27244 - Senior Policy Advisor - Legal Services EU Exit
The UK’s withdrawal from the European Union will affect many aspects of the Justice system including civil, criminal, and family law as well as the legal profession. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is responsible for leading these areas of international negotiations, as well as making sure the justice system is ready to respond to changes and opportunities as we leave the EU and start trading independently. We have three opportunities for self-motivated, enthusiastic and flexible individuals to work at the centre of planning for these changes and ensuring the best outcome for the UK, and the EU. This is an unrivalled opportunity to join us and make your mark on the exciting journey that lies ahead.
Working with ministers and senior leaders, you will lead on the development and delivery of policy proposals and engagement priorities, and assess the impact of those proposals on the Government’s plans to deliver EU Exit. The issues you lead on will have a significant impact on our society as we leave the EU: ensuring the best possible outcome for the legal profession both in the EU and wider world.
You will be joining a dynamic and expanding team that covers domestic and international issues including innovation and promotion of the legal services sector. There will be significant opportunities to work with ministers and senior leaders, and engage with key stakeholders inside and outside of the government. There will also be opportunities to line manage other members of staff.
Key Responsibilities
- Leading specific policy development in relation to legal services market access when the UK leaves the EU, in preparation for negotiations between the UK and EU on our future economic relationship, and supporting colleagues, in the department and across-Whitehall, in negotiations.
- Advising Ministers and senior officials in relation to legal services EU Exit policy, negotiation and engagement with stakeholders, including the legal sector.
- Building relationships and working with policy leads across Whitehall and with external stakeholders to understand delivery and deliver policy in an EU Exit environment;
- Leading the preparations to implement the outcome of EU exit negotiations including through legislative changes where necessary;
- Leading in managing the department’s relationship with specific stakeholders, supporting Ministers and senior officials in driving the agenda for engagement with those stakeholders, securing input from across the Division and wider Department to support this.
- Managing other members of staff.
Person Specification
The roles will require the successful candidates to quickly build their understanding of the legal services sector frameworks in a policy environment. Training will be available, both in-house and through centrally-managed UK Government policy courses. The successful candidates will need to be highly resilient, able to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment during a time of momentous change and may be required to line manage other members of staff.
Essential Skills and Qualifications
Essential:
- Excellent written and numerical skills, with experience in using data to inform work
- Demonstrable capability for strategic thinking
- Ability to make sound judgments and provide well-articulated advice
- Experience with using project management approaches
- Excellent persuasion and influencing skills with the ability to manage relationships with senior stakeholders across a range of organisations
- Resilience and the ability to deal with a complex, fast-paced and demanding workload
Desirable:
- Be qualified to graduate level
- Have an understanding of the governmental and parliamentary processes
- Have an understanding of policy-making in an EU or international context
- Have an understanding of the justice system
- Have an understanding of the UK legal services market
You will be required to provide evidence of the following Competencies:
- Making Effective Decisions (Lead Competency)
- Collaborating and Partnering
- Delivering at Pace
- Leading and Communicating
- Seeing the big picture
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 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 the 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. Roles may involve some travel within the UK or EU.
Working pattern
Full-time, job share or part time with a minimum of four days a week
Contact details
Hiring manager: Laurene Rousseau (Laurene.Rousseau@justice.gov.uk)
Terms:
Permanent and fixed term posts up to 51 weeks.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.
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.
05/07/2019, 23:55 hours.
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.