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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 £71,381 - £80,419, London salary range is £75,674 - £85,257. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
16-Sep-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 6
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
21761

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

These are exciting times at HM Court and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). As an agency of the MoJ, we support the judiciary across England and Wales to deliver justice by running courts and tribunals and processing outcomes, and we are looking for talented people to help us achieve our ambitions. It will be challenging, important and rewarding. 

Please follow the link below for further information about HMCTS. www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service 

About the role 

The Head of Capital Planning will lead HMCTS's capital planning function, translating the long-term Estates Strategy into a coherent programme of regional estate planning and capital investment priorities. The post will sit within the Estates Strategy, Planning and Performance Division in HMCTS Property Directorate and will report into the Deputy Director for Estates Strategy, Planning and Performance. The postholder will be responsible for developing, implementing and continually improving the Regional Delivery Planning framework, ensuring that strategic estate objectives are reflected in robust, evidence-based and financially sustainable plans across all HMCTS regions. 

Operating at the intersection of estate strategy, capital investment and operational delivery, the role will provide strategic leadership for the development, maintenance and governance of Regional Delivery Plans. The postholder will work across HMCTS Property Directorate, Operations and the judiciary to identify future estate requirements, assess investment priorities, and develop estates plans that support the effective delivery of justice services whilst maximising value from the estate. 

This is a high-profile leadership role with responsibility for shaping a nationally significant planning function. The postholder will engage regularly with senior leaders, governance forums and the judiciary, providing expert advice, constructive challenge and strategic recommendations that influence the future direction of the HMCTS estate. 

Key Responsibilities 

  • Lead HMCTS's Capital Planning function, providing strategic direction for long-term estate investment across the HMCTS estate.  
  • Develop and maintain the Regional Delivery Planning framework, ensuring plans reflect organisational priorities, operational needs and future demand for court and tribunal services. 
  • Oversee the development, delivery and regular refresh of Regional Delivery Plans across all HMCTS regions.  
  • Shape the strategic capital pipeline, advising on investment priorities, project sequencing and long-term estate decisions.  
  • Lead development of costed regional estate plans, providing the evidence base for Spending Reviews, business planning and other fiscal events.  
  • Provide strategic advice on affordability, value for money and investment trade-offs to support effective decision-making.  
  • Work closely with Capital Projects, Asset Management and operational colleagues to ensure investment decisions support agreed regional strategies and maximise value for HMCTS.  
  • Build strong relationships with senior operational leaders, Regional Delivery Directors and judicial stakeholders to develop consensus on future estate priorities.  
  • Represent the Capital Planning function at senior governance forums, providing expert advice, challenge and recommendations to inform investment and estate decisions.  
  • Resolve complex and competing priorities, balancing operational requirements, investment needs and long-term strategic objectives.  
  • Lead the development of submissions, briefings and recommendations for senior leaders, governance forums and the Executive Team.  
  • Develop and lead the Capital Planning team (including line management of 1 G7, with the possibility of further line management) and contribute to the wider leadership of the Estates Strategy, Planning and Performance Division and HMCTS Property Directorate. 

Note the post holder is required to work in a flexible way and undertake any other duties reasonably requested by line management which are commensurate with the grade and level of responsibility of this post. 

Person Specification 

The ideal candidate for this position should demonstrate:  

Essential Criteria: 

  • Experience of leading strategic planning or complex programmes of work in a large and complex organisation, translating long-term objectives into deliverable plans and priorities. 
  • Ability to build strong relationships and influence senior stakeholders across organisational boundaries, achieving outcomes through collaboration, negotiation and partnership working. 
  • Experience of developing strategic frameworks, business plans or investment proposals that have informed organisational decision-making and prioritisation. 
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex information from multiple sources and develop clear, evidence-based recommendations. 
  • Strong commercial and financial awareness, including the ability to assess affordability, value for money, investment priorities and the financial implications of strategic decisions. 
  • Proven leadership experience, including developing high-performing teams, leading through ambiguity and driving delivery in a complex environments. 

Desirable Criteria 

  • Experience of estates strategy and planning, infrastructure investment, operational planning or a related field. 

Application process: 

This role will be recruited using the Success Profiles framework during the sift and interview process.  

Application Stage 

Please submit: 

  • An anonymised CV. Please ensure your CV is uploaded in a simple format to prevent any formatting issues when it's downloaded or reviewed. 

Your CV should: 

  • Be succinct and clear 
  • Be uploaded in a simple format to prevent any formatting issues when it's downloaded or reviewed. 
  • Be factually accurate – you must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV and statement of suitability 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. 
  • Include your relevant experience, providing dates. 
 
  • Statement of Suitability demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria (up to 1000 words). 

Your Statement of Suitability should be no more than 1000 words and should give us real life examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role. This is an opportunity to add depth to the best evidence in your CV. Consider addressing particular points in the person specification requirements and key responsibilities. We recommend following the STAR format. 

The sift will be conducted on the basis of CV and the Statement of Suitability. 

Interview stage 

If you are successful at sift, you will be invited to attend a remote interview, via Microsoft Teams. 

 

The interview will consist of: 

  • A short 5-minute presentation, followed by questions from the panel. The presentation brief will be sent to you in advance. 
 
  • Questions in relation to your experience against the essential criteria, and the Civil Service Success profiles. 
 

Further information 

Travel requirements 

There will be a requirement to travel frequently to any HMCTS site in line with business needs.  

Opportunities for development 

HMCTS is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities, such as Government Property Profession Core Accreditation for Property & Construction Project Management (GPP Career Framework) 

Reserve List: 

HMCTS run a Reserve List, where candidates who are unsuccessful at interview by only a few points, can be offered other roles, at the same band, for up to 12 months. You will be able to view your status via the application screen. If you have been added to the Reserve List, your status will show either Merit or Reserve list.

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 21761

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

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability
Experience Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Your Statement of Suitability should be no more than 1000 words and should give us real life examples of how your skills and experience match those needed for this role. This is an opportunity to add depth to the best evidence in your CV. Consider addressing particular points in the person specification requirements and key responsibilities. We recommend following the STAR format.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Interviews expected w/c 5th October but this could be subject to change.
Experience
Your Experience for this role will be assessed at interview. To learn more about Experience and how they are assessed please click here.
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Experience Questions

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation
Level of security checks required
DBS Basic
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.