62528 - Head of the Chamber Presidents’ Offices

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.

Salary: London (within M25): £41,747 - £47,591 

This position is available for external applicants as well as existing civil servants on level transfer or promotion.

New recruits to the Civil Service joining MoJ are expected to join at the band minimum. Secondments and loans will be considered on an individual basis.  

Background: 

Her Majesty’s Court and Tribunals Service is an agency of the Ministry of Justice and provides the supporting administration for the judiciary across England and Wales. It presently delivers services to the public directly in court and tribunal buildings, remotely via business centres and through limited services via the internet. HMCTS’s ambition is to improve the services we deliver to the public directly in court and tribunal buildings, design new Courts & Tribunals Service Centres to deliver a national business and enhance our digital on-line services. 

HMCTS is embarking on a period of significant change, funded by an investment of £1bn, which will see the organisation transform over the next 5 years to deliver a world class justice system. HMCTS Reform is a once in a generation opportunity to transform the entire HM Courts and Tribunals Service, enhancing the provision of a world-class justice system, in a manner that provides an improved user experience at reduced cost to the taxpayer. This will contribute to consolidating the UK’s position at the forefront of an increasingly competitive international legal market as well as ensuring access to justice for all. 

The role within the Chamber Presidents’ Support Offices offers an exciting and unique opportunity to work with the judiciary and ensure high-level support is provided by judicial support colleagues. 

Key Purpose: 

• To support the work of the Chamber President in delivering his/her judicial functions.
• Overall secretariat management for the Chamber President and handling of judicial related matters.
• To act as a liaison between the senior judiciary and administration including providing briefing and research to support wider stakeholder engagement including Parliamentary Questions, MP’s correspondence and Select Committee Appearances. 

Key Responsibilities: 

Operations: 

• Act as a source of advice and guidance for members of the judiciary to support them in their judicial functions.
• Overseeing the workflow into and out of the Chamber Presidents’ Support Offices.
• Knowledge of organisational and strategic matters that impinge upon the legislative / policy contexts of the jurisdictions within the Chamber.
• Provide solutions and support to the judiciary using initiative when confronted with unusual situations.
• Present recommendations and options to the judiciary recommending possible courses of action, preferred options and strategic approaches to management and operational issues.
• Manage and process relevant correspondence on behalf of the Chamber President
• Represent the Chamber(s) at Jurisdictional Board and other meetings promoting working relationships between the senior judges and senior administration managers.
• Support engagement with other government departments in policy maintenance and development.
• Ensure safeguards are in place around processing sensitive documentation in line with GDPR. 

Judicial HR: 

• Oversee internal and external judicial recruitment management and liaison including annual forecasting and planning including ticketing, assignments and other judicial deployment matters
• Processing applications for judicial salaried part-time working, conversions to fee paid office, extensions to sit in retirement and retirement / resignation requests.
• Managing judicial post appointment queries including drafting own and judicial leadership responses and seeking advice from specialist teams where necessary
• Oversee judicial appraisal work in all jurisdictions. 

Analysis: 

• Apply initiative to plan judicial recruitment and gather personal judicial information to coordinate deployment of judicial office holders.
• Investigate alternative approaches to data handling, recruitment, and post appointment work.
• Evidence gathering and drafting reports and replies, where necessary, for sensitive judicial HR, performance, complaints and disciplinary matters.
• Complete fact-finding work on behalf of the senior judiciary to inform engagement with internal and external stakeholders.
• Conducting additional research and analysis where required. 

Communication: 

• Close liaison with the Chamber President and other members of the judiciary.
• Support the judiciary and other representatives in line with operational and departmental policy.
• Communicating on behalf of the judiciary with members of the public including handling highly sensitive and personal information including judicial conduct complaint issues.
• Thinking beyond own area of responsibility, considering wider policy and organisational implications of issues.
• Coordinating FOIs, liaising with the Press Office and handling of other general queries. 

Team Leadership: 

• Leading judicial support staff within hierarchy by example providing support and development opportunities.
• Upward management of judicial office holders within the Chamber.
• Close liaison and working with other Chamber Presidents’ Offices. 

Specialisms: 

• Ability to provide specialist executive planning and judicial support. 

Other Duties: 

• The post-holder will be required to multi-task, meet deadlines and work flexibly to ensure there is no adverse impact on judicial support functions.
• The post-holder will be required to work flexibly and undertake any other duty reasonably requested. 

Accountability: 

• Reporting directly to the Cluster Manager. 

Application Process: 

To apply for this position please complete the online application form, ensuring you provide the following: 

A 250-word suitability statement against each of the following Success Profile Behaviours (Level 3): 

• Making Effective Decisions
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Changing & Improving 

In the event we receive a large volume of applications, we will sift using the lead Success Profile Behaviour:

Making Effective Decisions. 

If selected for interview, the Success Profile Behaviours listed above will also be tested / assessed (Level 3).

Interviews will also test three Strengths. Please also note that interviews may be required to be conducted via video conference. 

Further information on Success Profile Behaviours and Strengths, as well as the required standards for this post (Level 3), can be found at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles         

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition. 

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity 

The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description. 

Location: 

Whilst the post holder will be allocated to a specific office base, there may be a need for flexibility to work on an ad hoc or regular basis at other local HMCTS sites / courts.  Where applicable, associated travel cost / time will be applied in line with organisational policies.  

Terms & Conditions: 

Flexible working options

HMCTS offers a flexible working system in many of its offices. 

Job Sharing and Reduced Hours

All applications for job sharing or reduced hours will be treated fairly and on a case by case basis in accordance with the MoJ’s flexible working policy and equality policy. 

Excess Fares and Relocation Allowances

This job is not eligible for relocation allowances, but excess fares may be considered in accordance with MoJ’s excess fares allowance policy.