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This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.

General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £42,914 - £46,182 London salary range is £49,325- £53,081 Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
06-Nov-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
3
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
11165

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job role: Project Manager

Grade: SEO

Directorate: Change Directorate

About us

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for administering criminal, civil, and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our mission is to deliver justice effectively and efficiently, helping people and businesses access justice.

The Change Directorate plays a critical role in supporting HMCTS’s strategic direction. Our cadre of skilled project professionals ensures that HMCTS can respond flexibly and efficiently to changing demands and priorities, and that projects are delivered to high standards and contribute to the organisation’s overall goals.

As one of our project managers, you can expect to be assigned to different projects within a varied portfolio over time, based on both business priorities and your individual development goals. This dynamic approach provides valuable opportunities to broaden your experience, enhance your skills, and make meaningful contributions across a range of areas across the organisation.

We manage a wide variety of projects, each designed to address different aspects of the services we deliver. At any given time, our portfolio comprises 20 to 30 projects aimed at improving the efficiency, effectiveness and accessibility of the courts and tribunals. These projects cover business and digital transformation through to commercial procurements. Here are some current examples:-

  • The Housing Dispute Policy Implementation Programme, This supports the Government’s aims to strengthen renters' rights and improve the private rental market through the implementation of the Renters' Rights Bill and Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act. The programme will deliver changes to the capacity and operating model of the Residential Property Tribunal to handle increased demand and changes to the civil courts that result from the abolition of ‘no fault’ evictions.
  • Reforms to the Criminal Courts, Enhancing the effectiveness of the criminal courts and improving the efficiency of the criminal justice system.
  • The Language Services Project, to procure new and improved translation and interpretation services to facilitate access to justice and make sure that all users can understand and participate in proceedings.
  • The Service Centre Technology Project, to replace the existing contact technology solution with a modern, stable, and cost-effective system providing real-time data and appropriate management information to drive performance.

We’re looking for individuals with a passion for public service and who also want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice. If you're looking to build a career with real purpose, we encourage you to apply. Join us and be part of a team where your project experience directly supports the delivery of justice for all.

About the role

As a Project Manager, you will lead/ manage a small lower complexity project or workstream and the project team on a day-to-day basis. You will be responsible for driving and overseeing the delivery of the project to ensure that the objectives are clearly defined and achieved within the agreed time, cost, and quality constraints.  As Project Manager, you will play a key role in project governance and working with stakeholders, to ensure the agreed project outputs are delivered to enable benefits to be realised.

Your role as the Project Manager encompasses several key aspects, including but not limited to:

  • Define and document project scope, goals and deliverables that support business goals in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders, including day-to-day management and leadership of the project and the project team.
  • Identify and manage project dependencies and critical path.
  • Develop and deliver progress reports, proposals, requirements documentation, and presentations.
  • Monitor the project budget, including tracking against supplier statement of works/timesheets.  
  • Execute project lifecycle in accordance with in-house processes and government standards.

For a comprehensive overview of the role and requirements, please refer to the attached role profile, and refer to the Government Project Delivery Capability Framework: Project Manager SEO - Government Project Delivery

Who are we looking for? (Person Specification)

The ideal candidate for this position should demonstrate a track record of managing projects or workstreams within a larger, more complex, project or programme through to successful delivery. Candidates should demonstrate that they meet the following essential criteria in line with the Project Manager, SEO-level as set out in the Government Project Delivery Capability Framework 

Essential

  • A successful track record of managing low complexity project and/or a lower complexity area within a larger, more complex, project or programme.
  • Proven ability to drive through significant change whilst maintaining strong client and internal relationships.
  • Proven ability to perform consistently to tight timescales with a high degree of visibility.
  • Experience of producing business cases and a working knowledge of Government business case approvals processes.
  • Experience of written communication to a range of audiences at all levels
  • A strong communicator, able to communicate messages clearly to a range of audiences at all levels.
  • The authority, intellect, and knowledge to communicate sometimes difficult recommendations to senior officials.

