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General Information

Salary
£73,115 - £83,585
Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Location
London
Region
London, Scotland
Closing Date
13-Jan-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 6
Number of jobs available
1
Job ID
1448

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

About

We support the Secretary of State for Scotland in representing Scottish interests at the heart of the UK Government, promoting the best interests of Scotland within a strong United Kingdom, and safeguarding the devolution settlement.
 
The Scotland Office (SO) is recruiting a leadership position in its Policy Division, based in London or Edinburgh. Our role is to ensure that Scottish interests are fully and effectively represented at the heart of a range of policy areas – economy and local growth (including through our management of City & Region Growth Deals), energy, poverty, foreign affairs and trade.  We advise on and help implement an ambitious policy agenda that delivers for Scotland and the UK Government simultaneously.

To do so we work closely with various UK Government departments, the Scottish Government and a wide range of external stakeholders in Scotland to understand their policy needs and expectations.

The role
 
We are seeking a dynamic self-starter and expert collaborator to lead the SO’s busy Domestic Policy team.  It focuses on three ministerial priorities.
 
1.    Economic growth: undertaking economic analysis on this area, the number one mission of this government, and overseeing key related policy areas such as local economic growth policy, science and universities.

2.    Energy: working closely with the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero and Scottish Government to ensure the transition to clean energy by 2030 is delivered in a way that works for Scotland.  This team works with a range of sectors – renewables, hydrogen, carbon capture, and oil and gas – and on various policy and regulatory issues.

3.    Poverty: developing a new policy area for the SO, including advising the cross-government Child Poverty Task Force, helping shape public services and engaging with civil society.
 
This is an exciting opportunity to join a dynamic team and to work directly with Ministers on a range of high-profile issues.
 
The Head of Policy is a strategic leadership role which also requires political awareness, analytical problem-solving and strategic thinking skills, a collaborative and partner-led approach and the ability to work responsively and at pace - while the SO has clear priorities it can engage on any policy issue of particular importance to Scotland, and so a flexible approach is sometimes required.
 
Along with the Deputy Director for Policy and two other grade 6 roles, you will be jointly responsible for the leadership and management of the Policy Division. You will have line management responsibility for 3 Grade 7 led teams, and often deputise for the Deputy Director.
 
Together with your team, you will be responsible for:
 
•    Providing expert advice, analysis and support to the Secretary of State, Minister and Special Advisors on a range of energy, economic growth and poverty policy issues in support of their strategic priorities for Scotland.

•    Working with key UK Government departments and other cross-Whitehall bodies and groups to shape delivery of these priority policy areas in Scotland.
•    Engaging closely with a wide range of stakeholders across Scotland (such as businesses, local authorities, public bodies, non-profits and universities) to ensure we have a detailed and nuanced understanding of the policy landscape in your areas to best advise our ministers.
•    Providing strategic leadership, management, and direction to three grade 7-led teams: ensuring the structure, plans and culture are in place to support and challenge them to deliver high quality policy work and develop professionally.
•    Playing an active role across the SO, contributing to departmental goals and collaborating with colleagues across divisions – particularly Communications and Constitutional Policy.
•    Exemplifying the values of the department as part of a collaborative and transparent divisional leadership team.

Person specification
 
Your application should demonstrate the following skills and experience:
 
•    A proven track record of working closely with senior officials, Ministers and Special Advisers, with the ability to absorb, shape, communicate and deliver policy and political priorities in a fast-changing and wide range of areas;

•    Highly developed communication, influencing and interpersonal skills, with the presence and credibility to secure confidence at senior levels internally and externally;
•    Strong leadership and management skills, with the proven ability to give purpose and direction a high-performing motivated team to deliver at pace on a broad and complex agenda;
•    Experience of working collaboratively with, and delivering through, a large and diverse group of internal and external stakeholders with varied expectations and demands;
•    Flexibility and the ability to prioritise effectively, with experience of roles involving considerable personal autonomy, evidence-based decision making and the development and implementing innovative solutions;
•    Experience of working in one or more of the role’s policy areas (desirable), or a demonstrable ability to quickly develop a credible level of expertise and judgement.

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, 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.

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.

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 SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please see our Disability Confident Scheme Frequently Asked Questions webpage.

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 call 0845 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or email Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com Please quote job reference 1448

 

Application form stage assessments

Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
In 250 words or fewer for each, please outline your suitability for the post against three key criteria: (i) a proven track record of advising Ministers, Special Advisers and senior officials on a range of fast-changing policy issues; (ii)
highly developed communication, influencing and interpersonal skills; and (iii) strong leadership and management skills, with the proven ability to give purpose and direction to a high-performing team.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.