information Page.
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
In the event of a large number of applications, we reserve the right to undertake the following processes:
- An automated online test where a benchmark must be passed to progress;
- A sift on the lead selection criteria. If this happens, the lead criteria will be the first one listed in the advert.
During the selection process, you may be asked to undertake an additional assessment (such as written test). If this is applicable you will be notified of this when you are invited to interview.
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
Interview stage assessments
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.