Head of Additional Funding Policy

Grade 7

Legal Aid and Legal Support Policy Directorate

The Legal Aid and Legal Support Directorate is recruiting permanently for a Grade 7 Head of Additional Funding Policy Lead role. There could be a second post available but at the point of advertising this could not be confirmed.

This campaign is open to current civil servants on level transfer and suitable candidates on promotion.

Candidates are reminded that to be eligible for this campaign; you must still be employed as a civil servant at the point of accepting the role. If you resign or your FTA contract ends before you are made and accept an offer, you will become ineligible and you will be withdrawn from the process.

Location:

Successful candidates will have the option to be based at one of the following locations:

• 102 Petty France, London

• 5 Wellington Place, Leeds

Occasional travel between the two locations may be required. We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your base location (102 Petty France or 5 Wellington Place Leeds).

Ways of Working

At the MoJ we believe and promote alternative ways of working, these roles are available as:

• Full-time, part-time or the option to job share

• Flexible working patterns

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

Salary

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.  

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

The Work of the Additional Funding Team

The Additional Funding Team sits at the centre of one of the Ministry of Justice's top priorities: securing sustainable funding for critical justice services and helping ensure access to justice.

We are responsible for developing innovative and creative funding mechanisms that can generate significant new investment for departmental priorities, including legal aid and wider legal support services. Our work directly supports the Ministry's mission to improve access to justice, helping people obtain the support and advice they need to resolve legal problems and navigate the justice system effectively.

Our flagship programme is the design, legislation and implementation of a new scheme to unlock funding from interest generated on legal client accounts. This is a complex, high-profile reform that offers a rare opportunity to shape policy from primary legislation through to implementation. The successful candidates will play a leading role in developing and delivering primary and secondary legislation, establishing new operational arrangements, and creating a sustainable funding stream that will have a lasting impact on the justice system.

The team works closely with colleagues across the Ministry of Justice, including Legal, Analytical, Strategic Finance and other policy teams, as well as major partners across government, particularly HM Treasury and often briefing to the highest levels of government. We also engage with external stakeholders, including financial institutions, regulators, legal representative bodies and law firms.

This is a fast-paced and intellectually stimulating environment where no two days are the same. Team members are expected to tackle complex policy challenges, navigate ambiguity, build influential relationships, and drive progress in an area of significant ministerial and senior official interest. The roles offer a unique opportunity to influence lasting, impactful policy at the heart of the justice system.

The team's work has the potential to benefit millions of people by strengthening access to justice and supporting some of the most vulnerable members of society. It also attracts significant interest from Ministers, Parliament, the legal sector and the wider justice community, making it an ideal role for someone seeking to broaden their experience and build a strong track record of delivering high-impact reform.

Alongside the challenge and opportunity, you will join a friendly, supportive and highly collaborative team. We pride ourselves on creating an environment where colleagues are trusted, developed and encouraged to lead. If you are looking for a role that combines strategic influence, policy innovation, legislative delivery and meaningful public impact, this is an exceptional opportunity to make your mark.

Head of Policy Development and Head of Policy Implementation and Legislation - the role(s)

Exact portfolios will be agreed on appointment. Together, the two G7s will be responsible for:

• Developing robust, evidence-based policy options and recommendations for senior officials and ministers,

• Legislation

  • Leading primary legislation, working closely throughout development with legal colleagues and to tight deadlines

  • Working in parallel, and at pace to develop secondary legislation, flexing to developments and decisions in primary legislation

• Designing practical, efficient and effective mechanisms to turn the policy into a workable system that maximises returns for the dept and minimises risk.

• Developing ways to test and challenge the system to manage legislative and delivery risks pre-launch

• Briefing senior leaders and Ministers on complex policy, delivery and progress.

• Building effective stakeholder relationships

  • Across MOJ functions, including legal, policy, analysts and strategic finance. We aim to take a ‘One Team’ approach involving them from the earliest stages of development, encouraging a culture of collaboration and joint working and inviting friendly challenge

  • Engaging strategically and building relationships with departments across government, regulators, legal firms, the banking sector, legal support bodies and other stakeholders

• Working with others to find creative and effective solutions to sometimes knotty and complex problems

• Leading on team planning, risk management and governance. Working as part of a wider programme of work, aligning and adapting work in a continually changing environment, thinking ahead and managing risks proactively.

• Leading teams of up to 5 people, coaching and getting the best out of every team member to maximise collective team delivery. Adapting to change, leading through ambiguity and creating an environment of transparency and psychological safety

Skills and Experience

The postholder will be able to demonstrate:

• Excellent strategic thinking, ability to see the big picture, and make connections across different areas, to agree a direction that aligns with wider departmental and team positions.

• Ability to translate strategic thinking into practical action and work with others to develop creative solutions to knotty problems.

• Ability to get up to speed quickly with a complex and technical area.

• Ability to proactively grip and drive forward work, including thinking ahead, delivering at pace and providing clarity and confidence to senior officials and Ministers in an ambiguous or rapidly changing context.

• Ability to take a proactive, programme-led approach to delivering work, with clear planning, defined scope, open and honest communication on progress and risks, and a willingness to invite feedback and challenge to improve outcomes

• Stakeholder engagement skills and a collaborative approach. Involving and discussing policy with wider colleagues from start. Ability to align with and work effectively across team boundaries and develop strong, long term relationships.

• Inclusive leadership skills, including the ability to support and develop a diverse team from different backgrounds to deliver their best.

• Excellent written communication and oral communication skills.

• Ability to work and lead well under pressure, maintaining a calm, collaborative style and ensuring the wellbeing of yourself and your team.

Desirable (not essential):

Experience of one or more of the following:

• Legislation - primary and/ or secondary

• Programme management techniques

• Finance or financial policy

• Knowledge of civil justice system and associated funding mechanisms

Additional Information

• If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.

• Candidates applying from HMPPS should note that the Ministry of Justice does not have the same conditions of employment as HMPPS. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful.

• The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description.

Application process

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

You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.

Experience

You will be asked to provide a CV during the application process 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 750 words stating what you would bring to the role, with reference to the Skills and Experience listed above.

Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.

Candidates invited to Interview

Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely.

At interview you will be assessed against behaviours where you will be asked to provide examples of how you have demonstrated them. In addition, you will also be asked strength-based questions.

Behaviours:

The following Behaviours will be tested at interview:

• Seeing the big picture

• Delivering at Pace

• Making effective decisions

• Communicating and influencing

It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:   

• WHO - What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? Or

• STAR - What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take?  What were the Results of your actions?

Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:

Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK

Strengths:

It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role. While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this. Further information on Civil Service Strengths can be found via this link Success Profiles: Strengths - GOV.UK

Interviews are expected to take place Sept 2026

Contact information  

Please do get in touch if you would like to know more about the role or what it is like working in our team. Alex Dawe (alex.dawe@justice.gov.uk), Cathryn Hannah (cathryn.hannah@justice.gov.uk )