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General Information

Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
19-Jul-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SCS 1
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
19372

Descriptions & requirements

Job description
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is a leading Project Delivery Department in Government. We build new prisons, transform the justice system and upgrade IT technologies. 

As Head of Project Assurance and Governance, you will lead on delivering and strengthening assurance, project governance and corporate oversight across the Project Delivery Function.  

Your key challenge will be to ensure robust delivery confidence, effective application of Project Delivery Functional Standards and strategic insight in an increasingly complex and high-profile delivery environment. You will be a passionate and credible Project Delivery leader, able to influence at senior levels, build strong relationships across complex stakeholder groups and lead high-performing teams. 

This is a unique opportunity to work at the heart of the MoJ, directly contributing to the successful delivery of one of the largest and broadest portfolios across Government. We welcome applications from high-calibre individuals who can build and lead a high performing and inclusive team, and work with a wide range of stakeholders to deliver and add value.

Key Responsibilities

Reporting into the Chief Project Delivery Officer you will:
  • Be accountable for second-line assurance services and ensure co-ordination of effective second-line representation on MoJ's project, programme and portfolio boards, MoJ's project governance and Departmental sub-committees.  
  • Lead the delivery of Keyholder, Gateway and Functional Maturity Reviews across the MoJ to assess strength of controls in line with the Functional Standards, including an annual capability assessment, and provide expertise to NISTA on project assurance and continuous improvement. 
  • Lead the PDF’s input and function’s perspective at Departmental sub-Committees.
  • Provide an overview of the Departmental governance forward look and manage the flow of information between project boards, oversight committees and assurance forums, providing an independent functional view of project performance. 
  • Accountable for PDF's Business and Corporate services and provide oversight of MoJ Corporate Assurance activities, including tracking delivery of the PDF Business Plan and Transformation Plan, and the development of the Function Strategy, ensuring alignment with departmental and wider cross-government initiatives.
  • Engage with SROs across the department and with other senior stakeholders to ensure robust third-line assurance and provide advice and support to SROs and Governance Groups about the appropriate application of the Department’s governance and control framework. 
  • Deliver PDF Objectives, Business/ Transformation Plan outcomes, Outcomes & Key Results (OKRs) and Key Performance Indicator (KPI) targets as a joint endeavour and specifically those relating to the quality of Integrated Assurance and Approval Plans and project requirements for assurance reviews.  
  • Collaborate with the other members of the Senior Leadership Team, bringing your perspective from your area of expertise and responsibilities to produce a cohesive and collective functional view, represented effectively at Departmental Committees and senior boards. 
  • Respond effectively to changing Departmental priorities. 
  • Effectively lead a geographically dispersed team.
Collective Responsibilities

You will work collaboratively with the Senior Leadership Team and have collective responsibility for key areas of delivery to successfully deliver our shared outcomes. This shared responsibility is required to ensure accurate insights into project performance, adherence to professional standards, resource prioritisation and delivery of business and Transformation Plan priorities.

Essential Experience:

NB: In the event we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct the initial sift against the following lead criteria in bold:
  • **Experience of delivering Project Delivery assurance and governance in large, complex environments, with a strong understanding of PD assurance frameworks, controls and effective governance**.
  • Credibility in advising and influencing senior stakeholders, including SROs and Departmental Governance Boards, providing constructive challenge and clear insight into delivery confidence, risk and performance.
  • Strong understanding and practical application of Project Delivery. Functional Standards and best practice. 
  • Proven success in leading high-performing teams. 
  • Excellent stakeholder engagement and collaboration skills, with the ability to navigate complex environments, build relationships and influence senior stakeholders within and outside the department.
Additional Information

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.


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.


Contact Information
If you require any assistance please contact us on scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk. Please quote the job reference in your email to enable us to support you more quickly.

Application form stage assessments

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
It is important that in your statement and CV you give evidence and examples of proven experience of each of the essential and desirable criteria below:

Essential Experience:

• Experience of delivering Project Delivery assurance and governance in large, complex environments, with a strong understanding of PD assurance frameworks, controls and effective governance.
• Credibility in advising and influencing senior stakeholders, including SROs and Departmental Governance Boards, providing constructive challenge and clear insight into delivery confidence, risk and performance.
• Strong understanding and practical application of Project Delivery. Functional Standards and best practice.
• Proven success in leading high-performing teams.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and collaboration skills, with the ability to navigate complex environments, build relationships and influence senior stakeholders within and outside the department.

Desirable Experience:

Hold Project Delivery Qualifications, or be willing to work towards them (e.g. Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner, Managing Portfolios Practitioner, Chartered Project Professional, Major Projects Leadership Academy).

PLEASE NOTE:

In the event we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct the initial sift against the following lead criteria:
• Experience of delivering Project Delivery assurance and governance in large, complex environments, with a strong understanding of PD assurance frameworks, controls and effective governance.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
27th August
Leadership
Seeing the Big Picture
Working Together
Delivering at Pace
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.

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation, SEE
Level of security checks required
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.