Job role: Strategy Officer

Grade: HEO

Directorate: Strategy, Analysis and Planning

About us

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. If you’re interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply. 

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. 

Background 

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 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 objectives, whether that be supporting the delivery of 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 meet them 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 overall 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 

The successful candidate will ideally have some project experience and/or experience in working as part of a team developing strategy and/or developing and implementing evidence-based recommendations to solve a particular issue or improve service delivery.   

Essential 

• Excellent relationship building/maintaining and influencing skills - You will have experience of supporting engagement with senior leaders and/or external stakeholders and/or other teams across your organisation to achieve your team's or objectives.

• Experience of analysing and evaluating information data - You 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 - You will have a proven track record of being able to communicate clearly and concisely, tailoring your communication to different audiences. In HMCTS this could include internal staff and senior leaders, the judiciary and external stakeholders across Government and the wider justice system.

 Desirable 

• Some knowledge and understanding of wider issues facing the courts and tribunals system would be a benefit but not essential. 

Further information:  

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

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. 

 All applications will be anonymised before assessment. 

If you have any queries about the role, or wish to discuss, please contact the Hiring Manager, Garrie Hall (garrie.hall@Justice.gov.uk) 

As a Disability Confident employer, the MoJ offers an interview to any disabled applicant who indicates they would like to be considered for an interview as a disabled applicant and meets the minimum criteria required for the role. 

If you are assessed as meeting the minimum criteria, you can indicate that you would like to be considered for an interview as a disabled candidate by completing the related section of the application form. 

MoJ is committed to having inclusive and accessible recruitment. This includes by offering and implementing reasonable adjustments to enable disabled applicants to be considered for a job on an equal basis with non-disabled applicants. If you require reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process, you should contact: hqrecruitment@justice.gov.uk 

General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) 2018:  The information provided by you in this application and the supporting documentation will be used to consider your suitability for the post.  Following the exercise, the papers will be kept for one year or the period of the appointment, whichever is less and then reviewed and deleted if appropriate.