19525 - Head of UK Legal Services Policy, Head of Innovation and Head of Stakeholder Engagement & Promotion (x3 Positions)
A thriving, independent and bold legal services profession plays a fundamental role in underpinning the Rule of Law, the bedrock of our democracy and a key contributor to the wider economic success of the United Kingdom.
Supporting a flourishing, well-regulated and substantial legal services sector is one of the top priorities of the Ministry of Justice. As such, the Legal Services Policy Division is seeking to recruit three new roles – a Head of UK Legal Services Policy, Head of Innovation and Head of Stakeholder Engagement & Promotion.
Overview of the Roles
These posts offer excellent opportunities for high performing policy professionals to work at the centre of a policy area that has quickly risen up the national and international political agendas. The successful candidates will be able to command the confidence of Ministers, senior stakeholders across Whitehall, the technology industry, regulatory and representative bodies, and in the legal profession, and have an outstanding track record in using those relationships to make an impact at pace and deliver defined outcomes.
If you answer yes to the questions below, you should consider applying for these roles. We are looking for highly-skilled, organised, flexible and enthusiastic people to lead across our domestic and international programme of work.
Are you an experienced leader, used to shaping and leading delivery of complex policy agendas? Are you an outstanding communicator, able to command the confidence of senior executives, public figures and Ministers? Do you have an outstanding track record in using those relationships to influence outcomes and make an impact at pace? Do you have experience of building and continuously improving performance in your team? Can you manage and motivate multi-disciplinary and diverse teams to work across disciplines, with policy, analysts, legal and finance professionals to deliver in a fast-paced environment? Do you have experience of leading projects from start to finish? Are you comfortable working with digital tools, and creating a culture which develops and embraces new and innovative ways of working?
Band A: Job Description
Successful candidates will be expected to get to grips with a range of different complex issues and support their team in doing the same, using evidence and expertise from within and outside Government to help guide decisions and develop and implement Government policy. Each of these roles will involve leading a team of 3-5 policy officials. The successful candidates will be exposed to rapidly moving Parliamentary business, engage with senior internal/external stakeholders, develop and implement policy and legislation, and work with Ministers. Therefore, previous experience of leading policy, and managing a team and relationships with senior executives, public figures or Ministers is desirable.
Candidates will be able to express a preference for a particular role at interview, and all roles will report to a band A+ (G6 equivalent).
Head of Innovation
As the Head of Innovation, you will be responsible for leading and delivering the department’s ambitious programme of activity to foster innovation in the justice system, backing the UK to compete globally in taking the lead on cutting edge opportunities and ensuring English law, legal services and courts remain attractive and a primary choice for international businesses. This will require the successful candidate to work closely with the technology and legal services sectors, representative bodies, regulators, law schools, academics, other government departments (particularly DCMS, BEIS and HMT) and the judiciary. The department’s fostering innovation programme contains several high-profile interesting workstreams, including projects focused on improving legal education, supporting regulatory reform, championing the UK to become a world leading smart contract hub and supporting the growth of a thriving LawTech sector. This is a priority area for Ministers and the successful candidate will need to routinely advise Ministers on progress.
Head of UK Legal Services Policy
As the Head of UK Legal Services Policy, you will be responsible for supporting the Lord Chancellor fulfil his statutory duties under the Legal Services Act 2007, which includes advising the Lord Chancellor on recommendations made to him by the Legal Services Board, and taking forward statutory instruments as required. Furthermore, you will be responsible for developing and delivering the department’s broader legal services policy including in relation to legal services regulations, diversity & social mobility within the sector, and competition and consumer policy. This will require close engagement with the sector and advising Ministers as required. You will also be responsible for administering the annual nominations and selection process for honorary QC awards.
Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Promotion
As the Head of Stakeholder Engagement and Promotion you will be responsible for working across the Ministry of Justice to develop and deliver a stakeholder engagement strategy for the legal services sector. This will require the successful candidate to effectively engage with senior individuals from legal services representative bodies (Law Society, Bar Council, City of London Law Society etc), regulators, legal firms, and colleagues across the Ministry of Justice as well as other government departments. The purpose of the strategy is to ensure that the legal services sector’s priorities and concerns are fed into Government policy making, and the legal services sector is engaged with Government priorities. The successful candidate will also be responsible for working closely with colleagues across the Ministry of Justice, other government departments, legal firms, representative bodies and the judiciary, to support the promotion of the UK legal services sector both domestically and internationally.
Essential skills and qualifications
You are required to have:
- Excellent leadership skills including the ability to manage and motivate multi-disciplinary teams against a background of fast moving policy change
- Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to build relationships quickly across Government and externally (in particular with the judiciary, legal profession and representative bodies)
- Demonstrable capability for strategic thinking and policy development, and ability to make sound judgements.
- The ability to provide clear, evidenced briefing in both written and oral formats on complex policy areas to senior stakeholders, public figures and Ministers
- Strong prioritisation skills and the ability to make effective decisions on how to make best use of your resources to handle time-sensitive work to achieve both short and long-term results.
- The ability to use project and programme management skills in a fluid environment where priorities may need to change quickly.
- The ability to get your message across to diverse groups and deploy effective influencing and negotiating skills to further Government’s objectives.
Further to this it would be desirable, but not essential, for some of the post holders to:
- Be qualified to graduate level;
- Have an understanding of government and parliamentary processes;
- Have an understanding of the justice system and legal services sector; and
- Have previous experience of working with the legal or similar professional business and services sector
Competencies
Seeing the bigger picture
- Identify implications of Departmental and political priorities and strategy on own area to ensure plans and activities reflect these
- Bring together views and perspectives of stakeholders to gain a wider picture of the landscape surrounding activities and policies
- Adopt a Government-wide perspective to ensure alignment of activity and policy
Leading and communicating
- Clarify strategies and plans, communicate purpose and direction with clarity and enthusiasm
- Confidently engage with stakeholders and colleagues at all levels to generate commitment to goals
- Be visible to staff and stakeholders and regularly undertake activities to engage and build trust with people involved in area of work
Delivering at Pace (Lead Competence)
- Get the best out of people by giving enthusiastic and encouraging messages about priorities, objectives and expectations
- Act as a role model in supporting and energising teams to build confidence in their ability to deliver outcomes
- Maintain effective performance in difficult and challenging circumstances, encouraging others to do the same
Making effective decisions
- Make difficult decisions by pragmatically weighing the complexities involved against the need to act
- Push decision making to the right level in their teams, not allow unnecessary bureaucracy and structure to supress innovation and delivery
- Identify the main issues in complex problems, clarify understanding or stakeholder expectations, to seek the best option
Collaborating and partnering
- Actively build and maintain a network of colleagues and contacts to achieve progress on objectives and shared interests
- Work as an effective team player, managing team dynamics when working across Departmental and other boundaries
- Seek constructive outcomes in discussions, challenge assumptions but remain willing to compromise when it is beneficial to progress.
Selection process details:
An initial sift based on the lead competency may be held if a large number of applications are received.
If your application progresses to a full sift, all competences will then be considered. Feedback is not available for those not invited to interview.
Successful candidates may also be asked to sit a written test before their interview and/or give a short presentation. The nature and content of which they will be notified when given time and date for interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment, and upon request. If your application falls just below the threshold, you may be offered roles at a lower grade. Expenses are not available for travel to interview.
Location:
London Region.
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.
18/07/2018, 23:55 hours.
Closing Date: 18th July 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.