Director General, Policy Group Ministry of Justice

SCS Pay Band 3

Reference: 130202

Closing date: 23:55 Sunday 11 July, 2021

Welcome Message Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary

The justice system is an essential public service, relied upon by millions of victims, families and businesses across our country. At the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), our 80,000 strong team are working to protect and advance the principles of justice and deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society.

MoJ combines a wide range and scale of operational, policy and major programme delivery challenges, and as we emerge from the pandemic, there has never been a more important time to join the team. We are working to protect the public, reduce reoffending, provide swift access to justice, and restore the justice system, while reforming our services for citizens’ benefit, and delivering end-to end recovery of the system to build back better.

We are collaborative in how we work with each other across the Department and all our agencies, and all our staff are continually building expertise which will be critical to all areas of MoJ’s work.

As well as playing a vital role in the overall leadership of MoJ, the Director General, Policy Group, is responsible for setting strategic direction and advising on policy across the full range of the Department’s responsibilities, as well as supporting the Lord Chancellor in his constitutional relationship with the judiciary.

We particularly encourage applicants from diverse backgrounds.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Antonia

About the Ministry of Justice

and protecting the vulnerable, and by upholding the rule of law We are a major Government and the independence of the judiciary. department, at the heart of the justice Our single departmental plan sets out our objectives and how we system, working to protect and advance will achieve them. These are: the principles of justice and to deliver a • A prison and probation service that reforms offenders; world-class justice system that works • A modern courts and justice system; • A Global Britain that promotes the rule of law; for everyone in society • A transformed Department.

Our objectives are ambitious, and reflect our commitment to work The Ministry of Justice delivers some of our most fundamental to create a justice system that is open to all, and one that public services including courts, tribunals, prisons, legal aid, everyone in the country can have confidence in. criminal injuries compensation, public guardianship, youth justice, probation services, and attendance centres. To find out more about what we do visit our webpage on GOV.UK

Our work spans criminal, civil, family, and administrative justice and we are also responsible for making new laws and safeguarding human rights. We work in partnership with other government departments and agencies to serve the public, improve the justice system, and support victims of crime.

Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in our society. We do this by protecting the public and keeping our communities safe, by reforming offenders, by providing open and accessible justice, by standing up for victims

About the role

Job Title • legal aid and support and the legal services sector; • the prison and probation systems; Director General, Policy Group • youth and offender policy in general; Location • the UK’s domestic human rights framework; and • MoJ’s interests on international trade, including with the EU. Available in MoJ locations nationwide, core locations include Wales, Scotland, Leeds and London. It also supports the Lord Chancellor in his constitutional Salary relationship with the judiciary.

External candidates should expect their salary upon appointment As Director General, you will be responsible for leading the Group to be circa £130,000 per annum. in line with the MoJ’s values including a strong commitment to diversity and inclusion and embody inclusive and collaborative Existing civil servants will be appointed in line with the Civil leadership. You will support the Permanent Secretary in her role Service pay rules in place on the date of their appointment. as Principal Policy Adviser to the Lord Chancellor and have Contract Type accountability for policy advice across the Department. You will also represent the MoJ’s policy function in Whitehall and This role is being offered on a permanent basis. externally, championing innovation and quality. The Role The current objectives and challenges for the role include:

The Policy Group, comprising around 900 colleagues, is at the As a member of the MoJ’s Board and Executive Committee, heart of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The Group is responsible for acting as part of the collective leadership of the Department; developing the strategic policy agenda and advising on policy Leading the Department’s policy response to the Covid-19 across the full range of the Department’s responsibilities, including pandemic, including on recovery in courts and prisons, death • criminal, civil, family and administrative justice; management, and support of the legal services sector; • leadership and alignment of the criminal justice system across Driving policy on the criminal justice system and leading Government, the criminal and civil law; delivery of the Government’s ambitious law and order agenda spanning multiple departments, including the recovery • the court system; and reform of the criminal justice system;

