Directorate: MoJ Project Delivery Function

Job Title: Project Delivery Workforce Planning Manager

Pay Span or equivalent: Band B (SEO)

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) priorities include improving public safety and reducing reoffending by reforming prisons, probation and youth justice, and building a justice system which makes access to justice swifter and more certain for all citizens whatever their background. Project professionals in the MoJ help to improve the government’s ability to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public.

This role provides you with a unique opportunity to be central to the delivery of the Secretary of State’s priorities by being a member of the MoJ Project Delivery Function. The MoJ Project Delivery Function oversees the centralisation and coordination of all project delivery within the Ministry. By joining the MoJ Project Delivery Function (PDF), you will be able to access professional development opportunities including an enhanced and tailored development plan, access world leading guidance, tools and support across and access to the unique Government Project Delivery (PD) Professional network.

Strategic Workforce Planning (SWP) provides a unique perspective across the HR and PD profession. As a job family, SWP provides the thought leadership and frameworks necessary to make a real difference at an organisational level. At its heart it is about planning for the future, in this case, you will be working across the Project Delivery profession and wider organisational planning communities to deliver transformational change. If you’re excited by the future and the challenges, it poses then SWP is a great place to be.

The role will be part of the Project Delivery Function Management Office (PDFMO), and the role holder will lead on the development and management of the PDF’s Workforce Strategy and Planning. This is a role which requires someone who is secure with data management and continuous improvement, with the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment. You will be responsible for developing and implementing a Workforce Strategy for the PDF working collaboratively with colleagues, the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the Head of Business and Corporate Services/PDFMO and the wider PD Senior Leadership Team (SLT).

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the development of a skilled and efficient Civil Service (CS) workforce. You will manage the Capability Support Officer to ensure maximisation of workforce efficiency through the learning and development offering. Reporting to the People Lead you will support the PDFMO in the creation of SWP’s, identifying and resolving resourcing and skills gaps to ensure that the PDF has the workforce that it needs to meet its future goals, in alignment with strategic business plans. This is your chance to make a difference to how the PDF operates and plans their workforce activity.

As Project Delivery Workforce Planning Manager, you will have a key role to play in supporting the PDF’s main aim of resourcing the Department’s large portfolio of projects and programmes with highly skilled Project Delivery Professionals. You will be required to build a comprehensive knowledge of specific pressures and complexities associated with Function’s workforce in conjunction with evidence gathering. You will also need to be able to identify and handle potential workforce risks and issues directly, and when to escalate to the Chief Project Delivery Officer (CPDO), COO, Head of Resourcing and in turn the Function’s SLT.

You will be expected to work effectively with senior colleagues and across the wider Civil Service as such, it offers a chance to build relationships, to develop briefing skills using a variety of communication styles and to increase understanding of senior decision making. You will be required to develop excellent working relationships with senior stakeholders and core teams within the Function’s structure. You will need to be well organised and definite, professional and positive with the ability to prioritise a busy workload with conflicting priorities.

This is workforce planning like nowhere else in government. The PDF operates within a unique consultancy model and has a unique set of challenges to accompany it, and you will be responsible for managing the various stakeholder requirements in relation to workforce and operational business needs. You will be required to support operational business needs such as reasonable adjustments, talent review and functional employee offboarding and data management/reporting. MoJ expects its employees to show openness, honesty and commitment, and, of course, to deliver results. 

Key responsibilities of the role

These may be further shaped and adjusted dependent on business needs and team resources / skills.

• Development, implementation and monitoring of the Function’s Workforce strategy and SWP in line with the Function’s recharge model, by providing planning insights, developing a SWP framework, preparing and delivering data submissions and translating requirements into achievable workforce plans.

• Identify and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders including CPDO, COO, Head of Resourcing and in turn the Function’s SLT. Consult and collaborate with a wide network of stakeholders to offer advice, deliver common priorities and keep informed of cross-cutting workforce issues. You will need to share knowledge and experience and be confident in constructively challenging leaders.

• Identify and assess the gaps between the current workforce and the expected workforce for optimal performance. Keep abreast of regular internal and external developments and trends, including modelling and forecasting key trends, weaknesses, gaps. To analyse and identify opportunities in PDF’s skill levels to ensure an optimum level of capability.

• Identify potential risks and mitigation and provide affordable workforce solutions to underpin effective business led action planning and provide insight to keep us within tolerance of the functions recharge model.

• Work with complex data to model, analyse and assess trends to derive insights, influence key business decisions and present evidence-based recommendations around recharging and recruitment.

• Analyse, manipulate and interpret large data sets and extract, blend and visualise outputs. Use data to highlight trends and inform planning, using PowerBi and Excel with some experience of Databases like SQL or Dataverse.

