Role title:

Executive Assistant 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 diversity, HR casework, and judicial appointments;

• 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 an Executive Assistant (EA) to join the Private Office of the Senior Presiding Judge.

The primary responsibility is managing the busy diaries of the SPJ and DSPJ, making all arrangements for their meetings and ensuring their time is managed effectively. The postholder is also responsible for managing the Private Office shared mailbox: managing incoming emails, triaging requests to the relevant member of the team, and ensuring appropriate record-keeping

This is a frontline role working directly with members of the senior judiciary to deliver their priorities across issues which impact judges across England and Wales. It would suit someone who is very organised, able to balance competing priorities, and has excellent attention to detail.

The role involves close working with teams across the Judicial Office, HMCTS, Ministry of Justice, and other partners across the justice system.

Please be aware that Private Office roles can be unpredictable and may require working long hours and occasional travel to accompany the SPJ and DSPJ to events and court visits.

Responsibilities,

Activities & Duties:

Key responsibilities will include:

1. Diary management for the SPJ and DSPJ, ensuring all arrangements are in place for their meetings and other commitments, and responding to changing demands on their time.

2. Working closely with the judges’ clerks to ensure appropriate balance between their judicial and their leadership responsibilities.

3. Managing the Private Office mailbox, managing incoming correspondence and triaging it to the relevant member of the team.

4. Arranging for the SPJ and DSPJ’s visits to courts across England and Wales: identifying suitable locations for them to visit and liaising with local court staff on logistical preparations for the visit.

5. Organising the SPJ’s Start of Term plenary meetings with Presiding Judges and other engagement events with members of the judiciary and magistracy.

6. General administrative tasks to support the smooth-running of the Private Office

Please note that the work of the SPJ’s Office is subject to changing priorities and you may be required to take on other areas of responsibility as needed.

Essential Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Excellent organisational skills, with strong attention to detail.

• Ability to manage your own workload, manage competing requests and prioritise tasks effectively.

• Ability to work at pace and the flexibility adapt to changing circumstances.

• Good written and verbal communication skills.

• Ability to build strong working relationships across teams.

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Experience of working in a private office or similar environment closely supporting senior leaders.

• Experience working with the judiciary and / or the magistracy.

Behaviours (for Recruitment/Success Profiles):

• Delivering at Pace (lead behaviour)

• Communicating and Influencing

• Working Together

Assessment process at application

• CV

• Statement of suitability

• 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