Driving forward work with our partners across government on Developing and implementing the Department’s Strategy, preventing crime and reducing reoffending, reporting directly to oversight of Ministerial Private Offices and of the Department’s the PM’s Crime and Justice Taskforce; Parliamentary business; Delivery of a substantive legislative programme, including Engaging with the Department’s wide range of ALBs, including measures on court reform, counter-terrorism, sentencing and Cafcass, the Legal Services Board, the Parole Board and a private international law; range of independent inspectorates; and Leading a programme of work on constitutional issues – Management of eight Director-level reports, and leadership of including reviewing the use of judicial review and the Human a Group of c. 900 staff Rights Act 1998; Policy on family, civil and administrative justice, working with departments including DfE, DWP and the Home Office to Civil Service Code improve efficiency and outcomes; Responsibility for policy on access to justice, including legal The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour aid, and ensuring that court processes are reformed and expected of you and other civil servants. These are based on the modernised, including through providing policy support to the core values which are set out in legislation. As a civil servant, you court reform programme; are expected to carry out your role with dedication and a Leading work to ensure that prisons are reformed and commitment to the Civil Service and its core values of: developing a plan for the prison estate including the Government’s investment in 18,000 new places and setting the • ‘integrity’ is putting the obligations of public service above your policy approach for a probation service that protects the public own personal interests and cuts crime by reducing reoffending; • ‘honesty’ is being truthful and open Leading the Department’s international agenda, including • ‘objectivity’ is basing your advice and decisions on rigorous future trade relationships with the EU and other international analysis of the evidence partners; The criminal and civil law, including leading reforms to • ‘impartiality’ is acting solely according to the merits of the case sentencing policy for the most serious offenders, and and serving equally well governments of different political measures to enhance the rights of victims; persuasions Supporting the Lord Chancellor in his constitutional These core values support good government and ensure the relationship with the judiciary, and sponsorship and regulation achievement of the highest possible standards in all that the Civil of the legal services sector; Service does. This in turn helps the Civil Service to gain and retain Policy on human rights, and the UK’s membership of the respect of Ministers, Parliament, the public and its customers. international human rights instruments including the ECHR;

Person Specification

It is important through your CV and The successful candidate will have experience of working within a complex environment Statement of Suitability that you provide and will possess strong networking, communication and interpersonal skills. You will have evidence and examples of proven the ability and confidence to build relationships with senior stakeholders, both within experience of these essential selection government and more widely. You must also be able to demonstrate the following skills criteria. and experience: • excellent leadership skills with the ability to inspire staff, build engagement and capability to deliver results, together with evidence of leadership at scale and across multiple sites; • proven experience of leading the development of policy in collaboration with operational colleagues and in a way that takes account of complex financial and implementation challenges; • a strong appreciation of the role of data and evidence to inform policy development; • excellent communication skills, and proven ability to work effectively across organisational boundaries and challenge the status quo in a constructive way; • evidence of building strong and effective partnerships with very senior external stakeholders to gain their confidence and trust; • exceptional policy and political judgement, and high levels of integrity; • previous experience of working with Ministers or their equivalent in organisations of significant scale and complexity, combined with an understanding of the Westminster and Government context.

Benefits of working for the Civil Service

Whatever your role, we take your career Pension Staff Wellbeing and development seriously, and want to enable you to build a really successful Your pension is a valuable part of your Flexible Working Schemes allowing you career with the Department and wider total reward package. to vary your working day as long as you work your total hours. Civil Service. It is crucial that our A competitive contributory pension employees have the right skills to develop scheme that you can enter as soon as Generous paid maternity and paternity their careers and meet the challenges you join where we will make a significant leave which is notably more than the ahead, and you’ll benefit from regular contribution to the cost of your pension statutory minimum offered by many other performance and development reviews to where your contributions come out of your employers. ensure this development is ongoing. As a salary before any tax is taken and where Civil Service employee, you’ll be entitled your pension will continue to provide Onsite facilities Opportunity to use to a large range of benefits. valuable benefits for you and your family if onsite facilities including fitness centres and staff canteens (where applicable). Equality, Diversity and Inclusion you are too ill to continue to work or die before you retire. Visit Civil Service Season Ticket and Bicycle Loan The Civil Service values and supports Pension Scheme for more details. all its employees. Interest-free loans allowing you to spread Generous Annual Leave and Bank the cost of an annual travel season ticket We have strong and pro-active staff Holiday Allowance or a new bicycle. networks, special leave policies for hospital appointments, flexible working 25 days annual leave on entry, increasing Sick Pay policies, workplace adjustments put in on a sliding scale to 30 days after 5 years’ place for those who need them, and talent service. This is in addition to 8 public Occupational sick pay. programmes to help everyone irrespective holidays. of background, to achieve their potential This will be complimented by one further and thrive. day paid privilege entitlement to mark the Queen’s Birthday.

