59909 - Head of Governance, Assurance and Estates

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

Overview

This is an exciting role at the heart of the Office of the Public Guardian, working within the Strategy and Central Services directorate. We are looking for a brilliant new member of our team who enjoys working with others and can lead two teams in key areas of Agency.

You will lead two key teams within OPG, the governance and assurance teams and the estates/facilities/H&S teams.  These teams are essential to the OPG – ensuring that we are compliant with relevant legislation and government policies. You will be responsible for the implementation and continuous improvement of our policies for such areas as internal fraud and cyber security – working with others to ensure we are doing all that we need to in these areas. 

To be successful in this role you will be able to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders at all levels both verbally and in writing. You will be able to build and maintain trusted relationships, as coordination and collaboration with others to progress work is key.  You will need to be seen as a senior leader across OPG and be willing to get involved in work outside of your immediate area.

Job Description, Duties and Responsibilities –

As Head of Governance, Assurance and Estates you will leading a team and your responsibilities will include:

• Taking the lead in making sure OPG have a sustainable office presence, reflecting government priorities

• To work with the appointed Project Manager and others across OPG to devise a plan for the move to the Government hub in Birmingham in 2025 building on the lessons learned from the move to Victoria Square House in 2022.  Key will be ensuring that all the relevant Estates/Heath and Safety considerations have been taken into account and that there is a clear and articulated plan for the move.

• Lead OPG’s risk management processes, working across the organisation to ensure risks are accurately captured and mitigated, and that there is a robust challenge process in place to support the Public Guardian’s oversight responsibilities. Liaising with MoJ colleagues and other agencies to ensure OPG’s approach is consistent with government best practice

• To develop a structured approach to managing internal fraud risk ensuring risk assessments are in place, learning from good practice elsewhere and working with operational leaders to ensure this is a proportionate and effective response

• To develop OPG’s business continuity planning and systems, supporting the move to a “Gold Command” system, and ensuring that continuity covers the range of eventualities including buildings, staff and IT.

• Work with a small team of senior leaders and their staff to ensure that all the work of the team is directed towards the key priorities for OPG and resourcing is allocated accordingly.

• To ensure the delivery of all normal and routine work in relation to estates, health and safety, fraud and risk – and to ensure that OPG is compliant in all of these areas. 

• Be responsible with the senior team to manage and ensure the day to day spend is consistent with budgets in these areas of responsibility.

• Work to develop a skilled, inclusive, engaged workforce, to ensure staff engagement within the team and to ensure delivery of the relevant business plan activities.

• The successful candidate will need to be able to lead and motivate others to high performance and will need to be comfortable working with senior stakeholders within OPG and the wider MoJ.  The role will provide the candidate with an opportunity to demonstrate a variety of skills across a range of work.

• Other support as requested on an ad-hoc basis.

Diversity and equality of opportunity

• Positively promote and implement diversity and equality of opportunity.  Support and contribute to the aims, objectives and performance of the OPG and your Team.

• Be a role model and visible leader in supporting, inspiring, motivating and coaching colleagues.
• Positively promote and implement diversity and equality of opportunity in all areas of work.
• To become familiar and compliant with all OPG corporate governance policies.

Health and Safety

• Take reasonable care for own health and safety for the safety of others and abide by OPG Health and Safety procedure.

Other duties

To undertake any other duties as required commensurate with the grade.

Skills & Qualifications

Essential:

• An ability to lead teams and to be seen as a role model both within your areas and across the wider agency
• Being able to work with others to find solutions to issues that are not always clear cut or easy to resolve – tact and diplomacy will be essential skills.
• Ability to draft reports, submissions and papers as required.
• A confident communicator with energy and enthusiasm able to communicate with people at all levels.
• Ability to work without supervision and committed to give a high-quality performance in all aspects of the job.
• Good organisational skills
• Able to work with sensitive information and ensuring confidentiality at all times.

Desirable:

• Experience of working in governance and/or estates and facilities and the willingness to undertake necessary specialist training if you do not already have it..

Application process

This vacancy is being advertised using Success Profiles. Candidates will be expected to provide a CV (2 pages of A4 maximum) plus a supporting personal statement of no more than 750 words

Behaviours

You will be asked to submit a behaviour statement of no more than 250 words for each of the following behaviours. In the event of a high number of applications, ‘Communicating & Influencing’ will be used as a lead behaviour.

• Seeing the bigger picture – Level 4
• Communicating & Influencing – Level 4
• Delivering at pace – Level 4

Interview

If you are successful at sift, you will be invited to an interview which will follow the Success Profiles process. At interview, candidates should expect strength-based questions, experience-based questions, as well as being asked to give a brief presentation. Details of this presentation will be released at a later date to candidates successful at sift.