21087 - Policy Adviser in the Priority Projects Team
Job description overview
The Priority Projects Team is looking to recruit up to three policy advisers who will be deployed to work on high-priority policy projects across the Justice Policy Directorates.
We are looking for people who are strong team players, have an ability to get to grips with challenging policy problems quickly and use their sharp problem-solving skills and financial and political awareness to find solutions. In return, we are committed to supporting your development and encouraging you to develop new ways to improve what we deliver and how we work together.
Priority Projects Team – who are we and what do we do?
The Priority Projects Team is a new team which is being established as a flexible resource to respond rapidly to emerging policy issues. We are based in the Ministers, Parliament, Strategy and Implementation (MPSI) directorate and work alongside existing policy teams on some of the most high-profile and challenging policy issues across the Justice Policy, Strategy and Communications Group (JPSCG) in the Ministry of Justice.
You will have the opportunity to work on high priority projects in directorates that cover a range of policy and operational activities. The Group sets strategy for the Department and leads policy on the criminal, family, civil and administrative justice systems, and the substantive law; legal aid, legal support and access to justice; support for victims and witnesses; human rights; relations with the devolved administrations; international policy; and the UK’s legal services sector. We also support the Lord Chancellor in the vital interaction between MoJ and the judiciary. We lead the Department’s preparations for withdrawal from the European Union.
Why work for the Priority Projects Team and in the MPSI Directorate?
- You will have the ability to build influence at the heart of the department. The areas you work on will make a real difference to the department and those we provide services to. There will be a high degree of independent work and close engagement with senior stakeholders across the MoJ.
- We understand the importance of supporting our teams. The people working in MPSI are our most valuable resource and through flexible working, network events and mentoring we strive to ensure our directorate is a positive environment to work in. In recent months we have hosted several Wellbeing events.
- We are using the right technology and the right tools (such as OneDrive and Skype) to provide a modern and forward-looking working environment. We encourage a culture of change and innovation and adopt smarter ways of working to provide flexibility.
- We have a directorate-wide learning and development programme, which starts with an interactive induction plan and detailed personal objectives.
Key responsibilities
In this role, as a Policy Adviser in the Priority Projects Team, you will be required to:
- Work with a high degree of initiative and flexibility in a fast-paced environment, managing competing and often changing priorities.
- Familiarise yourself swiftly with complex areas of justice policy and work with others across the Group to find solutions.
- Work on significant pieces of policy, including early-stage policy development and work at the interface between policy and operations.
- Be able to gather and analyse large amounts of information and use this to derive sound, evidence-based policy solutions.
- Work independently and manage a busy workload to deliver deadlines and priorities.
You will need to have previous experience in a policy role and be a confident drafter, able to communicate complex, and often ambiguous, concepts in writing and verbally.
Skills and Qualifications
We’ll assess your application against the competencies below. Provide examples of how you have met each one of these competencies. Please see the link for more detail of the behaviours and experiences we would like you to demonstrate.
Seeing the big picture
Making effective decisions
Collaborating and partnering
Delivering at pace
Please note if we receive a large number of applications we may sift against one competency only.
Location of Post
102 Petty France, London is our main office, however there are opportunities for part-time, job-share or other flexible working patterns (such as, working from home and condensed working hours).
Point of contact
Please do get in touch if you would like to know more about the role or what it is like working in our team. Contact Mark Hayward by email on mark.hayward3@justice.gov.uk. We look forward to hearing from you.
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.
28/09/2018, 23:55 hours.
Closing date: 28th September 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 21087
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.