The Recruitment Process

Application great place to work. See the Equality and Diversity page on GOV.UK for more information. To apply for this post, you will need to complete the online application process accessed via the advertisement listed for this Should you encounter any issues with your online application role. This should be completed no later than 23:55 Sunday 11 please contact [email protected] July 2021 and will involve uploading the two documents outlined Selection Process below: 1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities Isabel Doverty, a Civil Service Commissioner, will chair the and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons process. The Civil Service Commission has two primary functions: for any gaps within the last two years; • Providing assurance that selection for appointment to the Civil 2. A Statement of Suitability (no longer than two pages) Service is on merit on the basis of fair and open competition as explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and outlined in the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with Principles. For the most senior posts in the Civil Service, the particular reference to the essential criteria in the person Commission discharges its responsibilities directly by specification. overseeing the recruitment process and by a Commissioner chairing the selection panel; Failure to submit both documents will mean the panel only have limited information on which to assess your application against the • Hearing and determining appeals made by civil servants under criteria in the person specification. Please ensure that both the Civil Service Code which sets out the Civil Service values – documents contain your full name. Impartiality, Objectivity, Integrity and Honesty - and forms part of the relationship between civil servants and their employer. As part of the online application process, you will be asked a number of diversity-related questions. If you do not wish to provide More detailed information can be found on the Civil Service a declaration on any of the particular characteristics, you will have Commission website. the option to select 'prefer not to say'. The information you provide In addition to Isabel, the other panel members will be: when submitting your application will help us monitor our progress towards the Civil Service becoming an inclusive employer and a • Antonia Romeo, Permanent Secretary, MoJ

• Shirley Cooper, Non-Executive Board Member, MoJ potential areas to probe at interview. A representative from the Civil Service Commission will be present. • Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Secretary, Home Office Finally, you will be asked to attend a panel interview in order to • Caroline Pemberton, Divisional Director Resourcing, MoJ have a more in-depth discussion of your previous experience and Shortlist professional competence in relation to the criteria set out in the Person Specification. You will receive an acknowledgment of your application through In line with current Government requirements in response to the online process. the Covid-19 pandemic, interviews are likely to be conducted The panel will then assess your application to select those remotely, via video conference, but we may require your demonstrating the best fit with the role by considering the evidence attendance in person at some elements, subject to mutual you have provided against the criteria set out in the ‘Person agreement. Specification’ section. Failure to address any or all of these may In the Civil Service we are challenging ourselves to become a affect your application. more diverse and inclusive organisation. We recognise that The timeline later in this pack indicates the date by which recruitment and inclusion of individuals with diverse skills, decisions are expected to be made, and all shortlisted candidates perspectives and backgrounds will bring real strength to the will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter. organisation, the wider Civil Service and to society. To help support this aspiration all selection panels will have both female Assessment and ethnic minority and/or disabled membership.

If you are shortlisted, you will be asked to take part in a staff engagement exercise. This assessment will not result in a pass or Full details of the assessment process will be made available to fail decision. Rather, it is designed to support the panel’s decision shortlisted candidates. making and highlight areas for the panel to explore further at Offer interview. Regardless of the outcome, we will notify all candidates as soon You may also have the opportunity to speak to a senior leader in as possible after the final interview. MoJ, prior to the final interview to learn more about the role and the organisation. Please note this is not part of the formal assessment process. Shortlisted candidates may also meet the Lord Chancellor prior to final panel interview who will provide feedback to the panel on

Expected Timeline

We will try and offer as much flexibility as we can, but it may not be possible to offer alternative dates for assessments or interviews. You are therefore asked to note the below timetable, exercising flexibility through the recruitment and selection process, in order to meet the dates given. Please note that these dates may be subject to change. The anticipated timetable is as follows:

