26344 - Strategy Officer

£30,389 - £37,806
2
12 Months
London
London
102 PETTY FRANCE (MOJ) LONDON, SW1H 9AJ
HEO
C
Permanent
Full Time
Strategy

Background

Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is an agency of the MoJ and provides the supporting administration for the judiciary across England and Wales and the non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland.  It delivers services to the public directly in court and tribunal buildings, remotely via business centres and some limited services via the internet.

The Reform Programme is a once in a generation opportunity to transform the entire HM Courts and Tribunals Service, enhancing the provision of a world-class justice system, in a manner that provides an improved user experience at reduced cost to the taxpayer. This will contribute to consolidating the UK’s position at the fore-front of an increasingly competitive international legal market as well as ensuring access to justice for all. Approximately £1 billion is being invested in the programme which is due to complete in 2023/24.

By the time the programmes of reform are complete the services will be simpler and easier to use with many straightforward services online. There will be much greater virtual, flexible working, significantly less reliance on paper-based manual administration, and there will be fewer buildings.

These are exciting opportunities to work across the whole of HMCTS. They offer a unique chance to be at the forefront of leading and implementing significant change across the organisation.  The Programme is ambitious and innovative and will need a flexible workforce to deliver it. 

Strategy Officer, Courts & Tribunals Development Directorate

The Strategy Unit works across the whole of HMCTS’ business, to establish and articulate our overall strategy, and to deliver a series of projects that will help to put HMCTS on the front foot, to ensure our work is aligned and coherent and to tackle set-piece strategic challenges. We report to the Deputy Chief Executive, and in these roles, you will be exposed to senior leadership of HMCTS, senior members of the judiciary and with colleagues across HMCTS and MOJ as well as across Government and with a range of external partners and stakeholders.

This work of the team includes:

-       pro-actively articulating our strategic priorties and developing plans to deliver on this ensuring that there is cohesion between long term direction and day-to-day operations and service of HMCTS

-       reviewing and assessing internal and external drivers of change (such as developments in government policy or changes in the technological landscape)

-       identifying new opportunities and challenges within the justice system which could have an impact on the courts and tribunals service, and develop strategies to seize and address them

To be successful in this role you must have the ability to use personal initiative to find solutions to challenges and to deliver high quality work at pace. You’ll need strong organisation and time management skills, and to work well in a team and with wider colleagues. And we’re looking for people with a real enthusiasm for learning about the work of government and wider justice landscape.

Key Responsibilities:

The team manage a fast paced, high volume set of activities or projects. You will work alongside more senior Strategy Managers, and your work/responsibilities will typically include

  • lead your own specific strategic projects, and/or work alongside more senior strategy managers to deliver strategic projects – e.g. conducting research, interpreting data, engaging with wide range of colleagues to gather views, and prepare reports/advice
  • create and manage a team work plan including horizon scanning for risks/issues
  • produce briefings and progress reports to wide range of internal and external stakeholders
  • work with internal and external stakeholders to make links and align efforts between areas of work, especially where we want to seek their support or input
  • provide secretariat for senior stakeholder group meetings

The role doesn’t currently include any line management responsibility, but this may develop in future, either as formal line management or by coaching/mentoring others.

  • A strategy background is desirable but not essential.
  • The Strategy Team are committed to appointing an ambitious applicant who wants to progress within this team.

The post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post.

Overall, the Strategy Unit’s work areas cover the full range of strategic issues affecting HMCTS including impact of EU exit on HMCTS services and Judcial strategy and recuitment.

Please feel free to contact Dylan Whelan on dylan.whelan@justice.gov.uk with any queries.

Key Civil Service Competencies

You will be required to provide evidence of the following key competencies at Level 3 (Band C/HEO).

If a large number of applications are received, the sift may be carried out on the priority competency of Seeing the Big Picture.                                   

Seeing the Big Picture

  • Be alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact or benefit own and team’s work
  • Actively seek out and share experience to develop understanding and knowledge of own work and of team’s business area
  • Seek to understand how the services, activities and strategies in the area work together to create value for the customer/end user

Leading and communicating

  • Take opportunities to regularly communicate and interact with staff, helping to clarify goals and activities and the links between these and Departmental strategy
  • Communicate in a succinct, engaging manner and stand ground when needed
  • Promote the work of the Department and play an active part in supporting the Civil Service values and culture

Collaborating and Partnering

  • Establish relationships with a range of stakeholders to support delivery of business outcomes
  • Invest time to generate a common focus and genuine team spirit
  • Readily share resources to support higher priority work, showing pragmatism and support for the shared goals of the organisation
  • Deal with conflict in a prompt, calm and constructive manner

Delivering at Pace

  • Take responsibility for delivering expected outcomes on time and to standard, giving credit to teams and individuals as appropriate
  • Plan ahead but reassess workloads and priorities if situations change or people are facing conflicting demands
  • Regularly monitor own and team’s work against milestones or targets and act promptly to keep work on track and maintain performance

Please feel free to contact Dylan Whelan on dylan.whelan@justice.gov.uk with any queries.

Flexible working options

HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many of its offices.

Job Sharing and Reduced Hours

All applications for job sharing or reduced hours will be treated fairly and on a case by case basis in accordance with the MoJ’s flexible working policy and equality policy.

Excess Fares and Relocation Allowances

This job is not eligible for relocation allowances but excess fares may be considered in accordance with MoJ’s excess fares allowance policy

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 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 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.

Expected Thursday 13th June 2019
102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ

29/05/2019, 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 - 26344.

Please feel free to contact Dylan Whelan on dylan.whelan@justice.gov.uk with any queries.

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.



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
Seeing the Big Picture
Leading and Communicating
Collaborating and Partnering
Delivering at Pace

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

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.

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.