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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 £42,914 - £46,182, London salary range is £49,325 - £53,081. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
22-Jul-2026
Post Type
Fixed Term, Detached Duty, Loan
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
19838

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)

MoJ is the largest government department, employing over 90,000 people with a budget of approximately £10 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.

Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

Public Bodies Directorate

The Public Bodies and Public Appointments Directorate sits at the heart of the Ministry of Justice, leading sponsorship and governance relationships and making appointments across one of the largest and most complex public bodies portfolios in Government. Our bodies deliver critical public-facing services spanning prisons, probation, youth justice, legal services, family justice, parole, criminal case review and wider constitutional and oversight functions.

This is a high-profile and exciting time to join the Directorate. Reform and strengthening of public bodies sponsorship and public appointments processes is a priority for Ministers and senior departmental leadership, with a strong focus on improving delivery, governance, diversity of representation and public confidence across the justice system.

The Directorate offers a unique opportunity to influence real-world outcomes by supporting excellent leadership, governance and accountability across some of the justice system's most important institutions.

We are a collaborative, supportive and high-performing team that works closely together to solve problems, navigate complexity and drive continuous improvement. We value creativity, sound judgement and strong relationships, and are proud to contribute to a justice system that serves the public effectively and fairly.

About the Role

As an SEO Sponsor, you will lead the day-to-day sponsorship relationship with one or more Public Bodies, supporting effective oversight, sound governance, and alignment with departmental priorities and the Cabinet Office Sponsorship Code.

You will provide risk-based insight on organisational performance, governance, and delivery, supporting senior colleagues to provide assurance to ministers and senior leaders. The role requires strong judgement, the ability to identify and escalate emerging risks and issues, and confidence in working across complex stakeholder environments.

Acting as a key interface between the department and Public Bodies, you will build effective relationships with Boards, senior executives, policy teams, and corporate functions to support accountability and delivery. You will coordinate assurance activity, monitor organisational performance, and support governance and compliance processes across your portfolio.

The role also includes supporting public appointments activity, contributing to board effectiveness, and helping to strengthen the department’s wider approach to sponsorship, governance, and continuous improvement.

Main Activities / Responsibilities

  •  Lead day-to-day sponsorship relationships with a portfolio of Public Bodies, supporting effective governance, accountability, and alignment with departmental priorities and the Cabinet Office Sponsorship Code.
  • Monitor organisational performance, governance, delivery, and risk, providing timely insight and escalating issues where appropriate.
  • Support the coordination and delivery of quarterly and bi-annual business assurance meetings, ensuring effective oversight of organisational performance, governance, and risk management.
  • Build and maintain effective working relationships with Public Bodies, including Boards, senior executives, policy teams, and corporate stakeholders.
  • Support the preparation of reporting, briefings, and assurance products for senior leaders and departmental governance forums.
  • Support public appointments activity by coordinating information and contributing insight on organisational priorities and governance needs.
  • Work collaboratively across the Public Bodies Centre of Expertise and wider department to share best practice and contribute to continuous improvement in sponsorship and assurance capability.

Management of Resources

  • This role does not currently include direct line management responsibility.

Essential Criteria

  • Experience of building effective relationships and influencing senior stakeholders, including Boards, senior executives, or corporate functions.
  • Experience of providing governance, assurance, or performance oversight within a complex organisational environment.
  • Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret governance, performance, risk, and organisational information, exercise sound judgement, identify emerging issues, and provide clear recommendations or advice.

Desirable Criteria

  • Experience of working with Public Bodies.
  • Experience of leading or coordinating assurance, performance, or risk management processes.
  • Knowledge of Cabinet Office Sponsorship Code, Managing Public Money, and public appointments processes.
  • Experience of contributing to senior governance forums or committees.

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.

Application process

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

Application stage

CV – please provide an anonymised copy

Statement of Suitability – Your statement of suitability will be used to assess how well you meet the essential criteria set out above. In your statement of suitability, please provide evidence of your experience of providing governance, assurance, or performance oversight within a complex organisational environment.  You should demonstrate strong strategic thinking, the ability to analyse complex information and risks, and experience of building effective relationships and influencing stakeholders

Behaviour - Please provide examples of how you have met the Behaviour – Making Effective Decisions (Lead Behaviour)

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using statement of suitability.

Feedback will not be provided at sift stage.

Interview stage

Interviews will be held virtually via MS Teams.

All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on Behaviours below:

  • Making Effective Decisions (Lead Behaviour)
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Working Together
  • Seeing The Big Picture
  • Communicating & Influencing

You will also be asked Strength based questions

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 19838

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

If you wish to find out more about the role, please contact David.Winks@justice.gov.uk

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Making Effective Decisions
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
Your statement of suitability will be used to assess how well you meet the essential criteria set out above. In your statement of suitability, please provide evidence of your experience of providing governance, assurance, or performance oversight within a complex organisational environment. You should demonstrate strong strategic thinking, the ability to analyse complex information and risks, and experience of building effective relationships and influencing stakeholders
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Not expected before 12th August 2026
Behaviours
Making Effective Decisions
Managing a Quality Service
Working Together
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.
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)

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.