JOB DESCRIPTION

Chief Operating Officer Group

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Group brings together core corporate services including finance, commercial and property. We provide the operational leadership and expertise that helps the department run effectively and deliver a justice system that serves the public.

Information about the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and its priorities can be found at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about

Finance

The role sits within the Finance function. MoJ operates a functional model for Finance, providing services to the department and most of its agencies and arm’s-length bodies through three Finance Directorates. This post sits in the Financial Management, Control, Risk and Governance Directorate, bringing teams together into centres of excellence to deliver high-quality financial management, governance and reporting.

About the Role

We’re recruiting a Head of the Grants Centre of Expertise (CoE) and Departmental Grants Champion to help shape how MoJ designs, manages and assures grant funding.

Our grant-making portfolio is around £300m a year and supports some of the most vulnerable people in society. We fund public, voluntary and charitable organisations that help victims of crime, litigants in person, and adults and young people in the justice system, in line with MoJ objectives.

The Grants Champion plays a key role in developing the MoJ Grants CoE and working with the Departmental Head of Grants Function and grant-making teams to improve efficiency, effectiveness and assurance. Alongside strengthening capacity and capability across the organisation, we need to ensure that the function stays agile and responsive to competing demands. You will need to be able to build a strong understanding of grant making across the department in order to provide timely advice on emerging issues. The role also has significant cross-government exposure, working with the Cabinet Office Government Grants Management Function (GGMF) and other departments to develop and embed grants policy, standards and professional practice.

Main Activities / Responsibilities

The job holder will be required to undertake the following:

• Lead the Grants CoE day-to-day, providing guidance and coaching a high-performing, collaborative team. Act as the department’s subject matter expert, advising grant-making teams and ensuring compliance with the Grants Functional Standard and Minimum Requirements.

• Work with the Departmental Head of Grants Function to drive grant efficiency across MoJ and its sponsored grant‑making public bodies.

• Support continuous improvement of grant processes and build grant capability and professionalism across the business, including leading the biennial assessment against the Grants Continuous Improvement Assessment Framework.

• Ensure smooth and timely operation of MoJ’s approvals processes for grant funding through management of the Grants Challenge and Assurance Panel.

• Be the key contact for the Cabinet Office Government Grants Management Function (GGMF): promote the grants profession, shape policy and capability offers through cross-government networks, and champion digital tools such as Spotlight, the Government Grants Management System (GGMS) and Find/Apply for a Grant.

• Maintain compliance with grant controls (including pipelines) and GGMF requirements. Ensure accurate and timely data input to the Government Grants Information System (GGIS), coordinate the annual GGIS transparency publication, and meet Cabinet Office memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and data standards, including deadlines for data uploads.

Management of Resources

Management of a small team of 5.

Essential Criteria

• Strong knowledge of grant making and governance, including the Grants Functional Standard.

• Proven ability to deliver high-quality outputs to tight deadlines in fast-paced, changing environments.

• Proven people leadership skills, including developing and motivating teams.

• Excellent interpersonal skills and a track record of building strong relationships with senior stakeholders.

• Experience working with internal and external audit and collaborating with other government departments.

Desirable Criteria

• Understanding of the public sector expenditure framework (e.g., Managing Public Money).

• Experience of project accounting.

• Experience leading a grants continuous improvement assessment.

• Finance and/or commercial knowledge.

Please note that whilst we don’t assess or score ‘desirable’ criteria, we may consider evidence provided that demonstrates meeting the desirable elements of the role, only after essential criteria is assessed and where there is a need to differentiate between closely scored candidates. 

Personal skills and attributes

You will be someone who:

• Leads with confidence, building high-performing teams and influential relationships.

• Uses data creatively to improve grant decisions, transparency and assurance.

• Is a credible, authentic leader who engages and motivates others to deliver results.

• Makes sound decisions, including when trade-offs are difficult, and takes accountability.

• Communicates clearly and persuasively with teams and stakeholders to achieve outcomes.

Application process

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

Sift

Experience

Please submit an anonymous copy of your CV.

Please submit a statement of suitability in 750 words which includes how you meet the responsibilities and essential criteria of the role and your experience of grant making.

Behaviours

Please provide examples of how you have met each of the behaviours (or list other criteria) below:

• Leadership

• Working Together

• Managing a Quality Service

• Seeing the Big Picture

Please refer to the Civil Service (CS) Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf

If we receive a large number of applications, we will carry out an initial sift on the lead criteria of Leadership.

Candidates invited to Interview

Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely via MS Teams. During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours and Strengths from the Success Profiles framework.

• Leadership

• Working Together

• Managing a Quality Service

• Seeing the Big Picture

We will also ask you to deliver a 5-minute presentation - details will be provided to candidates successful at sift.

Contact for information: Joan Lewis (joan.lewis@justice.gov.uk)