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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, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
29-Apr-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
15737

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Directorate: MoJ Project Delivery Function

Job Title: Comms and Engagement Support Officer

Pay Span or equivalent:  HEO (Band C)

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) priorities include improving public safety and reducing reoffending by reforming prisons, probation and youth justice, and building a justice system which makes access to justice swifter and more certain for all citizens whatever their background. Project professionals in the MoJ help to improve the government’s ability to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public. MoJ expects its leaders to show openness, honesty and commitment, and, of course, to deliver results.

The Project Delivery Function (PDF) provides project professionals and project delivery services to the business.  As the Communications and Engagement Support officer for the PDF you will sit within the Project Delivery Function Management Office (PDFMO), reporting to the Comms and Engagement Manager, People Lead,  Head of Business and Corporate Services and Chief Operating Officer. You will pivotal role in supporting all the Function’s internal and external comms and engagement. In our Functional model our ability to communicate, engage and influence effectively across the business at all levels is key to successful delivery and you will be responsible for supporting the Comms and Engagement manager in delivering this. You will support in the delivery of the Comms and Engagement strategy and delivery plan and ensuring effectively communication and engagement on key Project Delivery information and support improved project performance and improved compliance with Government Project Delivery Standards. 

Although the role will nominally be attached to a specific workstream, you will be exposed to a wide range of activity across the PDFMO and also the Department’s portfolio of projects and programmes through your work across the Function. You will be key to the ongoing development of the PDFMO, maintaining and enhancing systems and processes for the smooth-running of the PDF. You will have the opportunity to build relationships with Senior Leaders within the Function, colleagues across the department and with other Government Departments.

You will be joining an evolving Function in a time of change and will be in the centre of delivering that change. You will need to be prepared to work collaboratively as an enthusiastic and active team player, adopting a flexible approach to the role whilst having effective interpersonal and communication skills.

This is an operational and corporate-facing role, focused on improving how information is shared, understood and used across the Function. You will help plan, draft and deliver internal communications across a range of channels, including bulletins, intranet content, visual products and senior leader briefings, supporting engagement with the Project Delivery Profession and key stakeholders across the Ministry of Justice. You will support the continuous improvement of internal communications and engagement channels, using insight and data to understand what works well and where changes are needed. This includes contributing to the development and maintenance of engagement reporting and dashboards, working with colleagues to analyse engagement data, and helping to translate insight into practical recommendations.

In addition, you will support the coordination and delivery of internal engagement activity, such as Stand-ups, events, awareness days and profession-wide sessions. This will include forward planning, agenda management, inbox management and providing clear, timely communications to support participation and engagement across the Function.

The PDFMO are currently based across London and Leeds, therefore regular travel and flexible working is required to suit the needs of the business.

MoJ expects its leaders to show openness, honesty and commitment, and, of course, to deliver results.

Key responsibilities of the role

These responsibilities may be refined in line with evolving business needs, team capacity and organisational priorities.

Improvement of profession engagement

  • Develop and deliver a bi-monthly Project Delivery Profession bulletin to improve engagement and information sharing.
  • Assist with SRO engagement and wider profession communications.
  • Drive continuous improvement through evaluation, user testing, and implementation of recommendations.

Reviewing and development Comms and Engagement channels

  • Lead the creation of an Engagement Data Dashboard using Power BI to provide senior leadership with insights on channel effectiveness.
  • Support the review and enhancement of engagement channels across the Function.
  • Design and produce visual communications to improve clarity and accessibility.
  • Collaborate with central teams to develop and launch a centralised PDF Corporate Hub. 

Senior Leader Engagement

  • Support effective stakeholder management, including engaging with senior leaders, Service Transformation Group and profession-wide networks.
  • Produce concise, strategic briefings for senior leadership forums, including Stand-up meetings, SRO Roundtables, and G6 events.
  • Draft clear, impactful communications that convey key messages aligned with Functional strategy, Ministry of Justice priorities, and wider cross-government objectives.

