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General Information

Salary
£53,324 - £58,656
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
Rugby
Region
Midlands
Closing Date
21-May-2025
Business Unit
DDC East Midlands
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
5720

Descriptions & requirements

Job description
Overview of the job

The job holder will report directly to the Area Executive Director’s (AED’s) Head of Office and will form part of the Area Executive Senior Management Team, which is accountable for the performance and development of prison and probation services within the Area. In certain instances, this will also include the National Service for which the Area Executive Director has responsibility.

This is a leadership role, managing and developing an immediate team as well as establishing strong working relationships with the Area Executive Senior Management Team, to enable a cohesive Area Team that works well together.

Additionally, strong stakeholder management skills are required to gain the confidence of and build productive relationships with central teams, senior managers, and external partners.

The job holder will be responsible for contributing to the management, oversight, and development of the Area Executive Office function.

The job holder will have line management and development responsibility for staff in the Area Executive Director’s office and may include management and oversight of staff within the Directorate working remotely from the office team.

The job role will be based primarily within the relevant Area and there will be a requirement to visit operational places of work within the area.

This is a non-operational role.

Summary
This is a Senior Manager post, and the job holder will need to ensure that the Area Executive Director is effectively supported. This will include contributing to efficient business management processes, problem-solving, providing relevant and useful advice, demonstrating sound judgement, managing risk (escalating and communicating where appropriate), and conducting ad hoc activities and non-routine work as required.

They will be involved in setting the priorities for their Area and have shared oversight of delivery of these and key performance measures.
 
The job holder will provide leadership and contribute to the vision and strategic direction for the Area Executive Directorate holding accountability for ensuring any risks are communicated to Head of AED Office to manage so that the work by the Directorate contributes to HMPPS priorities.

They will have ownership for specific areas within Area Executive Directorate to lead, manage and deliver on programme deliverables.

The job holder will need to be abreast of significant developments within HMPPS and wider government, advising where appropriate the Area Executive Director of where engagement or input may be required to ensure that impacts on the Area are considered, and, where possible, reflected in decision-making.

The job role can be fast paced with priorities often shifting quickly and significantly, requiring the job holder to be able to flex plans and be skilled in prioritising.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities, and duties:
• Providing strong leadership to the immediate Area office team and, as part of the Area Executive Senior Management Team, helping to establish a healthy culture and leading through challenges and change.
• Contribute to the management of the Area Executive Office to ensure that the Area Executive Director is fully supported.
• Support Head of AED office with strategic and business planning for the Area, working closely with the wider Area team and ensuring an understanding of wider organisational objectives to identify Area priorities.
• Support Head of AED office in playing a key role in the continuous improvement of the Area to promote safe and secure prisons, effective rehabilitation, protection of the public and reductions in reoffending. This will include identifying opportunities for better ways of working and improved join-up between prisons and probation and across the Area, including maintaining and developing constructive links with key organisations and partners.
• Working on behalf of Head of AED office, attend discussions with performance leads and teams, to gain an oversight of performance, assurance and risk management of prisons and probation services within the Area to be able to advise and brief the Head of AED office appropriately.
• When required, representing the Head of Area Executive Director’s Office, undertaking activities on their behalf, including attending meetings as required.
• Work alongside Business Partners to ensure effective workforce planning and budget management for the office and Area.
• Building productive working relationships with the rest of the Area Executive Senior Management Team and their wider teams to ensure the effective running of the Area as a cohesive unit.
• Manage AED office’s role in a specific business-related project, undertaking activities in support of the project such as developing processes, chairing AED meetings with key stakeholders, planning and preparing quarterly updates so Area Executive Director is informed of upcoming issues and any potential matters of concern.
• Retain oversight of work within the project field, including dealing with queries, seeking advice from subject matter experts and sharing best practice across the AED area.
• Act as a liaison point in the project field for staff within AED area and wider organisation.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. 
Significant adjustments
may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

Civil Service Success Profile Criteria

Behaviours
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions

Experience
• Experience of business planning and budget management.
• Is a competent and proven senior manager with previous operational experience or a strong understanding of the operational environment in which this role is delivered.
• Experience and skills in leading and managing in a complex change management context.
• Effective high-quality skills to lead and manage staff to achieve demanding objectives.
• Demonstrates sound judgement and has the ability to build effective working relationships, and to influence and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders at a senior level in a complex and multi-layered delivery landscape.
Ability
• Have high levels of integrity and professional credibility.
• High level written and oral communication skills to prepare and deliver ministerial level briefs.
• Ability to function effectively and autonomously in a challenging environment with a high level of personal resilience.
 
Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances

37 hour working week

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). 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, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

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.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS 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 HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment

Pension

-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

Eligibility

-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist

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.

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

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 5720

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Making Effective Decisions, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Making Effective Decisions
Seeing the Big Picture
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please advise how you meet the experience criteria within the job description:
- Experience of business planning and budget management.
- Is a competent and proven senior manager with previous operational experience or a strong understanding of the operational environment in which this role is delivered.
- Experience and skills in leading and managing in a complex change management context.
- Effective high-quality skills to lead and manage staff to achieve demanding objectives.
- Demonstrates sound judgement and has the ability to build effective working relationships, and to influence and negotiate with internal and external stakeholders at a senior level in a complex and multi-layered delivery landscape
Evidence of Experience
Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
TBC
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Leadership
Making Effective Decisions
Seeing the Big Picture
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
Enhanced Baseline Standard (EBS)