Ministry of Justice

JOB DESCRIPTION

New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay range.  The national starting salary is £56,532.  

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

BACKGROUND

The Northern Ireland Office supports the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in promoting the best interests of Northern Ireland. We make sure that Northern Ireland interests are represented within the UK Government and that UK government responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Northern Ireland. We are the centre of expertise on Northern Ireland issues across Government.

The Northern Ireland Office employs around 170 staff, with offices in Belfast and London. As a small Department, we adopt a flexible project-based approach to ensure that we have the right people, with the right skills, in the right place to support the delivery of our key objectives.

Due to our structure and size, we are able to offer extensive exposure to Ministers and the opportunity to work on a far wider portfolio of policy and responsibilities than might be the case in a larger department. This creates an interesting and stimulating work environment.

Our key priorities are set out in our Operational Delivery plan and include:

• Supporting greater inclusion, tolerance and openness in Northern Ireland

• Contributing to a safer Northern Ireland, where terrorist and paramilitary groups are less able to cause harm to communities

• Ensuring that governance in Northern Ireland is responsive, transparent and able to deliver effective public service.

• Addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland

For more information about what we do:

Visit:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/northern-ireland-office https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

Safer Streets and National Security are key UK Government missions and the Security & Protection Group (SPG) in the NIO supports the delivery of this through core teams working on: National Security Policy, Strategy, Operational Delivery, Casework and Protection. We are currently looking to recruit a team leader (Head of National Security Casework and Protection Team) within SPG.  

We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality work on issues that matter, at pace and often in challenging circumstances. All SPG colleagues have an anchor within one of the core teams, allowing them to build specialist knowledge, expertise and relationships. Everyone, regardless of grade or experience, also has the opportunity to get involved in project-based work across the group and the wider department beyond their core teams. This approach ensures we add more value, are agile enough to deliver on key departmental priorities and give everyone in SPG a wide range of developmental opportunities. We are committed to using every opportunity to continuously improve ourselves and our business outcomes. You can expect diverse, interesting and rewarding work that goes to the heart of public service and you can expect to do this in a safe space where individuals and teams are supported to deliver and encouraged to innovate, stretch, challenge and learn.

As Head of National Security Casework and Protection Team you will lead the Department’s work on the provision of protective security, working with security and industry specialists.  This includes home protection measures for those under the highest threat from Northern Ireland Related Terrorism.  You will oversee the NIO’s statutory responsibilities with regards firearms appeals (where authority to hold firearms has been refused by the Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland), and the licensing of explosive precursors and prohibited weapons.  You will ensure the Department fulfils its legal and statutory obligations with regards national security related casework. This includes the oversight of judicial reviews and civil claims for damages, overseeing the Secretary of State’s obligations with regards certain prisoners’ licences, and provision of advice on exercising the Secretary of State’s statutory powers to protect national security related information and equities.  You will have responsibility for a number of budgetary cost centres, requiring careful budget forecasting, monitoring and management.

As a member of SPG’s management team, you will play a key role in the overall strategic direction and management of Security and Protection Group.  You will work directly to the Grade 6, but closely with the Deputy Director and alongside your Grade 7 colleagues, on a range of existing and emerging issues and projects. You will provide leadership across the group and champion the NIO and SPG’s cultural values and ethos. You should be willing to directly support other parts of the business, where required. 

You will maintain and forge productive relationships with a large number of critical delivery partners and take a strategic and informed approach to stakeholder management working with PSNI, MI5, Cabinet Office and the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland. You will also work closely with colleagues across the NIO, sharing knowledge on the security situation, briefing at pace and contributing to our wider corporate and departmental priorities. 

You and your team, based primarily in Belfast, will deliver across a range of policy and casework issues, ensuring departmental compliance with relevant legislation.  You will provide regular briefing to Ministers and senior officials on complex issues.  

You will be articulate, discreet and thoughtful in your approach, quick to pick up new subjects and proactive in all your dealings. You will have a strong political antenna and inspire confidence when briefing verbally and in writing. You will be accustomed to building productive relationships in difficult contexts and being agile and able to anticipate and respond quickly to new challenges and unexpected developments. You will have an eye on the strategic environment and lead from the front, role modelling positive and collegiate behaviours. You will be focused on delivering clear outcomes. You will want to work in a group with a strong focus on learning and development and to actively contribute to this.      

