27800 - United Nations Human Rights Senior Policy Adviser

About the Department

MOJ is one of the largest government departments, employing around 70,000 people (including those in the Probation Service), with a budget of approximately £9 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.

What we do

We work to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public. We are also responsible for the following parts of the justice system:

• courts

• prisons

• probation services

• attendance centres

We also work in partnership with other government departments and agencies to reform the criminal justice system, to serve the public and support the victims of crime. We are also responsible for making new laws, strengthening democracy, and safeguarding human rights.

Priorities

• Improve public safety and reduce reoffending by reforming prisons, probation and youth justice

• Build a One Nation justice system by making access to justice swifter and more certain for all citizens whatever their background

• Uphold the rule of law, defend the independence of the judiciary, safeguard essential liberties and restore historic freedoms

• Delivering efficiently in MOJ: ensure the best possible service for citizens by making our department more efficient and more open, with policy driven by evidence
  

Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

JOB PROFILE

Job Title / Group / Directorate

United Nations Human Rights Senior Policy Adviser, Global Strategy and Rights, International and Rights Directorate, Policy, Communications and Analysis Group.

Reports To

Alison Stradling (alison.stradling@justice.gov.uk)

Location & Terms of appointment

This is a permanent post based in 102 Petty France, London SW1H 9AJ. The role is open to civil servants who are a substantive permanent Band B (SEO).

The role is available as full-time, part-time (4 days a week) and as a job share. Flexible working is practised across the Directorate and you will be encouraged to work away from Petty France for two days a week.

Salary and Grade

This post is Band B (SEO). £36,254 - £46,888.

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer.

Background

Global Strategy and Rights is a great team of around 25 people, with a fascinating agenda. We are a diverse and inclusive team, and you will be joining at an exciting time. The team covers:

-          Domestic human rights policy, focusing on the Human Rights Act 1998 and on monitoring the implementation of judgments on the UK by the European Court of Human Rights.

-          United Nations (UN) Human Rights Treaties and Council of Europe and UN torture and ill treatment prevention commitments, regularly reporting on the UK’s human rights record and facilitating international inspections to places of detention across the UK.

-          Security and rights negotiations in the context of Brexit, focusing on developing negotiation strategies in relation to the Ministry’s interests on criminal justice and rights.

-          International and trade strategy, including international visits.  

Role Purpose

You will be part of the Domestic and UN Human Rights team.

Main Activities / Responsibilities

The job holder will work across Whitehall, the Devolved Administrations and with stakeholders to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

United Nations human rights reporting

-          Coordinating and improving the UK's delivery of its human rights obligations through fulfilling the UK's reporting commitments to the United Nations under the Universal Periodic Review, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Convention Against Torture. This work also involves the periodic updating of the UK’s “Common Core Document” for the United Nations. Occasional travel to Geneva (Switzerland) and to Belfast, Cardiff and Edinburgh may also be required, depending on the business needs. Examples of past reports to the United Nations can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/human-rights-periodic-reports-to-the-united-nations

Torture and ill treatment prevention

-          Embedding and promoting the UK's openness to international inspection of places of detention by facilitating visits of the Council of Europe European Committee for the Prevention of Torture. Examples of previous visits can be found at https://www.coe.int/en/web/cpt/united-kingdom

-          Supporting the UK’s implementation of the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture, especially the relationship with the independent UK National Preventive Mechanism and the United Nations Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture.

There will also be some ad hoc work which will vary depending on the business needs but it is likely to include supporting:

-          UK negotiations on United Nations human rights resolutions, and

-          Visits to the UK of United Nations Special Rapporteurs, as appropriate.

Person Specification:

Candidates will need to demonstrate via their application form and at interview the following Civil Service Success Profiles Behaviours at Level 3: -

1. Seeing the big picture. In particular: understanding the strategic drivers for your area of work; remaining alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area; understanding how the strategies and activities of the team create value and meet the diverse needs of all stakeholders.

2. Communicating and influencing. In particular: ensuring communication has a clear purpose and takes into account people’s individual needs; sharing information as appropriate and checking understanding; ensuring that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversity of interests.

3. Managing a quality service. In particular: working with stakeholders to set priorities, objectives and timescales; successfully delivering high quality outcomes that meet the customers’ needs and gives value for money.

4. Delivering at pace. In particular: showing a positive approach to keeping the whole team’s efforts focused on the top priorities; promoting a culture of following the appropriate procedures to ensure results are achieved on time whilst still enabling innovation.

Essential Knowledge and Skills

Staff management and development

Desirable Knowledge and Skills:

Experience of dealing with international organisations.

Experience of dealing with human rights issues in a policy context.

Application process details

Applicants should provide a short CV, and complete the application form setting out their skills and experience and suitability for this role.

Contact point for applicants

If you are interested in the role, please feel free to contact the recruiting manager, Alison Stradling to discuss it further: alison.stradling@justice.gov.uk you may wish to also speak to the current job holder Sergio Moreno sergio.moreno@justice.gov.uk

Successful candidates invited to interview will be asked to complete a short briefing exercise as part of the interview process.

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 this role you will be required to successfully complete National Security Vetting at Security Clearance (SC) as a condition of appointment. To meet SC requirement, you will normally need to have been resident in the UK for at least 5 years prior to the date of application.

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.

Success Profiles  

Success Profiles will enable a fairer and more inclusive method of recruitment by enabling us to assess the range of experiences, abilities, strengths, behaviours and technical/professional skills required for different roles. This flexible approach to recruitment focuses more on finding the right candidate for the specific role. To find out more about Success Profiles to support your application please click here for further guidance.

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@sscl.gse.gov.uk) in the first instance