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General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £34,140 - £37,105, London salary range is £38,661 - £42,019 Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
14-May-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
2
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
5159

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job role: Strategy Officer

Grade: HEO

Directorate: Strategy, Analysis and Planning

 

Background

 

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and want to make a difference in people’s lives in delivering justice.

 

Our aim at HMCTS is to run an efficient and effective courts and tribunals system, which enables the rule of law to be upheld and provides access to justice for all. We support the independent judiciary and deliver on Ministerial commitments set out by the Ministry of Justice.  

 

We deliver our services in a variety of ways, from face-to-face hearings in courts and tribunal centres, remotely via video, and via our Service Centres, and through online services on GOV.UK. We have around 18,500 colleagues, of whom 90% work in frontline delivery of services. The services we provide are supported centrally by functions including HR, finance, strategy, analysis, and estates. We work with our partners to run an efficient and effective courts and tribunals service. 

 

About the team

 

The Strategy and User Insight division sits at the heart of HMCTS. We work with senior leadership and engage with colleagues across the justice system to help meet strategic challenges, innovate, and drive service improvements that enhance the user experience.  

 

You will be joining us at an exciting time as we launch our new HMCTS Strategic Plan. This builds on the extensive modernisation programme we have undertaken in the last few years that digitised many of our services, making access to justice simpler and user friendly. Our Strategic Plan is focused on driving further modernization and efficiency across our services through continuous improvement and innovation.  

 

Job Description 

 

We are looking for up to two individuals to join the strategy team within the Strategy and User Insight Division.  

  

This role will involve working across the strategy team to support the delivery of key strategic objectives. This includes supporting the delivery of the HMCTS Strategic Plan, ensuring we have high quality insight into future trends or international best practice across courts and tribunals, helping to understand long-term strategic challenges and how to address them, and/or contributing to priority projects that support the delivery of the strategic priorities of HMCTS Senior Leadership. 

 

We are looking for an ambitious and self-motivated candidate who has an interest in strategy, an enthusiasm for working on large-scale and complex challenges that improve user experience of courts and tribunal services. We are also looking for someone who can build strong, constructive relationships with colleagues and stakeholders across the justice system. 

 

Main Activities/Responsibilities 

 

A Strategy Officer will typically be responsible for: 

 

  • Supporting Strategy Managers to develop and embed the HMCTS Strategic Plan.  
  • Responding at pace to requests for briefings for HMCTS senior leadership on a range of issues impacting the courts and tribunals system. 
  • Contributing to priority projects that support the delivery of the strategic objectives of HMCTS senior leadership. 
  • Developing research that supports the shaping of strategic thinking and objectives across the organisation. 
  • Managing multiple stakeholder relationships across HMCTS, wider MoJ, and across government and externally.
  • Presenting findings using visual and verbal presentational skills. 
  • Continually learning and developing subject matter expertise on the courts, tribunals and wider justice system.

Person Specification 

 

Essential 

  •      Excellent relationship building/maintaining and influencing skills. The successful candidate will have experience of supporting engagement with senior leaders, external stakeholders and other teams across their organisation to achieve their team's objectives.
  •      Experience of analysing and evaluating information data. The successful candidate will have experience of considering a mix of qualitative and quantitative evidence to develop robust recommendations based on your findings.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of being able to communicate clearly and concisely, tailoring their communications to different audiences.
  • Proven ability to successfully reassess workloads and priorities when there are conflicting demands to maintain timely delivery.

 Desirable

  • Some knowledge and understanding of wider issues facing the courts and tribunals system would be a benefit but not essential. 
  • Previous experience in the design, development or implementation of a strategy, or experience in implementing evidence-based recommendations to solve a particular issue or improve service delivery is desirable.

 

Further information:  

 

Some travel to 102 Petty France, SW1H 9AJ, and other courts and tribunal’s locations will be required, subject to business needs, and dependent on your base location.

 

How to apply  

 

To apply for this role, please express your interest by submitting a CV and statement of suitability of no more than 500 words setting out evidence and examples of how you meet the person specification in the job advert. Please ensure you cover both ‘what’ you do but also ‘how’ you do it. (i.e., the effective skills, knowledge & experience needed to undertake the role). 

 

Candidates that pass the application sift stage will be invited for a formal interview before appointment.  

 

If selected for an interview, the shortlisted candidates should expect strength questions and questions relating to the following Civil Service Behaviours: 

  • Delivering at Pace 
  • Making Effective Decisions 
  • Communicating and Influencing 

Interviews will be held virtually via MS Teams and are planned to take place shortly after the sifting process. 

About our benefits

We reward our people for their hard work and commitment. We have several family friendly and flexible working polices that will help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition, we offer a range of employee benefits which include generous annual leave, a highly competitive contributory pension scheme, childcare benefits, season ticket and bicycle loans.

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 role: 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.

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.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.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

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.

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.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

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 5159

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 5159

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
To apply for this role, please express your interest by submitting a CV and statement of suitability of no more than 500 words setting out evidence and examples of how you meet the person specification in the job advert. Please ensure you cover both ‘what’ you do but also ‘how’ you do it. (i.e., the effective skills, knowledge & experience needed to undertake the role).
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Interviews scheduled to take place w/c 26th May 2025 (subject to change)
Behaviours
Delivering at Pace
Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
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)