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

The main responsibilities of the role include but are not limited to:

• Lead official for all protective security casework and policy matters, to include home  protection, firearms and explosives;

• Regular briefings to Senior Officials and Ministers on a range of emerging security-related priorities;

• Building strong relationships internally and with partners in Northern Ireland and in Whitehall to safeguard and enhance delivery of strategic objectives;

• Direct leadership of team of 9 (including direct management of 4 SEOs) and leadership across the wider Group and Department, commensurate with the Grade 7 role; and

• Delivery of specific projects and contribution to policy development in line with the Group’s wider responsibilities.

• Participating in Out of Hours on-call duty rota (for which an allowance is payable)

ESSENTIAL CRITERIA:

The post holder will need to demonstrate the following in their application and at interview:

• Proven experience of leading a team to deliver results;

• Demonstrable ability to multi-task, reprioritise and change tack to respond to changing or emerging needs.   

• DV clearance is essential and must be achieved before commencing the full duties of the post, therefore applicants will need to be prepared to go through this process and attain the requisite clearance. 

DESIRABLE CRITERIA:

• Experience working on/development of  national security or law enforcement policy;

• A good understanding of the political and security environment in Northern Ireland;

• Experience of briefing or presenting to Ministers or senior officials or equivalent.

• Existing SC or DV clearance.

BEHAVIOURS:

We will assess you against the following Success Profiles behaviours at the Grade 7 level during the application and interview process:

• Managing a Quality Service

• Making Effective Decisions

• Communicating and Influencing 

• Delivering at Pace

EXPERIENCE:

Please provide work history and statement of suitability no longer than 500 words outlining how you meet the essential and desirable criteria. Both will be used in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role. 

Your statement of suitability needs to set out evidence of how your experience meets the requirements set out above. Your layout is entirely your preference; you may choose narrative, bullets, etc. One narrative example may cover the requirements needed. You don’t have to explain the whole process, just what you have done and the skills and experience you have used. Share with us what makes you suited to this role and why. What you can do, the skills you have that are transferable and the life experience or passion you have that are linked to this role. 

If you don’t have work-based examples then give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.  

Your work history will not be formally assessed so please put the main evidence of your skills into your personal statement. Your work history will be used to add context to your personal statement. 

More information on behaviours and success profiles can be found here.

Please note that in the event of a large number of applications being received we may run the initial sift on the lead Behaviour “Managing a Quality Service”.

INTERVIEW:

You will be assessed against the same behaviours at the interview stage and will be asked to provide examples of how you have demonstrated the behaviours.

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?

Strengths

You will be asked three strength questions. 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.

If you do not have work-based examples then please give examples from school/college, clubs, volunteering or other activities you have been involved in.   

All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.

OFFER

Once all interviews have been completed, you will be notified of the outcome by email. Offers will be made in strict merit order to the highest scoring candidate first.

The successful candidate will be notified of a start date following successful security checks.

Additional information received after the closing date will not be considered.  Failure to provide sufficient information in support of an application prior to the closing date will not be considered as grounds for an appeal if an applicant is not shortlisted for interview.

SECURITY CLEARANCE: 

This role requires National Security Vetting given the access to sensitive information afforded by the job role.  You can find more information by reviewing the information held in the following links:

United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The vetting charter - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

In addition, there is a minimum UK residency requirement set by the Cabinet Office which is dependent on the security level required for the role.

This role requires Developed Vetting (DV) and to be eligible to apply for this role you should have been present in the UK continuously for the past 5 years

Neither Detached Duty terms nor relocation costs will apply to this post.

Further Information:

Further information about the post may be obtained from Sharon Ewart via email to sharon.ewart@nio.gov.uk.

All applications for employment are considered strictly on the basis of merit.

This job description should not be taken as constituting conditions of employment.

Please note that due to the high interest in NIO opportunities, feedback cannot be given if you are unsuccessful at the sift stage. Feedback is available on request if unsuccessful following the interview. 

COMPLAINTS:

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.  Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. You have the right to complain if you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles. 

Please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@sscl.gse.gov.uk) in the first instance. If you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages:

http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/

https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/code/

RESERVE LISTS:

In the event that the advertised post following interview, identifies more appointable applicants than available posts, we may hold applicant details on a merit/reserve list for a period of 12 months from which further future appointments can be made. Candidates placed on a reserve list will be informed of this. Those candidates who do not wish to remain on the reserve list should contact MoJ-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com to be removed from the reserve list.