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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 £35,335 - £37,847, London salary range is £40,014- £42,859. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
05-Jun-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
17839

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

About the Department

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is a major government department, working to protect and advance the principles of justice. One of the largest government departments, we employ around 70,000 people, with an annual budget of approximately £9 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK – including at around 500 courts and tribunal centres, and 123 prisons in England and Wales. We are making a difference, and you could be part of it.


About the Team

The MoJ Departmental Operations Centre (DOC) leads corporate business continuity, resilience and incident/crisis management and response work across the MoJ, providing support to agencies and ALBs/NDPBs, and working with the centre of government to fulfil departmental requirements.

Through our work we aim to make the department more resilient to shocks and unforeseen events, ensuring that where they cannot be prevented, the department has the necessary plans and preparations in place to safeguard the continuity of critical business, and the necessary skilled resource and processes to run comprehensive incident and crisis response.

We operate in an environment in which we invest in staff through learning and development, promoting health and wellbeing, and putting the individual first.​ Everything we do is underpinned by an open and inclusive culture, within which staff feel confident in bringing their whole selves to work. Continuous improvement, innovation, and constructive challenge are both sought and encouraged.

This role sits within the Corporate Business Continuity & Resilience Team, specifically contributing to the DOC Assurance function. The Assurance Team plays a key role in:

  • Providing independent validation of business continuity arrangements across MoJ
  • Driving continuous improvement through structured assurance, reporting, and recommendations
  • Ensuring alignment with internal standards and external best practice (e.g. BCI Good Practice Guidelines)
  • Supporting senior leadership by providing insight into organisational resilience

The team works closely with operational colleagues across prisons, courts, probation, and HQ functions, as well as directly supporting ministers, the Permanent Secretary, and Executive Committee.

In addition to business-as-usual work, the team is trained to support the department’s response to live incidents and crises, often working alongside central government partners such as the Cabinet Office.

We are a highly engaged and supportive team that prioritises learning and development, wellbeing, and inclusion. We foster an open culture that encourages innovation, continuous improvement, and constructive challenge.

Job Description, Duties and Responsibilities

Purpose of role:

As a Assurance Officer, you will play a key role in strengthening organisational resilience by assessing, validating and improving business continuity arrangements across the Ministry of Justice.

You will:

·       Deliver assurance activity that tests the effectiveness and maturity of business continuity capability

·       Provide evidence-based insights and recommendations to drive improvement

·       Support the development of a strong, connected business continuity network

·       Contribute to wider DOC priorities, including incident response and resilience strategy

This role offers autonomy with opportunities to influence stakeholders and shape departmental resilience.


Responsibilities will include:

Business Continuity Assurance

·       Deliver MoJ business continuity assurance processes, conducting in-person and virtual assurance visits to assess compliance and robustness across business areas, reporting against internal and external standards (e.g. BCI Good Practice Guidelines)

·       Design and deliver validation exercises (discussion-based and scenario-driven) as part of assurance visits, capturing good practice and identifying recommendations for improvement

·       Produce high-quality assurance reports with clear findings, risk-based recommendations, and actionable insights

·       Track and monitor implementation of recommendations, producing follow-up reports and maintaining accurate records of progress

·       Maintain accurate and auditable records of assurance activity and recommendation status

·       Review business continuity plans and work with business areas to identify improvements, strengthening plan quality and alignment with best practice

·       Commission and analyse the bi-annual self-assessment, identifying key themes and producing structured reports for stakeholders

·       Deliver training and guidance to improve business continuity capability across the department

·       Contribute to the continuous improvement of assurance methodologies, tools, and processes

Crisis/Incident Response

·       Provide support to the DOC and wider department during incidents and crises

·       Apply business continuity and resilience expertise in fast-paced, high-pressure situations

·       Participate in training and development, including access to the Cabinet Office crisis management training programme

Expectations of the post holder

·       Willingness to undertake national travel for assurance visits, exercises and team activities

·       Ability to obtain and maintain Security Clearance (SC)

Skills and Experience

Essential

·       Clear and effective written and verbal communication skills, including report writing

·       Ability to work independently and make risk-based decisions using available evidence

·       Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities

·       Analytical skills, with experience interpreting data to inform decisions and recommendations

·       Experience of working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders

Highly Desirable

·       Experience of working in assurance, audit, business continuity, resilience, or exercising environments

·       Ability to build and maintain professional networks to drive improvement

  • Experience engaging diverse audiences and encouraging participation
  • Understanding of risk, governance, and assurance frameworks
  • Awareness of how business continuity aligns to strategic organisational priorities

Prior business continuity experience is beneficial but not essential – full training and support will be provided.

Qualifications & Membership

The team will support the successful candidate in working towards gaining the Certificate of the Business Continuity Institute (CBCI).

Behaviours

  • Managing a quality service (Lead Behaviour)
  • Working together
  • Communicating and influencing
  • Making Effective Decisions
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). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

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: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

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.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours 

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ 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 MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits 

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.

Pension 

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

Training 

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

Networks 

The opportunity to join employee-run networks that have been established to provide advice and support and to enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed direct to senior management. There are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

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.

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:

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. 17839

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, 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
Managing a Quality Service
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
A Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words in support of your application explaining your suitability based on the detail within the Person Specification
Evidence of Experience
Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Expected Early June
Behaviours
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together
Communicating and Influencing
Making Effective Decisions
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
Security Clearance (SC)

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.