Desirable

The criteria below are desirable only. These will not be assessed throughout the recruitment process, but will be used in the event of tied scores between candidates:

Project Management Qualifications (or willingness to work towards)

  • Prince 2 Practitioner
  • APM Project Management
  • PMI Project Management Professional
  • Leading and Managing Project Workstreams

How to apply

Please submit a CV outlining your skills and experience against the essential criteria whilst ensuring it aligns with the following:  

  • Concise and Structured: Limit to 2 pages, clearly formatted for readability. 
  • Accurate and Accountable: All content must be factually correct. If generative AI tools are used, you are responsible for verifying the accuracy of all information provided. 
  • Experience Timeline: Detail your relevant project/programmes/portfolio based experience, including clear start and end dates. We value insight into how you’ve applied tools, methodologies, or frameworks to deliver outcomes.
  • Qualifications Overview: Include relevant academic and professional qualifications. Highlight modules, certifications, or accreditations that align with the role.  

Please also submit evidence (up to 250 words each) demonstrating how you meet the following technical competency in line with the Government Project Delivery Capability Framework:  

  • Quality Management, please specify how you ensure the expected quality is delivered in the project or programme you are working on, including when in the lifecycle this takes place. We’re particularly interested in how you monitor quality, manage deviations, and drive continuous improvement. Your response should highlight your role in maintaining quality management processes at key stages to meet standards throughout.

We recommend following the STAR format.  

Please note: We review all applications manually, no automated or algorithmic sifting is used. 

Interview

If successful at sift you will be invited to attend a formal interview remotely via Microsoft Teams, which will be assessed against the Civil Service Success Profile Framework, and the Government Project Delivery Capability Framework.

You will be asked the following behavioural and technical questions:

  • Quality management (Lead) - The ability to plan, develop, maintain and apply quality management processes to ensure adherence to those standards throughout the lifecycle of the work.
  • Risk and Issue management - The ability to systematically identify and monitor risks and issues, planning how to mitigate or respond to those risks and issues and implementing the responses.
  • Assurance - The ability to establish, plan and manage reviews at appropriate points through the life cycle to provide confidence that the work can be delivered to the agreed outcomes and benefits within time, cost, quality, and other constraints.
  • Collaboration - The ability to establish and develop productive relationships with internal and external stakeholders, bringing people together to benefit the project. Aligned to the Working Together Civil Service behaviour.
  • Credible action - The ability to promote the wider public good in all actions and to act in a morally, legally and socially appropriate manner at all times. Challenges unacceptable behaviour. Aligned to the Leadership Civil Service behaviour.

Further information on the relevant frameworks and the required standards for this SEO post can be found at:

Project Manager SEO - Government Project Delivery

Success Profiles - GOV.UK

Travel requirements

This role is advertised nationally; however, the successful candidate will be expected to travel for ad hoc project meetings and to support project implementation. Travel and accommodation costs incurred for official duties will be fully funded by HMCTS in line with departmental policy.  

About our benefits

We reward our people for their hard work and commitment. We have a number of family friendly and flexible working polices that will help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition, we offer a range of employee benefits which include generous annual leave, a highly competitive contributory pension scheme, childcare benefits, season ticket and bicycle loans.

Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.


Additional Information

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). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

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: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

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.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours 

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where they meet the demands of the role and business needs. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

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.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

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 www.www.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

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 TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates will not be eligible for the Redeployment Interview Scheme if they are applying on promotion.

Civil Service Nationality Rules

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve list

A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.


Contact Information

MoJ:

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 11165

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 11165

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History
Technical
Technical Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Quality management (Lead) - The ability to plan, develop, maintain and apply quality management processes to ensure adherence to those standards throughout the lifecycle of the work.

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Interviews expected early December 2025 - subject to change
Behaviours
Working Together
Leadership
Technical
Quality management (Lead) - The ability to plan, develop, maintain and apply quality management processes to ensure adherence to those standards throughout the lifecycle of the work.
Risk and Issue management - The ability to systematically identify and monitor risks and issues, planning how to mitigate or respond to those risks and issues and implementing the responses.
Assurance - The ability to establish, plan and manage reviews at appropriate points through the life cycle to provide confidence that the work can be delivered to the agreed outcomes and benefits within time, cost, quality, and other constraints.
Level of security checks required
DBS Basic

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.