Skip to content

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
19373

Descriptions & requirements

Job description
The Role

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 the Professional Delivery Group, you will lead the c.300-375 project delivery professionals, who are then assigned to projects and programmes across the Ministry of Justice and its agencies. 
Your key challenge will be to provide sufficient project delivery professionals. We need to ensure that our teams are diverse, and our climate is inclusive, so that we reflect the society we serve. You will be a people person, with a passion for Project Delivery, and be able to negotiate with and influence your key clients: SROs and Project/Programme Directors. 

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 
  • Be accountable for the leadership of four/five clusters totalling c.300-375 FTE project delivery professionals in PDF's Professional Delivery Group. 
  • Drive delivery of projects and programme through the line, with effective first line controls, ensuring project delivery best practice and compliance with Functional Standards on a 'comply or explain' basis. 
  • Enable an increase in capability of the Project Delivery professionals in your clusters through the provision of courses, learning opportunities, professional accreditation and Chartership, in accordance with the Project Delivery Capability Framework.
  • Ensure effective resourcing of project and programmes based on capability and fully recharged, efficient recruitment and onboarding, robust workforce planning and demand forecasting, and oversee PD consultancy and Contingent Labour contracts to minimise external spend. 
  • Ensure the successful implementation and embedding of the Transformation Plan to deliver its outcomes and cultural change to improve project performance, embed best practice and enable improvements in resourcing and capability. 
  • Engage with SROs across the department and with other senior stakeholders to ensure robust demand forecasting, resource provision and professional support and build strong relationships with senior stakeholder in NISTA and across Government. 
  • 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 compliance with functional standards, capability and resourcing. 
  • 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:
  • Proven success in leading projects and the delivery of Project Delivery services (leadership, resourcing, and development of Project Delivery professionals) in an environment of similar scale and complexity.
  • Exercise sound judgment in providing strategic advice, constructive challenge and support to the business in the field of Project Delivery and Project Delivery services.
  • Build strong stakeholder relationships at all levels and navigate politically sensitive and complex issues and negotiations.
  • Work seamlessly across boundaries, collaborating with and drawing on resources from across MoJ, Government and externally.
  • Experience of developing high performing teams and providing inspirational leadership, with strong communication and engagement. 
  • Experience in Human Resources policies and practices. 
  • Passion for developing the Project Delivery profession across Government. This is a high-profile role at an exciting period in the development of the Project Delivery Function in the Ministry of Justice.
Desirable Experience:

Hold Project Delivery qualifications or be willing to work towards them (e.g. PRINCE2, APM PMQ, Chartered Project Professional, Project Delivery Accreditation).

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:

• Proven success in leading projects and the delivery of Project Delivery services (leadership, resourcing, and development of Project Delivery professionals) in an environment of similar scale and complexity.
• Exercise sound judgment in providing strategic advice, constructive challenge and support to the business in the field of Project Delivery and Project Delivery services.
• Build strong stakeholder relationships at all levels and navigate politically sensitive and complex issues and negotiations.
• Work seamlessly across boundaries, collaborating with and drawing on resources from across MoJ, Government and externally.
• Experience of developing high performing teams and providing inspirational leadership, with strong communication and engagement.
• Experience in Human Resources policies and practices.
• Passion for developing the Project Delivery profession across Government. This is a high-profile role at an exciting period in the development of the Project Delivery Function in the Ministry of Justice.

Desirable Experience:
• Hold Project Delivery qualifications or be willing to work towards them (e.g. PRINCE2, APM PMQ, Chartered Project Professional, Project Delivery Accreditation).

PLEASE NOTE:

In the event we receive a high volume of applications, we will conduct the initial sift against the following lead criteria:

• **Proven success in leading projects and the delivery of Project Delivery services (leadership, resourcing, and development of Project Delivery professionals) in an environment of similar scale and complexity.**
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
28th August 2026
Behaviours
Leadership
Managing a Quality Service
Communicating and Influencing
Developing Self and Others
Working Together
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.