24771 - Senior People Policy Advisor
This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of the People Policy team in the Ministry of Justice, one of the largest departments in Whitehall.
As Senior People Policy Advisor, you will be in a position to shape and influence the way HR policies are developed and implemented in the Ministry in support of significant transformation agendas and in delivering Civil Service priorities.
You will be part of a small team and will have responsibility for a portfolio of policies. You will work closely with Civil Service Employee Policy along with key departmental and cross-Whitehall stakeholders in taking forward strategic policy review and improvement, supporting the department in delivering its business priorities.
You will have strong analytical, organisational and communication skills and experience of delivering to deadlines in an environment of competing priorities and change.
This is an exciting opportunity to work as part of the People Policy team in the Ministry of Justice, one of the largest departments in Whitehall.
As Senior People Policy Advisor, you will be in a position to shape and influence the way HR policies are developed and implemented in the Ministry in support of significant transformation agendas and in delivering Civil Service priorities.
You will be part of a small team and will have responsibility for a portfolio of policies. You will work closely with Civil Service Employee Policy along with key departmental and cross-Whitehall stakeholders in taking forward strategic policy review and improvement, supporting the department in delivering its business priorities.
You will have strong analytical, organisational and communication skills and experience of delivering to deadlines in an environment of competing priorities and change.
As Senior People Policy Advisor your responsibilities will include:
- Working with the Head of the People Policy team on delivering a strategic review and revision of key people policies
- Responsibility for managing a portfolio of policies, and being the subject matter expert
- Actively engaging with CSEP on the development of policy products to ensure they reflect MoJ requirements
- Responsibility for shaping and adapting new or revised CSEP policies across MoJ
- Undertaking engagement and consultation with stakeholders on policy implementation
- Maintaining a thorough understanding of policy issues and the needs of MoJ (including agencies and Arms Length Bodies) through effective business engagement.
- Working closely with Shared Services to ensure effective implementation of policies, commissioning technical and system requirements and providing expert answers for the HR Contact Centre
- Providing often complex policy advice and briefing on key issues for senior colleagues, as well as responses to Ministerial Correspondence, Parliamentary Questions and Freedom of Information requests.
Essential criteria
- Excellent communication skills – both written and oral
- Ability to build strong relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders
- Ability to analyse data and use evidence to support problem solving and decision making
- Strategic thinking skills – to understand the future impact of decision making
- Ability to work under pressure and to tight timescales
Desirable criteria
- Experience of policy, or advisory work in an HR environment
- Understanding of project management / project planning
- Experience of Trade Union engagement
- Current knowledge of UK employment legislation
- CIPD qualification
You will be required to provide evidence of the following Competencies:
1. Seeing the Big Picture
- Developing an understanding of own area’s strategy and how this supports and contributes to Departmental priorities
- Actively seek out and share experience to develop understanding and knowledge of own work and of team’s business area
2. Changing and Improving
- Regularly reviewing procedures or systems with teams to identify improvements and to simplify processes and decision making
- Meet the challenges of difficult or complex changes, encouraging and supporting others to do the same
3. Collaborating and Partnering
- Creating and maintaining effective positive, professional and trusting working relationships with a wide range of people within and outside the Civil Service
- Working collaboratively and building supportive, responsive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, whilst having the confidence to challenge assumptions
4. Delivering at Pace
- Focus on delivering timely, excellent performance and taking responsibility and accountability for producing quality outcomes
- Planning, organising and managing your time effectively to deliver a high quality and efficient service
Applications
- Applicants should set out evidence of the competencies outlined above on the application form, and complete a statement on your suitability for the role (no more than 500 words).
- We are open to all requests for flexible and alternative working. This is a full-time post, but consideration will be given to job shares or those looking for reduced hours.
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.
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
01/04/2019, 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.