Skip to content
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 £58,511 - £65,329, London salary range is £63,343 - £70,725. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
17-Jul-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 7
Number of jobs available
2
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
19300

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Grade 7 x2 – Head of Resourcing, Operational Delivery (Prisons) Head of Resourcing Operational Delivery (Probation) 

Location: National

Contract: Permanent

Role Purpose

The Head of Resourcing, Operational Delivery (Prisons) and Head of Operational Delivery (Probation) provides strategic and operational leadership for the recruitment, onboarding and resourcing of the prison and probation workforce. The role is accountable for delivering national recruitment outcomes against workforce requirements, improving time to hire, enhancing candidate quality and experience, and ensuring recruitment activity supports prison and probation operational stability.

These are demanding roles and will require close collaboration across People & Capability Group’s leadership team.  You will need to have the skills to lead, manage and inspire a multi-disciplinary, national team working with agility to meet the flexing and rapid recruitment demands of the operational business.

Key Responsibilities - Head of Resourcing, Operational Delivery (Prisons)

  • Lead national prisons resourcing strategies, translating operational workforce needs into deliverable recruitment plans.
  • Assess and review campaign performance to identify continuous improvements that drive better candidate experience, reduced time to hire and quality candidate retention through the recruitment process whilst ensuring compliance with Civil Service Recruitment Principles.
  • Work closely with prison governors, operational leaders and senior stakeholders to align resourcing activity with regional and local priorities.
  • Lead and develop resourcing teams, setting clear direction and performance expectations.
  • Manage delivery risks, dependencies and staffing pressures, escalating with clear mitigations.
  • Use data and insight to inform decisions, track performance, improve outcomes and provide assurance to senior leaders and ministers.
  • Establish clear expectations with outsourced partners, transparently holding them to account for delivery outcomes, compliance and value for money.
  • Represent prisons resourcing in senior governance forums, national trade union negotiations and ministerial discussions.

Key Responsibilities – Head of Resourcing, Operational Delivery (Probation)

  • Lead probation resourcing and recruitment strategies aligned to workforce demand and service delivery priorities.
  • Oversee end-to-end recruitment performance, including attraction, selection, vetting and onboarding.
  • Work in partnership with probation regions, senior leaders and workforce planning colleagues.
  • Lead and support teams through periods of change and operational pressure
  • Provide high-quality advice and assurance to senior leaders on recruitment risks and mitigations.
  • Leverage data and organisational insights to guide design, delivery, track performance, and highlight risks and dependencies for strategic impact
  • Lead improvements in the candidate journey, processes, and systems to reduce hiring time and improve candidate retention, while ensuring compliance with Civil Service Recruitment Principles.
  • Represent probation resourcing in governance, taskforces and senior stakeholder forums.

Person Specification

  • Proven experience of leading complex, highvolume recruitment and onboarding activity at pace, including managing competing operational priorities and delivery risk.
  • Demonstrable experience of working closely with operational leaders (e.g. regional or sitebased leaders) to translate workforce demand into deliverable resourcing plans.
  • Experience of providing assurance, advice and insight to senior leaders and governance forums on recruitment performance, risks and mitigations.
  • Track record of leading and developing multidisciplinary teams through periods of change, pressure and organisational transition.

Skills and Abilities

  • Strong strategic and operational judgement, with the ability to see the big picture while maintaining grip on detailed delivery.
  • Demonstrates outstanding stakeholder management and influencing capabilities, evidenced by a proven history of establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships across a wide range of stakeholders, including effective engagement at Senior Leadership Team and ministerial levels.
  • Highly developed analytical and decisionmaking capability, using data and insight to inform priorities, improve performance and assure outcomes.
  • Demonstrated capability to lead high-quality delivery in a sensitive operational environment, effectively balancing urgency with assurance and a positive candidate experience.
  • Ability to drive innovation, change and process improvement in recruitment delivery
  • Strong communication skills, able to convey complex information clearly and credibly to a range of audiences.

Success Profiles

Leadership – Provides clear direction, builds strong teams, and rolemodels inclusive, valuesbased leadership.  

Delivering at Pace – Drives momentum and performance in highpressure environments, adapting quickly to changing priorities.

Communicating and Influencing – Builds confidence and trust with senior stakeholders, influencing decisions and outcomes.

Seeing the Big Picture – Understands how resourcing activity supports wider operational stability, transformation and organisational priorities.

Application process

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

Sift

At the sift stage you will be assessed against Behaviours and Experience.

Please provide examples of how you meet each of the Behaviours listed below, at Grade 7 level:

  • Leadership (lead Behaviour)
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Seeing the Big Picture

Please also refer to the 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

Experience assessed will be via CV, and Statement of Suitability (500 word limit) explaining your suitability for the post and how you meet the person specification outlined in the job description.

Should we receive a large number of applications, we may carry out the initial sift on the lead Behaviour only.

Candidates invited to Interview

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

  • Leadership (lead Behaviour)
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Seeing the Big Picture 

There will be a short presentation on the following:

You have been appointed as Head of Resourcing, Operational Delivery for either Prisons or Probation.  Six months into post, workforce shortages are impacting operational delivery and recruitment performance.

Please set out how you would approach the next 12 months to stabilise recruitment and improve outcomes, covering:

  • your priorities in balancing operational pressures
  • how you would use data to drive decisions and monitor performance
  • how you would work with senior leaders and delivery partners
  • how you would manage risk while maintaining candidate experience and compliance 

Interview dates TBC 

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: 19300

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference: 19300

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Leadership, 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
Leadership
Delivering at Pace
Seeing the Big Picture
Communicating and Influencing
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please explain how you meet the person specification for this role providing examples where appropriate.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
TBC
Behaviours
Leadership
Delivering at Pace
Seeing the Big Picture
Communicating and Influencing
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.

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation
Level of security checks required
Counter Terrorism Check (CTC)

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.