Engagement Advisor

SEO

The Service, Strategy and Transformation Directorate is recruiting for an SEO Engagement Advisor on a Fixed Term basis for 12 months, with possibility of permanency for the right candidate. This campaign is being run externally and so is open to all who consider themselves suitable for the roles and meet the eligibility criteria in the wider advert within Civil Service Jobs.

Please note that if you are a current Civil Servant, you will be appointed on a Loan. If you are not a current Civil Servant, you will be offered a Fixed Term Contract.

Location:

Successful candidates will have the option to be based at one of the following locations:

• 102 Petty France, London

• National

We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your chosen base location.

Ways of Working

At the MoJ we believe and promote alternative ways of working, these roles are available as:

• Full-time, part-time or the option to job share

• Flexible working patterns

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

Salary

New entrants to the Civil Service should expect to join on the minimum of the pay range. 

If you are already a civil servant and are successful in an external recruitment competition for a role with us, your starting pay will be the better of:

• promotion terms or transfer terms, as appropriate; or

• pay on appointment arrangements (minimum of pay range)

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)

MoJ is the largest government department, employing over 90,000 people with a budget of approximately £10 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.

Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

About the Directorate

This role sits within the Service Strategy and Transformation (SS&T) directorate in the Service Transformation Group (STG).

STG leads the transformation of the services MoJ and its agencies deliver to the public. Our mission is to provide the best justice services in the world, powered by the happiest team in government.

The SS&T directorate works across STG and the wider MoJ to improve how justice services are designed and delivered, helping to achieve better outcomes for users and more effective delivery across complex systems.

The directorate includes several complementary functions: 

• Strategy: Bringing STG together to set a clear 3-5 year plan, align priorities and track progress. 

• Engagement: Telling the story of transformation - planning and delivering communications and engagement that builds understanding and support.

• Transformation Office: Running the transformation portfolio, supporting the DG-level committee, spotting risks and removing blockers. 

• Transformation Delivery: Helping teams deliver change end-to-end and sharing best practice, testing new ways of working and improving outcomes for users. 

• Product Transformation: Accelerating transformation through targeted innovation and product ways of working.

About the Engagement Advisor role

There are three roles available. You will be aligned to one area, with some opportunities to work across all three:

• Leading storytelling and engagement across the Ministry of Justice

• Supporting high-profile transformation priorities that shape the future of justice services

• Helping set the standard for engagement products and building capability across the organisation

Day-to-day responsibilities

This role would suit someone who can operate in a fast-paced environment, enjoys variety, and can deliver high-quality communications while building trusted relationships across a wide stakeholder landscape.

You will:

• Lead high-profile engagement workstreams that support SS&T and wider Service Transformation Group priorities

• Design and deliver targeted engagement that builds understanding of transformation and brings teams, agencies and senior stakeholders together

• Shape and deliver SS&T’s transformation narrative, turning complex activity into clear, compelling messages that resonate with senior audiences

• Build strong relationships across MoJ and its agencies to strengthen collaboration, influence decisions and support delivery

• Support engagement at key moments, including fiscal events, senior leadership discussions and major organisational communications

• Produce high-quality briefings, submissions and communications at pace for high-profile and fast-moving priorities

• Turn complex transformation into clear, accessible and actionable products

• Continuously improve engagement by seeking feedback and refining tools and approaches

This list is not exhaustive, and the post holder may be asked to undertake other duties within the scope and grade of the role.

To thrive in this role, you will bring:

• Proven experience in engagement, communications or stakeholder management, ideally in a complex organisation

• A strong track record of building trusted, effective relationships with a wide range of stakeholders

• The ability to prioritise effectively, manage competing demands, and communicate with confidence and credibility at senior levels

During the assessment process, you will be invited to demonstrate your technical skills and relevant experience.

Technical skills:

• Communicate with clarity, confidence and impact

• Present complex information in a concise, engaging and audience-focused way

• Demonstrate strong engagement and influencing skills

• Structure and deliver clear, purposeful messages

• Reflect thoughtfully on experience, contribution and learning

Essential experience:

• Experience delivering engagement, communications or stakeholder management activity in a complex organisation (Lead)

• Ability to build effective relationships with a range of stakeholders, including senior leaders and delivery partners (Lead)

• Ability to translate complex information into clear and engaging communications products

• Strong judgement, prioritisation and adaptability in managing competing demands

• Ability to tailor messages and engagement approaches to different audiences and contexts

• Collaborative approach, with the ability to work effectively across teams

• Experience supporting engagement linked to strategy, transformation, change or service improvement

• Confidence using Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel to produce clear and effective products

• Experience drafting for senior leaders or supporting high-profile or time-sensitive activity

The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description.

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.

We know candidates can use AI tools to help them prepare, but you should use them carefully. We can usually tell when AI has been overused. The best presentations feel genuine, show reflection, and make clear what the candidate did, learned and contributed.

You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application is truthful and factually accurate.

Experience

You will also be asked to provide a CV to demonstrate relevant experience, career history and achievements. This will not be assessed.

You will be asked to submit a statement of suitability of no more than 500 words, explaining what you would bring to the role with reference to the skills and experience listed above.

If we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily against the following lead criteria:

• Experience delivering engagement, communications or stakeholder management activity in a complex organisation (Lead)

• Ability to build effective relationships with a range of stakeholders, including senior leaders and delivery partners (Lead)

Successful applicants will then be invited through to the interview stage, where we will assess both technical skills and experience.

Candidates invited to interview

There will be a two-stage assessment process at interview stage.

Candidates who are successful at sift will be invited to attend the first stage interview (Interview 1).

Interview 1 (15 minutes)

Candidates will be invited to deliver a short presentation (5 minutes), followed by questions from the panel.

The presentation will provide candidates with an opportunity to demonstrate technical skills relevant to the role.

Short-listed candidates will receive the presentation prompt in advance of their interview.

Candidates may draw on examples from professional, voluntary or personal experience that they consider relevant.

Interview 2 (30 minutes)

Candidates who are successful at Interview 1 will then be invited to attend a 30-minute panel interview. This interview will explore in more detail how candidates meet the essential experience criteria for the role through experience-based questions.

Dates

Interview 1 is expected to take place in June.

Interview 2 is expected to take place in June.

Please note these dates are indicative and subject to change. Interviews will take place remotely.