Managing Function Comms and Engagement processes  

  • Coordinate logistics for PDF Stand-up and PDG events, including forward planning and agenda management.
  • Maintain and update the Function’s Comms & Engagement Plan to ensure alignment with strategic objectives.
  • Plan and deliver cross-Function events such as awareness days, away days, and conferences.
  • Organise regular team-level engagement activities (e.g., Let’s Talk sessions and Teach-ins).
  • Manage the PDFComms inbox, ensuring timely and accurate responses.
  • Provide guidance and oversight to Band D colleagues on comms and engagement tasks.
  • Deputise for the Comms & Engagement Manager when required.
  • Support communications for the PDF Transformation and Business Plan.
  • Contribute to broader team priorities including capability, workforce planning and other cross-cutting projects.

Skills and Experience

You will have experience of delivering change in Government and a keen interest in how we can improve the delivery of change. Your skills and experience should include: 

  • Strong digital capability, with proficiency in Microsoft 365 tools (including Teams, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Outlook).
  • Demonstrable experience coordinating activity, establishing and maintaining processes, and working to deadlines.
  • Strong organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
  • Clear and confident written communication skills, with the ability to draft accessible, engaging communication products for diverse audiences.
  • Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience building relationships across teams and senior leadership.
  • Ability to analyse engagement data and use insights to inform improvements.

This list is not exhaustive, and the successful candidate will need to be flexible to undertake other duties as required to meet business needs.

Location & Terms of appointment

Salary and Grade

HEO (Band C)

Travel and Office Attendance

These posts are advertised nationally but frequent travel will be required to locations where colleagues are based.

Your base office location at an MoJ HQ site, Justice Collaboration Centre, or Justice Satellite Office will be discussed if successful, as we do not offer home working contracts. All available sites are listed on the MoJ office locations.

Following the return to offices initiative any MoJ employee based in a MoJ building should be attending the office a minimum of two days a week. Typically, this will be at your base office location at an MoJ HQ site, Justice Collaboration Centre, or Justice Satellite Office. If you are required to travel to another office or site with your project/programme, this will be classed as a day’s office attendance. 

Flexible Working Options

MoJ offers a flexible working system in many of its offices.

Job Sharing and Reduced Hours

All applications for job sharing or reduced hours will be treated fairly and, on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the MoJ’s flexible working policy and equality policy.

Excess Fares and Relocation Allowances

These roles are not eligible for relocation allowances, but excess fares may be considered in accordance with MoJ’s excess fares allowance policy.

Application Process

You are required to complete an application form providing evidence of how you meet the requirements of the role and below competencies (up to 500 words per competency) and upload an anonymous CV.

  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Changing and Improving
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Managing a Quality Service

Please use the ‘Apply for Role’ button at the top of the page to begin the application form.

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.

https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/artificial-intelligence-and-recruitment/

Interview

Successful candidates will then be invited for interview which will take place face-to-face at one of our MoJ HQ offices. These are located at:

  • 5 Wellington Place, Leeds, LS1 4AP
  • 10 South Colonnade, Canary Wharf, E14 4PU

The interview will consist of a variety of Civil Service behavioural and strength questions as per the Success Profiles recruitment framework.

In-Tray Activity

The day ahead of your interview you will be required to complete an In-tray Activity. This is designed to test your performance against skills required for the role. Information on how and when the In-tray should be completed will be sent to you during the week prior to your interview.

Contact Details

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your application for the role then please contact:

ProjectDeliveryRes@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 role: 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.

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.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.

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

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.

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.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

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:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

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 15737

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 15737

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing, 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
500
Communicating and Influencing
Changing and Improving
Delivering at Pace
Managing a Quality Service
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
To be confirmed. Expected late May but subject to change
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Changing and Improving
Delivering at Pace
Managing a Quality Service
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.

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Other 1
Other - Assessment Title 1
In-Tray
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.