14379 - Judicial Appointments Commission - Senior Selection Exercise Team Manager

Judicial Appointments Commission – Senior Selection Exercise Team Manager (SEO)

The Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) is an independent public body, established in 2006, to select judges in the courts and tribunals, and non-legal tribunal members. The JAC is responsible for designing, planning and running recruitment campaigns to select judicial office holders up to and including the High Court. We have a statutory duty to select solely on merit, while keeping our selection processes open to the widest range of applicants. This means continually evaluating and improving our processes to ensure they are fair and open, and that they are identifying the very best candidates for judicial office.

The work is varied and challenging. We launch a new campaign for judicial posts every 1 to 2 weeks. These range from high-volume campaigns at entry level, attracting upward of 2000 applicants, to small campaigns for senior roles, attracting a handful of highly-qualified people. In a fast-paced environment, you will work with our operational delivery and policy managers to design and plan these campaigns, manage risks and ensure effective delivery.

Judicial appointments are a subject of growing interest from the government, Parliament and the media. The JAC supports the ambition set out recently by the former Lord Chancellor Elizabeth Truss, to find “the best and brightest from every background”.

In this context, we are now looking to recruit to the position of Senior Selection Exercise Senior Team Manager. You will be responsible for devising and running a range of selection exercises to recommend candidates for judicial appointment, reporting to the Head of Operations. This is a varied role that would suit someone looking for operational experience, or to further develop existing skills and experience.

Those applicants invited for interview will also be asked to undertake work exercise on the day.

Note that the Judicial Appointments Commission will be moving to Clive House, Petty France, London at the end of January 2018.

Main responsibilities of the role will include:

• Plan, agree and implement selection exercises for recruitment of judges in courts and tribunals, in line with Commission policy and business plan objectives
• Ensure the delivery of each selection exercise against agreed milestones, reporting regularly to the Head of Operations andr Chief Executive on progress and risks (including budget management)
• Manage a small team of staff, ensuring that they are supported and developed.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders at all levels, including the judiciary and candidates, and internally with colleagues
• Prepare and maintain a wide range of high quality documentation from detailed specifications to correspondence with key stakeholders, partners and applicants
• Provide an oversight to the development and delivery of assessment tools that may include the commissioning of technical tests, role-plays and scenarios. Ensure all materials are quality assured and thoroughly tested
• Provide judicial and lay panel members with support, guidance and briefing throughout the selection exercise
• Monitor collection of statistical information (including diversity information), investigating and reporting any concerns
• Deliver presentations to a wide variety of stakeholders, including the JAC Commission Board

Skills and experience

In addition to meeting the key competencies, it is expected that the successful post holder will also be able to show the following:

• The ability to deal calmly and logically with risks and issues as they arise
• Strong team leadership skills including being a role model for appropriate values and behaviours
• Proven written and oral communications skills, particularly when dealing with an audience of high level stakeholders
• A track record of making well-judged, evidence-based decisions
• Good IT skills

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

Delivering at pace

• Take responsibility for delivering expected outcomes on time and to standard, yet allowing the teams space and authority to deliver objectives
• Show a positive approach in keeping their own and the team’s efforts focused on the goals that really matter
• Plan ahead but reassess workloads and priorities if situations change or people are facing conflicting demands

Making effective decisions

• Identify a broad range of relevant and credible information sources and recognise the need to collect new data when necessary from internal and external sources
• Explore different options outlining costs, benefits, risks and potential responses to each
• Invite challenge and where appropriate involve others in decision making to help build engagement and present robust recommendations

Leading and Communicating

• Communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner with all stakeholders and stand ground when needed
• Communicate using appropriate styles, methods and timing, including digital channels, to maximise understanding and impact

Collaborating and Partnering

• Establish relationships with a range of stakeholders to support deliver of business outcomes
• Readily share resources to support higher priority work, showing pragmatism and support for the shared goals of the organisation

Closing Date: 27th November 2017 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 14379. Further information about the role and the Judicial Appointments Commission can be obtained from Ian Thomson - Ian.Thomson@jac.gsi.gov.uk