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 £42,914 - £46,182, London salary range is £49,325 - £53,081. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
Birmingham, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Jarrow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham
Region
East Midlands, East of England, Greater Manchester, Kent, Surrey & Sussex, London, North East, North West, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber
Closing Date
13-Apr-2026
Post Type
Detached Duty, Loan
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
16173
Descriptions & requirements
Job description
Job Title & Grade: Data Transformation Manager - SEO
Contract Type: Detached Duty/Loan – 24 months
Salary range (depending on location): National - £42,914 - £46,182, London - £49,325 - £53,081
Please note that unless you are currently employed by the Civil Service and are earning more than the minimum above, if successful you will be offered the minimum for the grade depending on your location.
Location: National – Any LAA Office including London
40% office attendance is required. That may be at base location and other offices. Travel to other offices may be required
**Please note that whilst this role is open across government you can only apply for London, Cambridge and Brighton offices if you are a current LAA staff member based in those offices. This is due to and in line with the LAA's Location Strategy and the Cabinet Office's Places for Growth Strategy.**
Directorate: Corporate Services
Team: Strategy Data and Analysis
Working Pattern: The post is supported by the MOJ flexible working policy and includes colleagues who work flexibly, remotely (as part of hybrid working), part time or as part of a job share etc.
If you are applying for a part time role, please note that in order to meet business demands we need cover for a minimum of 30 hours
To meet legal requirements, if you are between the ages 16-18 and you are a successful candidate, you will be required to complete an apprenticeship after your initial on the job training.
Reporting to: Grade 7 Head of Business Insights
Closing date for applications: Monday 13th April 2026
The Legal Aid Agency
We are an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). We are responsible for operationally administering the legal aid fund to provide criminal and civil legal aid advice to people in England and Wales.
Our people are at the heart of achieving excellence. Employing around 1,200 colleagues across England and Wales, we feel proud to have some of the best People Survey results in the Civil Service.
Our LAA commitment to Diversity and 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.
As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.
If you are responding to a role within the Legal Aid Agency and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the sift or later selection processes.
The LAA’s goal is to build an organisation that is open and inclusive and truly values and celebrates the diversity of its workforce. One that reflects and understands the needs of the diverse society we serve. This is regardless of social background, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, beliefs, disabilities or long-term illness or caring responsibilities.
Reasonable Adjustments
We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term condition (for example dyslexia, anxiety, autism, a mobility condition or hearing loss) and need us to make any reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process, please let us know by adding the information to the applications system or emailing LAARecruitment@justice.gov.uk after you have applied so that we can discuss options with you.
Corporate Services
The Corporate Services team helps shape and enable the priorities of the Chief Executive, Executive Leadership Team and People Committee to be delivered.
The LAA fully supports hybrid and flexible working. Members of the Corporate Services and the People and Capability Team are based in multiple locations across England and Wales. Travel will be required on occasion.
Strategy, Data and Analysis
The Strategy, Data and Analysis Team supports wider Corporate Services to help shape and enable the priorities of the Chief Executive and Executive Leadership Team by providing data reporting analysis of the LAA’s progress against its strategic aims.
Job Summary
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Data and Analytics Transformation Manager to support the future design and implementation of how we create and use data across the Legal Aid Agency (LAA). This role is pivotal in setting the future direction of how data is created and used across legal aid, and will support the transformation of legal aid systems and services.
Critically, this role will require an excellent understanding of the value of data and how it can be used effectively to enable operational services and to provide business intelligence. The role requires understanding of system architecture, data standards, business reporting and the impact of high quality data.
This is a fixed-term opportunity for 2 years requiring the ability to manage multiple stakeholders, quickly understand the operating environment, and navigate the challenges of a whole system transformation effort across legal aid. The outcomes for this work will align to the MoJ Data Quality Framework and will be integral to the design and implementation of legal aid systems as part of transformation.
Central to this role are strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and communication skills to deliver work across boundaries with multiple stakeholders and ensure that technical and operational issues can be effectively understood and acted upon.
Understanding of data architecture, data analytics and data security is essential. Experience of leading time-critical projects and working across boundaries is highly desirable.
Key Responsibilities:
• Establish legal aid data requirements against emerging target operating models and new digital systems.
• Work closely with teams leading on recovery work to ensure that there is an effective transition from short to long-term data solutions.
• Identify and agree the data flows across legal aid systems and the data tools required to support operational processes and business intelligence.
• Work across LAA, MOJ Data and Legal Aid Digital to align work with data governance and MoJ data quality framework.
• Assess the impact of changes in policy, legal aid services and operational processes against data requirements and analytical reporting.
• Define the data skills and teams required to work securely with data across Legal Aid to enable transformation outcomes.