Advert Closing Date 23:55 Sunday 11 July 2021

Shortlist Meeting Friday 16 July 2021

Staff Engagement Exercise and Fireside Chats Week commencing Monday 19 July 2021

Interviews Monday 26 July 2021

FAQs

Can I apply if I am not currently a civil Can I claim back any expenses • Relevant EEA or Turkish nationals who servant? incurred during the recruitment have built up the right to working the process? Civil Service; and Yes. This role is open to suitably qualified people in the external market as well as No. Unfortunately we will not be able to • Certain family members of the relevant existing civil servants. reimburse you, except in exceptional EU and Turkish nationals. circumstances and only when agreed in *Individuals will need to demonstrate that Is this role suitable for part-time advance. working? they meet the relevant immigration What nationality do I need to hold in requirements This role is available for full-time or order to apply? flexible working arrangements (including For further information on whether you are job share partnerships). If you wish to To be eligible for employment to this role eligible to apply, please visit Gov.UK. discuss your needs in more detail please you must be a national from the following Is security clearance required? get in touch with the named point of countries: contact in this pack. Yes. If successful you must hold, or be • The United Kingdom; willing to obtain, security clearance to SC Will the role involve travel? • The Republic of Ireland; level. More information about the vetting Some travel may be required for this role. process can be found here. • The Commonwealth*; Where will the role be based? What reasonable adjustments can be • Nationals from the EU, European Economic made if I have a disability? This role can be based in any MoJ Area (EEA) or Switzerland with settled or pre- location nationwide, core locations include settled status or who apply for either statues We are committed to making reasonable Wales, Scotland, Leeds and London. by the deadline of the European Union adjustments in order to support disabled Settlement Scheme (EUSS); job applicants and ensure that you are not Unfortunately relocation costs will not be disadvantaged in the recruitment and reimbursed. • Relevant EEA or Turkish nationals assessment process. already working in the Civil Service;

If you feel that you may need a The law requires that selection for reasonable adjustment to be made, or you appointment to the Civil Service is on would like to discuss your requirements in merit on the basis of fair and open more detail, please contact competition as outlined in the Civil Service [email protected] in the Commission's Recruitment Principles. first instance. If you feel your application has not been Do you offer a Guaranteed Interview treated in accordance with the Scheme for Disabled Persons? Recruitment Principles, and you wish to make a complaint, you should contact the Disabled applicants who meet the MoJ SCS Team on minimum selection criteria in the person [email protected] in the first specification are guaranteed an interview. instance. Selection will be on merit. If you wish to claim a guaranteed interview under the If you are not satisfied with the response Disability Commitment, you should you receive from the Department, you can complete the relevant section of the online contact the Civil Service Commission. application. It is not necessary to state the What should I do if I think that I have a nature of your disability. conflict of interest? Will this role be overseen by the Civil Service Commission? Candidates must note the requirement to declare any interests that might cause Yes. As this role is one of the more senior questions to be raised about their posts within the Civil Service, a approach to the business of the Commissioner will oversee the Department. recruitment process and chair the If you believe that you may have a conflict selection panel. of interest please contact More detailed information can be found on [email protected] before the Civil Service Commission website. submitting your application. What do I do if I want to make a complaint?

Diversity & Inclusion

We know that working inclusively and What’s in it for me? The Civil Service is harnessing a range of talents means committed to becoming solving problems better, making better We want to maximise the potential of decisions and delivering better public everyone who chooses to work for us – an exemplar employer services. We are committed to regardless of background, working style on inclusion. representing as broad a range of views or career experience. and backgrounds as we have in UK If you’re interested in becoming a world society, focused not just on the class leader, developing your career with characteristics protected under law but us – starting with this interesting and equally committed to greater challenging role – or doing things socioeconomic diversity, greater regional differently and inspiring colleagues, then diversity and to building teams where the Civil Service is the place for you. effectively harnessing cognitive diversity is the way decisions are made. We know Our passion for inclusion and equality that diverse perspectives and experiences means creating a work environment for all are critical to an effective, modern Civil employees that is welcoming, respectful, Service that delivers policies and services fair, engaging, and enriched with for all of our citizens. opportunities for personal and professional development Our vision is to ensure the Civil Service represents modern Britain and is a truly What’s next? inclusive employer – an example to other employers. We will create an organisation You’ve taken the first step and looked where diversity and fairness are not only through this job pack to understand the respected and valued – but celebrated - skills and experience needed to perform and where everyone can see where they this role. Now join us in achieving our belong and no one feels excluded. ambitions and let us help you achieve yours. Read more.

Should candidates like to discuss the role in more detail before submitting an application, please contact Sarah Vale, Director General Workforce Team Recruitment Partner at [email protected] .

This campaign is being run on behalf of the department by the Director General Workforce Team, part of Civil Service HR, and is a central government expert service specialising in the attraction, search, selection and recruitment of senior civil servants.

The team is regularly commissioned by departments and other government organisations to deliver end-to-end recruitment for some of society’s most important leadership and specialist positions.

Our work is regulated by the Civil Service Commission where necessary and supported by the equality campaign group Stonewall.

Cabinet Office is a Disability Confident employer.