Ministry of Justice

Corporate Operations and Projects Manager

Salary XXXXX

Region: London

Grade: HEO

Post Type: Fixed term

Length of employment: 2.5 years

Working Pattern: Full Time

Directorate: Deputy Chief Executive Office

Team: Corporate, Estates and Infrastructure Team

Clearance: CTC required

Job summary

This is an exciting time for the Judicial Office’s Corporate, Estates and Infrastructure Team. The Judicial Office has expanded the services it provides to judges and magistrates across England and Wales and has more than doubled in size over the last three years (to c480 staff). Strong corporate services are central to enabling us - and the judiciary we support - to deliver at our best.

The Judicial Office performs a unique role with some of the most senior judges in England and Wales in historic locations. This job will put you at the heart of that. The successful candidate will help shape and deliver the core services which allow the office to run smoothly. This role offers the opportunity to lead a varied portfolio of projects across the Corporate, Estates and Infrastructure Team, and is a key part of a dynamic wider unit.

You will need to think creatively, work flexibly and lead the delivery of several corporate services across multiple locations. You will gain an insight into what is needed to make the judiciary function effectively.  You will be supported by an experienced team but will need to be able to work autonomously and build effective relationships across the organisation. Your work will require you to deliver for internal and external stakeholders, to drive change and to make things happen.

The role is available for level transfer and for suitable candidates on promotion. It is also available on loan.

The Judicial Office

The Judicial Office is an Arms’ Length Body of the Ministry of Justice. We are dedicated to supporting the judiciary as the third arm of the state, and answer to the Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales and the Senior President of Tribunals as we help them to fulfil their responsibilities. We promote and safeguard judicial independence to maintain confidence in the rule of law. We are proud that our work serves to reinforce the pre-eminence of our judiciary and maintain the UK’s position as a leader in legal services, a position which allows the UK to thrive and benefits every part of society. Our specialist teams support 23,000 judicial office holders in an evolving justice system. Our work includes providing legal, policy and handling advice to the senior judiciary on the fulfilment of their statutory functions. We advise on relationships with government, Parliament and other UK and international legal jurisdictions and support communication with the public. We provide human resources, training, and library and information services to the judiciary.

Location

The team is based in the Thomas More Building in the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ). The post is eligible for hybrid working, the current requirement being a minimum 60% of time spent onsite due to business requirements. The successful candidate will also be required to travel sometimes to attend meetings and staff events in other locations across England and Wales. This will require flexibility where necessary.

Key activities and responsibilities:

Reporting to an SEO, you will also work closely with the G7 Head of Corporate Operations on several discrete portfolio areas. You will take a lead role in delivering core business services across the Judicial Office—bringing clarity, structure and momentum to priority work.

Accommodation

• Lead on delivering all accommodation projects agreed by the Judicial Office Management Board—working with teams and suppliers to scope refurbishment plans and ensuring smooth transitions and implementation.
• Represent the team at the RCJ Safety and Security meetings (held every six months).
• Build strong working relationships with Facilities Managers across other sites where JO staff are based, including attending estates meetings as required.
• Provide oversight—and act as the escalation point—for day-to-day accommodation processes, including requests for furniture and additional equipment, securing approvals and ensuring the correct procurement processes are followed.

Business Continuity

• Support the G7 Head of Corporate Operations to embed Business Continuity responsibilities across the Judicial Office—raising awareness, coordinating regular plan testing, ensuring best practice is followed and sharing lessons learned to strengthen organisational resilience.
• Provide secretariat support to the Incident Response Team, briefing senior leaders and maintaining up-to-date policy documentation and communications.

Line Management

• Line management of one EO “Assistant Corporate & Facilities Manager” role including task management, performance management, training and development, mentoring and coaching.

Internal Communications

• Lead on drafting engaging internal communications that celebrate team successes and highlight key corporate messages for senior leaders and the wider Judicial Office. You will work closely with the Judicial Office’s Internal Communications Team.

Finance

• Manage, oversee and report on centrally managed budgets, including Infrastructure, Accommodation and Health & Safety.
• Use Hyperion and the JO forecasting tool to oversee centrally managed budgets and items in the suspense account, ensuring corrective action is taken where needed.
• Run reports and complete monthly variance reporting for centrally managed budgets.
• Oversee the Purchase Order process to support prompt payment of invoices.

Health and Safety

• Act as an advocate for health and safety and good working practices where needed.
• Support the SEO to complete quarterly, 6 monthly and annual health & safety performance returns to both MOJ and the RCJ Estates Team.
• Train as a Fire warden within the Judicial Office, respond to fire evacuations and act as an advocate for fire safety where needed.

Infrastructure

• Oversee and quality assure the EO delivering BAU infrastructure projects.

Skills and qualifications

You will receive extensive on-the-job training, with the potential to gain professional qualifications through formal learning and development opportunities.

Essential skills

• A track record of influencing and delivering through others
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with experience engaging a wide range of stakeholders at all levels
• Strong IT and organisational skills, with the ability to manage projects effectively, manage budgets, prioritise, and deliver cost-effective solutions
• Creative and solutions-focused, with a commitment to delivering high-quality services
• A proactive, can-do approach, with the ability to work at pace during busier periods

Desirable skills

• Experience of corporate Health & Safety work, ideally supported by relevant qualifications
• Knowledge of procurement processes
• Line management experience

Assessment

This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess the Behaviours and Experience elements.

Application stage:

The Behaviours tested at application stage will be:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making effective decisions
• Delivering at pace
• Managing a quality service

You will also be asked to provide information within the ‘Employer/ Activity history’ section of the application form. This is equivalent to the information you would provide on a CV, setting out your career history. This will be used in the sifting process but it will not be scored. Feedback will not be provided at this stage.

Interview stage:

All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on (Success Profiles) Behaviours and Strengths, with reference to your Experience and the Essential Criteria for the role. The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be:

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making effective decisions
• Delivering at pace

There will also be a short presentation task prior to the interview taking place.