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General Information

Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
11-Jan-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SCS 2
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
12863

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

The Role

The Director for Centre of Expertise will be critical in shaping and leading the MoJ’s long term people agenda, ensuring a modern, skilled, inclusive and resilient workforce fully aligned to ministerial priorities and capable of delivering for the public.

We are looking for an exceptional HR Director with experience of leading a future workforce strategy, employee development and cultural reform within a complex largescale matrix organisation. The Director will create a coherent, MoJ-wide future focused workforce strategy to ensure that we have the right people, culture, policies, and capabilities across the UK in line with organisational priorities, ministerial ambitions and the Civil Service reform agenda.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director General for People and Capability, you will lead a collaborative and cohesive team of c.160 professionals with a budget of £16.5m. You will:

  • Set, drive and bring coherence to the MoJ’s people agenda to support a more productive, capable and competitive MoJ
  • Advise the Director General for People & Capability and wider Executive Committee on how to attract, develop, and retain talent, create a compelling employee development offer and employee experience, and ensure that MoJ is future-ready to deliver a robust set of ministerial and organisational priorities
  • Develop and drive practical strategic solutions that equip MoJ people to manage ambitious future needs with an ongoing regard for efficiency savings.
  • Build strong partnerships at a senior level across the People & Capability Group, Executive Committee, and the whole MoJ landscape including external stakeholders (Cabinet Office, Trade Unions) to encourage a culture of engagement and co-creation.
  • Demonstrate a flexible approach, role model professional behaviours and motivate your teams through change, empowering them to build successful new ways of working with partners

Additional Responsibilities

  • Oversee a performance driven strategy function that sets the people agenda at pace. Work with other areas of P&C to use future analysis and data to plan and identify talent, capability and resourcing needs across the MoJ, and ensure that organisation and culture change is managed effectively.
  • Design and govern a strategic talent approach, succession planning, and performance frameworks. Ensure that there are effective talent pipelines for critical roles and a diverse, inclusive workforce.
  • Introduce a core Learning & Development offer aligned to the workforce and organisational priorities, and future skills requirements. Set leadership and management capability frameworks for all levels. Partner with Civil Service professions to align capability development with departmental needs.
  • Establish a compelling Employee Experience and Value Proposition that attracts and retains high-performing, diverse talent. Lead MoJ’s approach on inclusion, engagement, and well-being aligned to organisational values. Oversee the transformation and simplification of HR policy to enable flexible, modern working.

Additional Information

Please view our candidate information pack for full details about the role, key responsibilities, person specification, and the criteria you will be assessed against throughout the recruitment process.

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  

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.


Contact Information
If you require any assistance please contact us on scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk. Please quote the job reference in your email to enable us to support you more quickly.

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please provide a statement to evidence how you meet the essential criteria required for the role:

• Show experience of being a senior and influential HR strategist holding responsible and credible senior leadership roles while delivering complex organisational or workforce transformation at scale.
• A proven track record of navigating the Civil Service or equivalent large, diverse and complex multi-functioning organisation, with evidence of making an impact at the highest levels within an organisation.
• Strong delivery and problem-solving track record, with evidence of translating strategic organisational objectives into practical, measurable and innovative workforce plans that deliver impact, efficiency and value for money.
• Strong track record of building senior stakeholder relationships and influencing at Board/Executive level, with the proven ability to persuade, influence and secure confidence in others.
• Exceptional inclusive leader with demonstrable experience of building high performing, multi-disciplinary expert teams delivering through others by orchestrating and empowering people to succeed and make a difference.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Week commencing 9th February 2026

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation, SEE
Level of security checks required
Security Clearance (SC)

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.