JOB DESCRIPTION

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. Strong and representative public bodies and public appointments are a priority for Ministers and senior departmental leadership, with a strong focus on improving delivery, 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 Head of Public Bodies Partnerships and Reviews, you will lead the Ministry of Justice's strategic approach to sponsorship, governance and assurance across its public bodies portfolio. You will provide leadership to the Sponsorships and Partnerships team within the Public Bodies Centre of Expertise and act as the departmental champion for the sponsorship profession, driving continuous improvement across the sponsorship community.

The role is central to maintaining the golden thread between public bodies' statutory purposes, strategic objectives and organisational performance, and the Department's priorities. You will ensure the department operates a risk-based, proportionate, outcomes-focused sponsorship model, aligned with the Cabinet Office Arm’s Length Body Sponsorship Code of Good Practice, and provide assurance to the Principal Accounting Officer. Through effective sponsorship, assurance and constructive challenge, you will help to ensure public bodies are well-governed, financially sustainable and effective organisations that deliver value for money and contribute directly to justice outcomes.

You will lead the department's programme of public body reviews and wider sponsorship reform activity. Working closely with senior leaders across government, public body Chairs and Chief Executives, and senior sponsors you will drive continuous improvement across the public bodies landscape.

Main Activities / Responsibilities

The postholder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:

• Champion the Ministry of Justice's sponsorship profession and act as the departmental centre of expertise for sponsorship, governance and public body accountability, providing strategic advice and challenge to senior leaders.

• Provide strategic oversight and assurance across the public bodies portfolio, ensuring strong governance, performance, financial sustainability and alignment with departmental priorities.

• Own departmental reporting for public bodies, and identify and escalate significant risks, emerging issues and cross-cutting themes, providing assurance to Ministers, the Permanent Secretary, Directors General and Senior Sponsors.

• Lead the department's programme of public body reviews and wider sponsorship reform activity, driving improvements in governance, effectiveness, efficiency, accountability and value for money.

• Build strong relationships with public body Chairs, boards and Chief Executives, Senior Sponsors, Cabinet Office and other senior stakeholders to support effective sponsorship, organisational performance and system leadership.

• Build sponsorship capability across the department through professional standards, guidance, learning and communities of practice.

Travel Requirements

Occasional travel to other Government offices within the UK may be required.

Essential Criteria

• Significant leadership experience of public bodies sponsorship or corporate governance and assurance within a large organisation or portfolio.

• An inclusive leader with a proven ability to inspire teams to deliver to a high standard, manage competing pressures and drive continuous improvement.

• Strong interpersonal and collaborative skills, with experience of operating credibly with senior stakeholders to provide confident support and constructive challenge.

• Strong strategic thinking and communication skills, with the ability to identify the main issues in complex problems, clarify technical concepts and resolve challenges.

Desirable Criteria

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.

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.

Sift

Experience

• You will be asked to provide an anonymised CV during the application process in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.

• You will also be asked to upload a Statement of Suitability of no more than 1000 words stating what you would bring to the role, with reference to the Essential Criteria listed above.

Behaviours

Please provide 250-word examples of how you have met each of the behaviours below:

• Leadership (lead behaviour)

• Seeing the big picture

• Working together

• Developing self and others

Please refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details, including by grade:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-profiles-civil-service-behaviours#why-we-assess-behaviours

If we receive a large number of applications, we will carry out an initial sift on the lead behaviour of Leadership.

Candidates invited to Interview

Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely via MS Teams.

During the interview, we will be assessing you on Behaviours (listed below) Strengths from the Success Profiles framework and a short presentation.

• Leadership (lead behaviour)

• Seeing the big picture

• Working together

• Developing self and others

Presentation

As part of the interview process, you will also be asked to give a 5-minute presentation. The topic/question will be shared in advance with candidates invited to interview to allow time to prepare.

If you would like to know more about the role, please contact Claire Barcham at claire.barcham@justice.gov.uk.