72304 - Head of External Affairs – Maternity Cover (12 months)

The national salary range is £51,767 - £59,590, London salary range is £55,720 - £64,135. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
1
12 Months
National
National
NATIONAL
Please note: Some of our MoJ Office locations, such as our Liverpool Justice Collaboration Centre, require higher levels of National Security Vetting. The MoJ is working to open more Justice Collaboration Centres and Justice Satellite Offices over time. Click here to learn more about where our currently open Justice Collaboration Centres and Justice Satellite Offices are, to identify where you may be based and understand National Security Vetting requirements of each location.
Grade 7
Grade 7
Fixed Term , Loan
Up to 12 months
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Communications / Marketing

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.

Job title:    G7 – Head of External Affairs – maternity cover (12 months)

Available on promotion:    Yes. Advertised across civil service and externally.  

Vacancy Description:    We’re looking for an outstanding Head of External Affairs to join our award-winning Communications team at the Ministry of Justice on a maternity cover role. The MoJ is a major government department at the heart of the justice system and our priority work ranges from prison reform to modern justice and support for victims. We have a strong focus on innovation and making a difference in people’s lives.

The successful candidate will be a strong, empathetic leader with experience writing and delivering communications strategies. You will be used to overseeing large-scale coordinated communications programmes and have an excellent working understanding of evaluation and insight. Your ability to think strategically and creatively while leading your team to deliver the highest quality work, at pace, will help you to be a success in what is an important role. You must have the confidence to engage directly with the Secretary of State, Ministers, senior colleagues and stakeholders, and advise recommendations.

You will have the ability to influence at all levels, within the department and outside it, and have a great understanding of the political and business context we work in, and our role within it. You will be flexible in your approach and quick to respond to new priorities, as well as a first-class strategist, able to see the bigger picture, think long-term, and to achieve results quickly. This is a unique opportunity to work on a varied portfolio, communicating top government priorities to a wide range of audiences.

The successful applicant will:  
 
•    Provide leadership and specialist advice on the full breadth of strategic engagement issues across the Directorate and the department.
•    Lead a team whose remit is to deliver expert external affairs activity, including strategic stakeholder relations
•    Plan, coordinate, implement and evaluate the department’s engagement strategies, based on the GCS Modern Communication Operating Model principles and in consultation with policy, communications, private office and our partner agencies.
•    Work with the digital teams at the MoJ to ensure stakeholders and influencers are identified and engaged across all channels.
•    Build and maintain strong networks across the department and effectively influence Ministers and senior officials, as well as colleagues across Government.
•    Build and maintain positive relationships with priority stakeholders across the MoJ’s portfolios.
•    Play an active role in the development of the MOJ Annual Communications Strategy, and work with your G6 to lead work to coordinate delivery. 
•    Be an active member of the Government Communications Service – sharing MoJ successes across government and external audiences.
•    Manage a team of 4, oversee team performance and act as an inspiring leader to the Strategic Communications and Campaigns team as part of the Senior Management Team.

Success Profiles    

1.    Applications will be assessed using the Civil Service Success Profiles Framework.
2.    This will focus on experience, assessed through your CV, Statement of Suitability and (for shortlisted candidates) in interview.
3.    Performance will also be assessed based on the following four behaviours, which will be assessed through your Statement of Suitability and (for shortlisted candidates) your interview:
i.    Seeing the Big Picture
ii.    Leadership
iii.    Delivering at Pace
iv.    Working Together

Application:    

4.    A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. 
5.    A Statement of Suitability (no longer than 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to how you meet the behaviours stipulated. 

Terms and Conditions

Appointment term:    •    This role is being offered as a fixed term role for 12 months or as loan opportunity for existing Civil Servants.

Salary range:    •    Depending on the grade of successful candidate(s), the salary would be agreed in line with MOJ policy.

Location:    •    Regular attendance in London (102 PF) as well as WFH and/or MOJ Hubs>

Working arrangements:    •    Applications are welcomed from candidates that require flexible working arrangements.
 
Security Clearance:    SC – You will need to confirm your employment history for at least 3 years prior to the date of the application. If you have spent significant time abroad in the last 5 years you may be required to give a reasonable account of the reasons why.

DBS required:    No

Reserved for UK Nationals:    No

Selection Process 

Overview of process:    This role is being advertised in accordance with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles. 

Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interview in late March (dates TBC). 

How to apply: 

How to apply:    Please complete the application, submitting a CV and a short personal statement outlining your suitability for the role, focusing on the behaviours stipulated (no longer than 1000 words).

Further Information:    For further information about the role please contact Samantha Abrahams or Kate Horner samantha.abrahams@justice.gov.uk  or kate.horner@justice.gov.uk 

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone’s circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.

For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

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

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

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.

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.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns.

You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.

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.

Interviews to be confirmed

28/03/2023, 23:55 hours.

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com Please quote the job reference - 72304.
Security Clearance (SC)

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.

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@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance

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

Experience
CV
Statement of Suitability - 1000 word limit

Interview stage assessments

There is 1 interview stage for this vacancy.
Behaviours
Seeing the Big Picture
Leadership
Delivering at Pace
Working Together
Additional Assessment(s)
Presentation

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.