Essential Knowledge, Experience and skills
• Proven experience in working with data and systems, with the ability to understand and adhere to security standards.
• Strong project management skills, including planning, delivery, and risk management.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Ability to lead change management initiatives and embed improvements.
• Experience of working within governance systems to support effective decision making and quality/risk controls.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver high-quality outputs at pace.
Desirable Knowledge, Experience and skills
• Familiar with data quality frameworks such as the MOJ framework.
• Understanding of Legal Aid and/or operational delivery organisations.
Person Specification
• You are well organised with good attention to detail.
• You are resilient and able to remain focused when unplanned incidents happen.
• You are confident challenging others (including senior managers) to ensure that plans are effective.
Assessment approach
Application Process
To apply please submit a statement of suitability showing how you meet the essential criteria in no more than 1000 words, and a CV covering your suitability for the role in no more than 2 A4 pages.
Your statement should demonstrate your ability to do all of the essential criteria listed, using examples can help strengthen your application.
The wording on this advert may suggest that an Experience question is also required, however this is not necessary.
Interview / assessment Process
If you are successful through the application stage, you will be invited to an interview / assessment centre in person or via Microsoft Teams where you will be assessed against the following:
• Strengths relevant to the role
• The following Behaviours:
Changing and Improving (Lead Behaviour)
• work with others to identify areas for improvement and simplify processes to use fewer resources
• use technology where possible to increase efficiency
• encourage ideas for change from a wide range of sources
• clearly explain the reasons for change to colleagues and how to implement them, supporting individuals with different needs to adapt to change
• encourage an environment where colleagues know that they can challenge decisions and issues safely
• take managed risks by fully considering the varied impacts changes could have on the diverse range of end users
Communicating and Influencing
• communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner - choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact
• encourage the use of different communication methods, including digital resources and highlight the benefits, including ensuring cost effectiveness
• ensure communication has a clear purpose and takes into account people’s individual needs
• share information as appropriate and check understanding
• show positivity and enthusiasm towards work, encouraging others to do the same
• ensure that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversity of interests
Leadership
• ensure colleagues and stakeholders have a clear understanding of objectives, activities and time-frames
• take into account different individual needs, views, and ideas, championing inclusion and equality of opportunity for all
• consider the impacts of own and team’s activities on stakeholders and end users
• role-model commitment and satisfaction with role
• recognise and praise the achievements of others to drive positivity within the team
• effectively manage conflict, misconduct and non-inclusive behaviour, raising with senior managers where appropriate
Seeing the Big Picture
• understand the strategic drivers for your area of work
• align activities to contribute to wider organisational priorities
• remain alert to emerging issues and trends which might impact your work area
• seek out and share experiences to develop knowledge of the team’s business area
• understand how the strategies and activities of the team create value and meet the diverse needs of all stakeholders
• A presentation-based exercise to assess your approach to data transformation and organisational change. Further details of this will be provided at interview stage, to those candidates successful at sift.
• Your Experience of implementing, promoting, or understanding diversity and inclusion policy - Diversity is the presence of difference, this can include one or more of the protected characteristics (Gender, Age, Race, Disability etc.) or it can be about working patterns, whether we like to jump into a task or reflect on it before acting. Inclusion is how we welcome, value, and celebrate diversity, giving everyone a voice, tapping into ideas, and enabling everyone to be themselves at work and achieve their potential.
For this grade/ role we would expect the candidate to demonstrate understanding of the terms Diversity and Inclusion and be able to explain why they are important in a work environment. We would also expect examples of action they have taken to embrace diversity (e.g., increasing understanding for self or others) or improve inclusion at a team or wider group level.
Shortlisting is planned for week commencing Monday 13th April 2026
Interviews are planned for week commencing Monday 27th April 2026
If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact – Bernadette Cuddy -
Bernadette.Cuddy@justice.gov.uk or Amy Shortall - Amy.Shortall@Justice.gov.uk
Complaints procedure
If you have any complaints about this recruitment activity, please share your concerns by emailing LAARecruitment@justice.gov.uk initially. We aim to respond to any complaint within 10 working days.
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
- To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)
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:
- 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 16173
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
Job Description Attachment
-
Job Description SEO Data Transformation Manager.docx (Job Description Attachment)
Application form stage assessments
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability
Interview stage assessments
Interview Dates
Expected - Week commencing Monday 27th April 2026
Abilities
• A presentation-based exercise to assess your approach to data transformation and organisational change. Further details of this will be provided at interview stage, to those candidates successful at sift.
Behaviours
Changing and Improving
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Seeing the Big Picture
Experience
Your Experience for this role will be assessed at interview. To learn more about Experience and how they are assessed please click here.
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Experience Questions
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.