Role title:

Deputy Private Secretary to the Senior Presiding Judge

Team/Directorate:

SPJ Private Office

Overview of the Judicial Office

This is standardised wording and cannot be amended.

The Judicial Office (JO) reports to, and is accountable, to the Lady Chief Justice (LCJ). It was established in 2006 to provide support to the LCJ and to the wider judiciary in upholding the rule of law and in delivering justice impartially, speedily and efficiently, following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.

In addition, we support, and are accountable to, the Senior President of Tribunals, whose responsibilities extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The JO is an interesting and unique place to work. Everything we do is in support of upholding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. We work closely with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and others across Government as well as with the legal professions.

We are an Arm’s Length Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. This creates an interesting and complex environment in which to work where we agree our priorities with the senior judiciary and receive our funding to deliver them from the Ministry of Justice. The Judicial Office has been through a period of significant growth resulting from an expansion of our remit and responsibilities.

See JO staff talk about working here: https://design102.wistia.com/medias/uhgtmbtnlv

Overview of the team

The Senior Presiding Judge (SPJ) is a senior member of the judiciary of England and Wales. They are appointed for a fixed two-year period.

The SPJ’s responsibilities and remit include:

• Providing support, leadership and guidance for courts judiciary and magistrates, particularly to leadership judges;

• Acting as ‘Chief of Staff’ for the Lady Chief Justice, dealing with the day-to-day issues affecting the judiciary, across a wide-ranging field including judicial appointments, HR casework, diversity, judicial security, and matters relating to the court estate;

• Representing the Lady Chief Justice on the HMCTS Board and attending a number of other high-profile boards; and

• The effective and efficient operation of the courts, including regular meetings with those involved in the work of the courts, and working with judges to understand and improve performance.

The SPJ is supported in these responsibilities by the Deputy Senior Presiding Judge (DSPJ).

The Private Office team is responsible for providing strategic support, advice, and coordination for the SPJ and DSPJ on all areas of their portfolio.

Hybrid Working Requirement

This is standardised wording and cannot be amended.

This position is eligible for hybrid working (current minimum requirement for time spent at base location is 60%, which is subject to business requirements).

Summary of the role

We are recruiting a permanent Deputy Private Secretary (DPS) to join the Private Office of the Senior Presiding Judge.

This is a frontline role working directly with members of the senior judiciary to deliver their priorities. The postholder will provide a critical interface between the SPJ / DSPJ and partners across the justice system. They will handle complex and confidential issues in order to provide advice and support to the senior judiciary which will enable them to discharge their responsibilities.

As one of several DPSs in the team, you will have day-to-day responsibility for a number of high-profile areas that fall within the SPJ’s portfolio. You will be expected to build a good understanding of these areas, including live issues, challenges and opportunities, partners and stakeholders, and the role of the SPJ in decision-making. You will also be expected to develop an understanding of the wider work of the private office, and will have opportunities to take the lead on ad hoc projects.

Please be aware that Private Office roles can be unpredictable and may require working long hours and, very occasionally, at weekends. It may be necessary to support the SPJ and DSPJ on visits across the country and therefore some travel will likely be required.

Responsibilities,

Activities & Duties:

Key responsibilities will include:

• Establishing themselves as a trusted advisor to the SPJ and DSPJ.

• Providing high-quality briefings, advice and recommendations, and providing challenge where appropriate.

• Supporting the SPJ and DSPJ in managing their relationships with partners across the justice system. Identifying opportunities for engagement with stakeholders.

• Remaining alert to live and emerging issues, dealing with issues on behalf of the senior judiciary and escalating where required. Maintaining a forward look of known activity and ensuring preparations are made in advance, where possible.

• Supporting the SPJ and DSPJ to deliver standalone projects which they lead on behalf of the judiciary.

• Building strong working relationships with members of the judiciary and magistracy, as well as with officials across the Judicial Office, MOJ and HMCTS. Understanding others’ roles and responsibilities, establishing hand-off points, and ensuring effective and timely sharing of information.

• Demonstrating collective leadership as part of the management team of the private office, including line management of at least one member of staff.

Please note that portfolios are subject to change in the SPJ Office, and you may be required to take on other areas of responsibility depending on changing priorities.

Essential Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Experience of influencing at senior levels: drafting briefings, providing advice, and making evidence-based recommendations.

• Experience of working at pace, managing competing priorities, and taking decisions in a fast-moving environment.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to process large volumes of complex, often sensitive, information across a variety of subject matters, understanding the detail as well as the bigger picture.

• Ability to build strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders at all levels.

• Experience of managing projects and / or complex, multi-stranded pieces of work over a prolonged period.

• Experience of leadership and / or line management.

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Experience of working in a Private Office or providing support to senior leaders.

• Experience of working with the judiciary or magistracy.

Behaviours (for Recruitment/Success Profiles):

• Communicating and Influencing (lead behaviour)

• Seeing the Big Picture

• Delivering at Pace

• Making Effective Decisions

Assessment process at application

• CV - not scored

• Statement of suitability - not scored

• Behaviours - if there is a high volume of applications the panel will sift on the lead behaviour

Assessment process at interview

• Behaviours

• Strengths

Security clearance required:

Select one of the below.

(this will be determined by the location)

• DBS

• CTC

• SC

• DV

Please note:

Central Government policy dictates that applicants for National Security Clearance must be a resident in the UK for these minimum periods:

• CTC - 3 years

• SC - 5 years

• DV - 10 years

CTC