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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £56,532 - £64,048, London salary range is £61,201 - £69,338. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
28-Feb-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 7
Number of jobs available
1
Job ID
3058

Descriptions & requirements

Job description
Senior Developer

Location: National*

Interviews (subject to change): w/c 24th March

Grade: 7

(MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain this grade on lateral transfer)

Salary (for more information, please refer to the T&Cs below):

London: £61,201 - £73,875 (which may include an allowance of up to £12,674) National: £56,532 - £69,150 (which may include an allowance of up to £12,618)

Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Contract Type: Permanent

*We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your local office. Office locations can be found ON THIS MAP

The Role We’re recruiting for a Senior Developer here at Justice Digital, to be part of our warm and collaborative LAA Digital team. For this role, we are looking for someone who has existing skills in PL/SQL and Oracle systems, but is interested in developing their skills in a modern programming language, such as Python or Java.

This role aligns against the Senior Developer role from the Government Digital and Data Framework.

About Us: 
At Justice Digital, we're dedicated to leveraging technology to drive impactful change across the justice system. As a Senior Software Developer, you'll play a pivotal role in enhancing access to justice and improving outcomes for offenders through innovative digital solutions. 
Responsibilities: 
You’ll collaborate closely with fellow developers on our diverse tech stack and embrace opportunities to learn new technologies and systems. We tailor team assignments to align with your skills, interests, and career aspirations. For instance: 
Collaboration: 
You’ll collaborate closely with user researchers, product managers, designers, delivery managers, technical architects, and content specialists who share our vision of leveraging technology to transform government services. 
Discover More: 
To help picture your life at MoJ Justice Digital please take a look at our blog and our Digital and Technology strategy 2025 Our Tech Stack 
Technologies: 
We use a diverse range of technologies, and we’re seeking individuals who specialise in one or more and are eager to learn new languages and frameworks. Our tech stack includes: 
  • Application Code: Ruby, Java, Python 
  • CI/CD: Circle CI, GitHub Actions 
  • Monitoring: Sentry 
  • Containerization: Kubernetes, Docker 
  • Cloud Infrastructure: AWS 
  • Web Interfaces: GOV.UK and MoJ Design Systems 
Front-End Development: 
We value a deep understanding of web technologies, emphasising semantic HTML, performant CSS, and JavaScript or TypeScript. Accessibility is a core consideration across all our services. 
Learning and Support: 
Once part of our team, we'll support you in mastering our tech stack, regardless of your current experience. Explore our GitHub for insights into our technologies and the services we develop and maintain. 
Our Community: 
Join over 150 experienced developers who form our vibrant engineering community across the MoJ. You’ll have opportunities to mentor junior colleagues and participate in informal support networks with peers. We encourage active engagement in shaping our engineering culture and community. 
Career Development: 
We take pride in our supportive and effective line management. Your skills are highly valued, and we’re committed to helping you expand them within the civil service. You'll have opportunities to move between teams or departments, explore new technologies, and take on increased responsibilities aligned with your career goals. 
Explore Further: 
Dive deeper into our work and culture by visiting our Developer Blog and Justice Digital Blog. 
Key Responsibilities 
As a Senior Software Developer, you will: 
Technical 
  • Securely design, build, and maintain APIs, services, and systems. 
  • Contribute to and enhance existing codebases. 
  • Improve the resilience and stability of software through best practices. 
  • Apply methodologies to facilitate continuous delivery. 
People 
  • Develop and mentor team members through line management responsibilities, both formally and informally. 
  • Support lead developers in cultivating high-performing teams. 
  • Foster a diverse, inclusive culture within the development community, promoting awareness, inclusivity, and equilibrium. 
If this feels like an exciting opportunity, something you are enthusiastic about, and want to join our team please read on and apply! 
Benefits 
  • 37 hours per week and flexible working options including working from home, working part-time, job sharing, or working compressed hours. 
  • A £1k per person learning budget is in place to support all our people, with access to best in class conferences and seminars, accreditation with professional bodies, fully funded vocational programmes and e-learning platforms 
  • Staff have 10% time to dedicate to develop & grow 
  • Generous civil service pension based on defined benefit scheme, with employer contributions of 28.97% from April 1st 2024 (Contribution Rates) 
  • 25 days leave (plus bank holidays) and 1 privilege day usually taken around the Kings’ birthday. 5 additional days of leave once you have reached 5 years of service. 
  • Compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave policies, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too! 
  • Wellbeing support including access to the Calm app. 
  • Bike loans up to £2500 and secure bike parking (subject to availability and location) 
  • Season ticket loans, childcare vouchers and eye-care vouchers. 
  • 5 days volunteering paid leave. 
  • Free membership to BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT. 
  • Some offices may have a subsidised onsite Gym. 
Person Specification 
Essential: 
  • Demonstrate proven experience of delivering large and complex software solutions, with a focus on MI (Management Information) systems. 
  • Proven experience building and maintaining Oracle software and databases that support MI functions, with the ability to refactor, modernise or migrate existing applications. 
  • Proven experience using PL/SQL. 
  • Demonstrate proven experience of learning new programming skills 
  • Advocate for testing to continuously validate your work. 
  • Thrive when you work as part of a team that abides by the spirit of the manifesto of agile software development. 
  • Enjoy sharing knowledge and working in a multi-disciplinary team 
  • Hold yourself and others to a high standard. 
  • Solve problems in a systematic and innovative way. 
Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for BPSS clearance. 
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 D&I Strategy. 
How to Apply Candidates must submit a CV and a mandatory Statement of Suitability (up to 750 words), which describes how you meet the requirements set out in the Person Specification above. 
In Justice Digital, we recruit using a combination of the Government Digital and Data Profession Capability and Success Profiles Frameworks. We will assess your Experience, Technical Skills and the following Behaviours during the assessment process: 
  • Communicating and influencing 
  • Working Together 
  • Developing Self and Others 
  • Making Effective Decisions 
A diverse panel will review your application against the Person Specification above. 
Successful candidates who meet the required standard will then be invited to a 90-minute panel interview held via video conference. A small technical test will need to be completed in advance, as it will be discussed and developed during the interview. 
Should you be unsuccessful in the role that you have applied for but demonstrate the capability for a role at a lower level, we reserve the right to discuss this opportunity with you and offer you the position without needing a further application.
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months, from which further appointments may be made.
Terms & Conditions 
Please review our Terms & Conditions which set out how we recruit and provide further information related to theJustice Digital Recruitment Terms & Conditions role and salary arrangements. 
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact recruitment@digital.justice.gov.uk  
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:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

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 3058.

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 3058.

Allowance

This post may be eligible for allowances which are to be discussed at interview

London: £61,201 - £73,875 (which may include an allowance of up to £12,674)
National: £56,532 - £69,150 (which may include an allowance of up to £12,618)

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
Please submit a Statement of Suitability (up to 750 words), which describes how you meet the requirements set out in the Person Specification.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Interviews (subject to change): expected w/c 24th March
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Developing Self and Others
Making Effective Decisions
Technical
Demonstrate proven experience of delivering large and complex software solutions, with a focus on MI (Management Information) systems.
Solve problems in a systematic and innovative way.
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
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.
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)