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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 £35,335- £37,847. London salary range is £40,014 - £42,859. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
19-Jan-2026
Post Type
Fixed Term, Detached Duty, Loan
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
13317

Descriptions & requirements

Job description
Job Description

Job title: Business Support Manager
Grade: HEO
Location: National
Duration: 12 months, with the possibility of extension due to this being maternity cover
Team/Directorate: Corporate Services Transformation (CST), MoJ People and Capability

The Department

The Ministry of Justice is one of the largest departments across Whitehall with a high profile, fast-paced and complex delivery and reform agenda. Our vision is to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society. 

The role of the Ministry is to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent, and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public. We will achieve this by improving public safety, reforming prisons, probation, and youth justice to build a system that delivers swifter access to justice with increased certainty for all citizens whatever their background.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is a fast-paced and rapidly changing part of government responsible for broad-ranging policy and service delivery. The MoJ has ambitious plans to reform the justice system and at the same time transform itself into a smarter, simpler and more efficient department.

For more information on who we are and what we do, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice



People & Capability

The role of P&C is to support the organisation and approx. 85,000 people by enabling our colleagues to work to their full potential.

We operate as a cluster of HR services working seamlessly to provide expert support, advice and delivery throughout the employee lifecycle. From the time people join the organisation, to the point at which they leave, we strive to make a positive contribution to their work experience. We want everyone who works for the Ministry of Justice to feel confident in their skills, ambitious for the future and fulfilled by their work and relationships with their colleagues

Overview

This role offers a unique view of the MoJs P&C function and its Divisional functions, how they operate internally, as well as the role they play in supporting wider P&C programmes and initiatives across the Department and agencies. 

The role provides business support to the CST office and Deputy Director’s whilst working with colleagues across the organisation on key board meetings, providing secretariat support and working closely with senior management teams. 

As a Business Manager, no two days will be the same. You will have a multitude of opportunities to learn, grow, and develop your career in a way that best suits you.
The role will provide excellent opportunities to work at the heart of MoJ in a vibrant environment, learning how People Group operates within MoJ as well as the wider Civil Service. 

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties:

•    Manage a varied workload and keep up to date with multiple tasks concurrently.

•    Provide secretariat support for specific meetings and undertake the day-to-day tasks of ensuring its smooth functioning. These tasks will include organising meetings, agendas, and maintaining action logs.

•    Draft minutes for meetings ensuring they are produced on time and to a high standard. Ensure that actions are followed up and recorded effectively. 

•    Provide direct support for Divisional Directors, managing the flow of communications and information including Inbox and diary management, commissioning tasks to senior leaders, preparing briefings, presentation and templates to support the Divisional Director.

•    Accountable for sourcing, collating, researching, validating, analysing a wide range of management data. Produce reports and documents to show findings and options to support and influence decision making.

•    Manage and maintain a forward schedule of meetings across the Divisional Director’s office and ensure all members’ needs are taken into account.

•    Support with the delivery of P&C and divisional group activities; organising staff events, producing key documentation and ad hoc administrative tasks. 

•    Foster and manage effective working relationships with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders within and outside of MoJ, this may include Senior Leadership teams across MoJ, MoJ Press Offices, Ministers’ Private Offices, demonstrating good team working and communication skills. 

•    Owning and improving internal processes, reporting through use of smarter working software. This may include creating and updating one note and MS Teams channels, using SharePoint to access and save key files as well as making the best use of all available technology. 

•    You may provide adhoc project support to the senior team and support wider team projects or assignments that improve how we work in the team and/or our delivery across the wider People & Capability. This may include: meeting organisation and secretariat, proactive tracking of actions, organisation of workshops, management of risk, planning tools & trackers and workflow assurance.

These responsibilities are representative and are not intended to be exhaustive.

Person Specification: 

•    You will have strong organisational and interpersonal skills.
•    Able to provide evidence in the establishing and maintaining effective relationships with a wide variety of people, including senior officials. 
•    Proactive approach, with excellent organisational skills, attention to detail and an ability to work well under pressure.
•    Communicate clearly and concisely both orally and in writing. Take time to consider the best communication channel to use for your audience, including making the best of digital resources and considering value for money.
•    Excellent planning and time management skills  
•    Understand how your work and the work of the Senior Leadership team, supports wider objectives and meets the diverse needs of stakeholders.
•    Take a keen interest in expanding your knowledge in areas related to your work and keep up to date with issues that affect your area. 
•    Handle challenging conversations with confidence and sensitivity. 
•    Show pride and passion for your work and positive, inclusive engagement with your team. 

Travel requirements: 

Travel for team away days approximately 3-4 times a year will be required (usually in London). 

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.

Sift

Behaviour – Please provide an example of how you meet the behaviour of Delivering at Pace (lead behaviour)
Statement of Suitability (no more than 500 words) - Please provide evidence of experience you have that would lend itself to the role of Business Manager Support
Should we receive a large number of applications, we will do an initial sift on the lead behaviour of Delivering at Pace. 

Candidates invited to Interview
Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely via MS Teams.

Behaviours - You will be asked by the interview panel to provide examples of how you meet the behaviours listed below. 

1.    Delivering at Pace (lead behaviour)
2.    Communicating and Influencing
3.    Making Effective Decisions

Strengths - You will also be asked about Strengths which are not notified in advance. You can refer to the CS Strengths dictionary for more details:  Success Profiles - Civil Service Strengths Dictionary (publishing.service.gov.uk) 


Contact information   

Please do get in touch if you would like to know more about the role or what it is like working in our team. Monica Hirani -  monica.hirani@justice.gov.uk



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 13317

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 13317

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Delivering at Pace, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Delivering at Pace
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please provide evidence of experience you have that would lend itself to the role of Business Manager Support
Evidence of Experience
Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
not expected before February 2026
Behaviours
Delivering at Pace
Communicating and Influencing
Making Effective Decisions
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)

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.