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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 £55,457 - £61,003, London salary range is £58,471 - £66,044. 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
National
Region
National
Closing Date
03-Jun-2026
Business Unit
Estates Capacity
Post Type
Loan, Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
3
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
17458

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

The Long Term Estate Strategy team is responsible for the development and delivery of complex strategic programmes and projects to scope and plan major capital investment in the prison estate beyond the current programme to deliver 14,000 prison places by 2031. This includes managing activity to identify future investment requirements and ensuring the prison estate is resilient, efficient and sustainable from the 2030s through to the 2050s.

The postholder will sit within the Future Prison Estate Strategy, Acquisition and Pipeline (FPESAP) team and will manage a portfolio of complex, high‑profile projects and workstreams on behalf of senior sponsors, supporting delivery of ministerial priorities and ensuring effective coordination and strategic alignment across HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS).

The role will play a central part in planning, managing and controlling project activity that supports the long‑term strategy for the prison estate, with a particular focus on projects relating to identifying, assessing and progressing land for potential future prisons, alongside wider estate planning, analytical modelling and strategic business case development.

Key Responsibilities

The postholder will:

  • Manage the day‑to‑day delivery of complex strategic projects and workstreams, ensuring outputs are delivered to agreed scope, quality, timescales and governance requirements.
  • Lead and coordinate ministerial and senior engagement activity as defined project outputs, including managing the preparation of submissions, briefings and board papers to support decision‑making.
  • Plan and oversee project activity to shape the long‑term prison estate pipeline, including managing work to identify future capacity requirements and supporting the development of a pipeline of potential sites.
  • Coordinate cross‑functional contributions from Policy, Finance, Property, Commercial and Analytical teams to deliver robust evidence, feasibility and affordability outputs in line with agreed milestones.
  • Oversee and assure complex analytical and strategic work packages, including prison population and occupancy modelling, shortlisting of closure or redevelopment options and new‑build programme planning.
  • Manage relationships and project interfaces with the MoJ Property Directorate, including Central Property and Planning colleagues, to progress work linked to potential site acquisitions.
  • Lead and coordinate external engagement workstreams with other government departments, arm’s length bodies and public sector partners to support cross‑government collaboration on land and estate opportunities.
  • Plan and manage structured engagement with local authorities, landowners and place leaders to support future prison delivery and alignment with local growth, regeneration and infrastructure priorities.
  • Identify, manage and escalate project risks, dependencies and issues, including those linked to wider policy and operational changes such as the long‑term high‑security, women’s and youth estates.
  • Work closely with Business Case teams to ensure project outputs are translated into robust Strategic Outline Business Cases, meeting HM Treasury Green Book requirements.
  • Provide clear reporting, assurance and advice to senior sponsors and governance boards, acting as the central point of contact for the projects and workstreams you manage.
  • Ensure the secure handling of sensitive information and effective information governance, including material relating to potential prison developments, closures or site acquisitions.

Experience and Skills

Essential experience and skills include:

  • Demonstrable experience managing complex projects or workstreams that support senior or ministerial decision‑making, including delivery of submissions, briefings and governance products.
  • Proven ability to coordinate cross‑functional teams to deliver agreed outputs within a large and complex organisation.
  • Experience commissioning, managing and using analytical evidence to inform project decisions and strategic options.
  • Experience contributing to strategic or economic business cases, with a strong understanding of HM Treasury Green Book principles.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience reporting progress, risks and issues to senior stakeholders.
  • Strong stakeholder management skills, including experience working with other government departments, local authorities and senior partners.
  • Ability to operate effectively in politically sensitive and high‑profile environments, exercising sound judgement and professionalism.
  • Experience working within multi‑disciplinary teams delivering complex policy‑ and delivery‑focused work.
  • A strong track record of handling sensitive information in line with security and information governance requirements.
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). 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, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

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.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS 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 HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays.

Pension

-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

Eligibility

-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist

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.

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.

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 17458

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

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Making Effective Decisions, 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
250
Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Expected Week Commencing 15th June 2026
Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
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
DBS Standard

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.