• You will be responsible for the line management of the Capability Support Officer and the task management of the Workforce and Finance Support Officer and will work with them to promote continuous improvement and evidence-based processes.

• Create new tools, guidance and templates to drive SWP maturity across the PDF. Promote best practice and ensure internal workforce planning practices and guidance are up to date.

• Produce board level papers to ensure that SLT has an accurate regular picture of the workforce. Be able to draft urgent commissions at short notice.

• Represent the department through engagement in internal, across government, and across Civil Service PD/HR expert services networks.

• Implementation and monitoring of the Talent and Development strategy and learning approach for the Project Delivery Professionals.

• Develop and implement effective processes to ensure the delivery of intelligence -lead learning solutions across technical, guidance and soft skills.

• Work closely with colleagues on implementation of the Function’s People Strategy

• Acting as the key point of contact for PDFMO, establishing effective working relationships with key senior stakeholders across MoJ and the Civil Service.

Key interactions

• MoJ Strategic Workforce Planning team

• PDF’s Professional Delivery Group

• MoJ Project Delivery Function

• Project Delivery Function’s Centre of Expertise

• Chief Project Delivery Officer

• Chief Operating Officer

• Head of Business and Corporate Services

• Head of Resourcing

• Head of Apprenticeships

• Infrastructure and Projects Authority and other Government departments

• Finance and HR Business Partners

• Head of Portfolio

• Deputy Director Centre of Excellence

Essential criteria

• Ability to build strong relationships and partnerships with stakeholders.

• Using data and evidence to make decisions

• Ability to utilise HR MI to influence reporting

• Strong digital proficiency using MS Tools, PowerBi, and Excel (Dataverse and Power apps is desirable)

• Experience of strategic workforce planning or resourcing.

• Adept at managing complex issues

• A willingness to learn new skills, tools and software’s.

• A commitment to continuous improvement.

• An understanding of data ethics and integrity.

Desirable Criteria

• CIPD Level 5 Accreditation or willingness to Work Towards or Equivalent Professional Qualification

• Experience using Power Apps, Dataverse, MS Lists and other data modelling tools.

• Experience developing Workforce Planning Strategies is desired but experience setting strategic direction in general is suitable.

Location & Terms of appointment

This post is advertised nationally but frequent travel will be required to locations where our Major Projects are based.

Your base office location at an MoJ HQ site, Justice Collaboration Centre, or Justice Satellite Office will be discussed if successful, as we do not offer home working contracts. All available sites can be found on this link.

Following the return to offices initiative any MoJ employee based in a MoJ building should be attending the office a minimum of two days a week. Typically, this will be at your base office location at an MoJ HQ site, Justice Collaboration Centre, or Justice Satellite Office. If you are required to travel to another office or site with your project/programme, this will be classed as a day’s office attendance. 

Salary & Grade

Band B (SEO)

New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay range and this is non-negotiable.

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

Selection and Recruitment Process

Where high volumes of applications are received the initial sift will be completed against the lead competency. If your application progresses to a full sift, all competencies will then be considered. Feedback is not available for those not invited to interview.

Merit List of successful candidates based on location will be retained after this campaign for 12 months.

Application Process

You will be required to complete an application form providing evidence of how you meet the below key Civil Service behaviours competencies and provide a current CV.

Key Civil Service Competencies

• Making Effective Decisions.

• Working Together.

• Seeing the Bigger Picture.

• Communicating & influencing

The interview will consist of a Civil Service behaviours and strength-based questions in line with success profiles. You will also be asked to complete an In-Tray exercise as explained below.

In-tray Exercise

Candidates will also be asked to complete an In-tray Exercise prior to the interview commencing. Instructions will be sent to candidates directly before their interview date. This is used to evaluate a candidate’s data and analytics skills and stakeholder management. This will be one of the key responsibilities of the role.

Travel

Frequent travel to other sites is required for this post.

Flexible working options

MoJ offers a flexible working system in many of its offices.

Job Sharing and Reduced Hours

All applications for job sharing or reduced hours will be treated fairly and on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the MoJ’s flexible working policy and equality policy.

Excess Fares and Relocation Allowances

This job is not eligible for relocation allowances but excess fares may be considered in accordance with MoJ’s excess fares allowance policy.

MoJ offers a range of benefits

Annual Leave

Generous allowances for paid holiday starting at 25 days per year and rising as your service increases. 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 days. 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

MoJ is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities. As a member of the MoJ Project Delivery Function you will also have unique access to the Government Project Delivery Online Skills Tool which will support the development of your skills and assist with your career progression aspirations.

Support

• A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.

• Access to flexible benefits such as salary sacrifice arrangements for childcare vouchers, and voluntary benefits such as retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.

• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.

• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

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.

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.

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equality of opportunity.

There is a guaranteed interview scheme (GIS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.