17094 - Judicial Appointments Commission - Head of Diversity and Engagement
Head of Diversity and Engagement
The JAC is an independent public body, established in April 2006 to select judges for the courts and tribunals through fair and open competition, independently from the Government and judiciary.
We are looking for a Head of Diversity and Engagement to join the Strategy and Policy division of the JAC. This is a key role in a vital public body that delivers complex and constitutionally sensitive work at pace. There are three main elements to this role:
- developing and leading on the JAC’s strategy to widen the pool of high calibre candidates for judicial appointment
- ensuring the processes for selecting judges are fair and free from bias
- leading on JAC’s engagement with internal and external stakeholders, and providing oversight of internal and external communications, to promote understanding of the work of the JAC and confidence in merit-based selections.
Job Description
There will be scope for the new post-holder to shape and develop the role, as well as to be involved in other aspects of the JAC's work. You will lead a team responsible for:
- Developing, devising and leading on candidate attraction strategies, evaluating outreach to ensure it is targeted and effective
- Working with partner organisations to support wider programmes aimed at developing potential candidates, including by representing the JAC at outreach events
- Ensuring all policies and selection processes are fair, free from bias, and compliant with relevant equalities legislation, and exploring further measures to support diverse outcomes
- Monitoring the progression of target groups through JAC selection exercises, working with analysts to support the compilation and publication of diversity statistics, and analysing information so that lessons are learnt and the barriers to successful application are understood
- Working with partners to tackle these barriers, including through leadership of the working group that supports the Judicial Diversity Forum, currently chaired by the Chairman of the JAC
- Developing and implementing communications and stakeholder engagement strategies for the JAC, with the overarching aim of increasing awareness and understanding of selection processes and confidence in merit-based decisions
- Providing strategic advice, briefing and guidance for the Chairman, Commissioners, selection panels, senior staff and operational teams on diversity and communications issues.
Reporting to the Head of Strategy and Policy, you will have responsibility for leading and developing the team, including direct line management of two team members.
Skills & Qualifications
In addition to meeting the JAC core competencies it would be desirable for the successful applicant to be able to show:-
- the ability to manage and deliver projects on time and to agreed objectives;
- proven oral and written communication skills, with the ability to draft submissions and policy clearly and concisely;
- experience of policy implementation;
- understanding of the judicial diversity agenda, with emphasis on recruitment;
- analytical skills to assess how candidates progress during the JAC selection process;
- a good knowledge/understanding of equality and diversity legislation.
You will be required to provide evidence of the following Competencies:
Seeing the Big picture
- Create policies, plans and service provision to meet candidate need based on an up to date knowledge of needs, issues and good practice;
- Ensures relevant issues relating to their activity/policy area are effectively fed into strategy and big picture considerations;
- Bring together views and perspectives of stakeholders to gain a wider picture of landscape surrounding activities and priorities.
Changing and Improving
- Understand and identify the role of technology in public service delivery and policy implementation;
- Encourage a culture of innovation focussed on adding value;
- Spot warning signs of things going wrong and provide a decisive response to significant delivery changes;
- Provide constructive challenge to senior management on change proposals which will affect own business area.
Leading and Communicating
- Be visible to staff and stakeholders and regularly undertake activities to engage and build trust with people involved in area of work;
- Confidently engage with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels to generate commitment to goals;
- Lead by example, role modelling ethics and building diverse teams and promoting a working environment that supports the JAC values and codes.
Collaborating and Partnering
- Actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on objectives and shared interests;
- Encourage contributions and involvement from a broad and diverse range of staff by being visible and accessible;
- Actively involve partners to deliver a business outcome through collaboration that achieves better results for citizens
Making Effective Decisions
- Weigh up data from various sources, recognising when to bring in experts/researchers to add to available information
- Analyse and evaluate pros and cons and identify risks in order to make decisions that take account of the wider context, including diversity and sustainability
- Identify the main issues in complex problems, clarify understanding or stakeholder expectations, to seek best option
If after reading this job description and the application pack you would like further information about this vacancy, please contact Alice Ripley at Alice.Ripley@judicialappointments.gov.uk
Please note as part of the selection process applicants may be asked to undertake a written test. Further details about the role are available from Alice Ripley (Alice.Ripley@judicialappointments.gov.uk) or Ian Thomson (Ian.Thomson@judicialappointments.gov.uk)
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.
26/03/2018, 23:55 hours.
Closing date: 26th March 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 17094
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.