Ministry of Justice

The Role

The Deputy Director, Corporate Operations, Performance & Change provides strategic leadership for the corporate infrastructure, governance and organisational capability that underpin the Communications, Private Office, Parliament and Legislation Group (CPPL). 

Operating across a Group of approximately 370 staff spanning Communications, Ministerial Operations, Private Office, Parliament & Legislation and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the role ensures the systems, governance frameworks and organisational capability required to sustain effective ministerial-facing delivery at the centre of the Ministry of Justice. 

The post-holder leads and continuously improves the Group’s corporate operating model, bringing together governance, performance management, business planning, workforce strategy, budgets, risk management and organisational development into a coherent and effective system. The post-holder also oversees the central corporate hub for CPPL, leading the function that provides coordination, insight, control and delivery infrastructure for the Executive Director and senior leaders. 

In doing so, the role provides the corporate grip that enables CPPL to operate as a single, high-performing organisation rather than a collection of separate functions. The role also supports organisational transformation across the Group and modernisation of corporate systems, ensuring the organisation remains resilient and capable of responding to evolving ministerial, parliamentary and departmental demands. 

As part of this transformation agenda, the post-holder acts as Senior AI Leader for the Group, providing strategic leadership for the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence and ensuring innovation is balanced with security, ethical and reputational considerations. 

As a core member of the CPPL senior leadership team, the Deputy Director acts as a principal strategic adviser to the Executive Director, providing organisational insight, performance challenge and evidence-based advice to support high-quality decision-making and sustained organisational effectiveness. 

Key Responsibilities

1. Leadership of Corporate Operations and Organisational Capability

• Design, lead and continuously improve the Group’s corporate operating model, including governance structures, performance management systems, business planning, risk frameworks and organisational capability.
• Lead and develop the Group’s central corporate hub as the focal point for recruitment, governance, planning, performance reporting, finance and workforce coordination, risk oversight and change support across CPPL.
• Provide strategic oversight of Group financial planning and resource allocation, working with Finance and HR partners to ensure workforce structures and operating models remain sustainable.
• Work closely with HR, Finance, Digital, Estates, Commercial, Security and other corporate partners to ensure the Group operates effectively within departmental frameworks while maintaining agility in a fast-paced environment.
• Oversee organisational development, workforce planning, resourcing and talent management across the Group.
• Ensure robust systems for risk management, compliance, information governance, security and business continuity.

2. Transformation, Operating Model Redesign and AI Leadership 

• Support organisational transformation across the Group, including operating model reviews and modernisation of corporate systems.
• Act as Senior AI Leader for the Group, providing visible leadership for responsible AI adoption in line with MoJ standards and ethical frameworks.
• Build organisational capability and confidence in the use of AI and digital tools across the Group.

3. Group Integration and Organisational Cohesion 

• Support the leadership team with the integration of multiple professional functions into a coherent Group operating model, aligning governance, planning cycles, risk frameworks and ways of working across Communications, Ministerial Operations, Private Office and Parliament & Legislation. Build a strong shared organisational identity across CPPL.
• Lead cross-Group workforce development, leadership engagement and cultural transformation initiatives.
• Support the Executive Director and the leadership team in shaping the Group’s strategic direction and organisational priorities.

4. Strategic Advice and Senior Stakeholder Engagement

• Act as a principal strategic adviser to the Executive Director, providing organisational diagnosis, performance challenge and evidence-based advice on governance, workforce sustainability, operational risk and transformation priorities.
• Support senior leaders to take high-quality decisions through rigorous options analysis, risk assessment and performance insight.
• Negotiate and align corporate priorities with departmental partners including Finance, HR, Digital, Commercial, Security and agencies.
• Represent the Group in departmental committees, cross-government forums and corporate negotiations.
• Provide trusted and confidential advice on complex corporate and operational issues.

5. People, Culture and Leadership

• Provide visible, inclusive and empowering leadership, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Lead and develop a multidisciplinary corporate operation and change team, building capability in governance, performance management, transformation and digital innovation.
• Champion diversity, inclusion, wellbeing and staff engagement.
• Develop leaders at every level, strengthening talent pipelines and succession planning.

Essential Experience:

• Senior leadership experience in a complex, high-profile or ministerial facing organisation.
• Experience designing and operating corporate systems across complex organisations.
• Experience overseeing corporate operations such as finance, planning, HR, risk and organisational development.
• Experience leading organisational change or transformation programmes.
• Experience providing strategic advice to senior leaders or ministers.
• Experience managing budgets, people and multidisciplinary teams.

Essential Skills/Abilities

• Strong strategic leadership, communication, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to operate with judgement and discretion in politically sensitive environments.
• Exceptional analytical capability.
• Skilled organisational change leader.
• Ability to balance operational delivery with long-term transformation including adoption of AI.
• Strong organisational awareness and risk anticipation capability.
• Ability to build relationships with senior stakeholders across government.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion and high-performing teams.

Desirable Experience:

• Experience in communications, parliamentary business, private office or ministerial operations.
• Experience sponsoring or leading digital, data or AI-enabled change initiatives.
• Knowledge of the justice system or legal sector.