Group/Directorate/Team: Judicial Office / Judicial HR Operations

Roles covered: Appointments & Admin Manager HEO

Summary of the role

These roles sit within Judicial HR Operations and support the senior judiciary and the Lord Chancellor in the delivery of judicial office holder appointments, onboarding, in-post changes and offboarding activity across the courts, tribunals and magistracy. Role holders provide accurate, timely and high-quality advice, manage or contribute to complex workflows, maintain effective stakeholder relationships, and help ensure that appointments and related processes are delivered consistently, professionally and in line with approved guidance. Depending on the specific role, there may be responsibility for team management, leadership appointments, complex appointments, statutory consultation, deployment papers, magistrates’ onboarding, offboarding activity, public announcements, honours work and operational support to recruitment campaigns.

Responsibilities, activities and duties

• Provide support and advice to the senior judiciary, the Lord Chancellor and other stakeholders on judicial office holder appointments and related HR operations activity.

• Manage or support appointment, onboarding, in-post changes and offboarding processes, ensuring work is accurate, timely, sensitive and aligned with approved templates, guidance and governance requirements.

• Manage and develop staff, allocate work, monitor performance and support individual and team development.

• Recognise and address management issues promptly and effectively, applying the correct HR principles and escalating where appropriate.

• Identify and maintain appropriate quality standards, and ensure regular quality assurance is carried out.

• Lead or contribute to specific areas of work such as leadership appointments, complex appointments, statutory consultation, deployment papers, magistrates’ appointments activity, public announcements, swearing-in arrangements, honours work, resignations, retirements, long service and related casework.

• Work collaboratively with internal and external partners, including Judicial Office colleagues, HMCTS, MoJ, JAC, private offices, the Judicial College and members of the judiciary.

• Support the planning and delivery of recruitment and appointments activity, including scrutiny of papers, approvals, stakeholder engagement and follow-up actions.

• Maintain accurate records and contribute to effective records management, filing systems and use of HR systems and databases.

• Review, draft or quality assure submissions, briefings and correspondence so that advice is clear, concise and evidence-based.

• Contribute to continuous improvement, service development, service standards and the effective use of management information.

• Provide flexible cover across related work areas to support business continuity and a seamless service across Judicial HR Operations.

Essential knowledge, experience and skills

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to draft clearly and engage confidently with stakeholders at all levels, including senior members of the judiciary.

• Management experience, or the ability to lead others, where required by the specific role.

• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities and changing workloads.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality, with sound judgement, analytical ability and confident decision-making.

• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

• Ability to identify improvements and contribute to better ways of working.

• Strong IT skills, including confidence using Word, Excel, Outlook and relevant systems or databases.

• Professionalism, resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure.

Desirable knowledge, experience and skills

• Knowledge of the work of the judiciary and the wider justice system.

• Experience of working with judicial office holders or senior stakeholders in a complex operational environment.

• Experience of using management information, service standards or performance measures to improve delivery.