Ministry of Justice

The Role

The CEO sets the strategic direction of the Office of the Victim’ Commissioner (OVC); You provide key support to the Victims’ Commissioner (VC) in delivering his/her agenda. You brief and advise the VC on key strategic and politically sensitive issues. You manage the team and the budget; represent the VC where required; and act as a link between the OVC and the MoJ.

The CEO is required to have a broad understanding of the criminal justice system at both a strategic and political level so as to advise the VC and assist them in developing informed policy positions. You will have verified expertise in working with ministers and senior officials as well as the third sector.

The CEO will oversee the development of all VC policy and research and will also oversee all communication activity, including national media and social media.  

The CEO represents the VC (in their absence) at ministerial meetings and meetings of the Criminal Justice Board and can also expect to be called to give evidence before Parliamentary Select Committees (for example, the Justice Select Committee) and public inquiries (for example, the COVID Inquiry). When the CEO appears before a select committee or inquiry, they assume accountability for the work of the OVC and the Commissioner. Questions might cover resourcing, priorities, future work plans, relationship with the Department and other agencies etc, as well as VC policy positions. 

You will set the agenda and chair the VC’s Advisory Group, which comprises of senior practitioners from a range of disciplines from across the criminal justice system and politics. 

A key area of focus for you as CEO will be inducting a new VC and overseeing the restructure of the Office of the VC so that it can adapt to the extended remit and new priorities of the VC. Office restructures are challenging and require you to demonstrate exceptional proven leadership and handling skills demonstrating the necessary level of change experience.  

As CEO you will also play a critical role in developing a more impactful VC presence across the criminal justice system as envisaged by the current government. You will need to have the strategic vision and leadership skills required to make this evolution of the VC role a reality.  

The CEO is operating within a challenging fiscal situation where there will be searching VFM questions and efficiency considerations being asked of the department. Strong financial management and oversight that ensures efficient use of resources is key to the role as you will be the budget holder with accountability to the MoJ. 

Key Responsibilities

Reporting directly to the Victim’s Commissioner:

The role involves challenging and varied responsibilities. These include:  

• leading the OVC, drafting the VC’s strategic plans, briefing the VC on a range of strategic and political issues within the criminal justice system,
• representing the VC at meetings with key stakeholders,
• overseeing the OVC to deliver key outputs in support of the VC’s Strategy.   
• Managing a team of nine staff (with additional resources anticipated on the back of the new provisions in the Victims and Courts Bill), setting the team’s direction to deliver the Strategic Plan, and prioritising the team’s resources effectively.  
• Managing input into VC responses to Government consultations and the development of key policy initiatives, so that they meet the priorities of their Strategic Plan and respond to changes in the victim landscape.  
• Drafting speeches for the VC, informing and influencing key policy positions and overseeing research.
• Developing close working relationships with a very wide range of key stakeholders across Whitehall.
• Handling (in the absence of the Communications Manager) reactive media enquiries (in and out of office hours) and preparing to take and op eds (articles reflecting the opinion of the author) at short notice. 
• Demonstrating strong presentation skills, so as to be able to speak publicly with confidence and deliver presentations to a high standard at workshops and high-profile external meetings. 

Additional Responsibilities

Additional responsibilities will include: 

• On an ad-hoc basis, advising and briefing the VC on wide range of strategic and political issues affecting victims within the criminal justice system, including meetings with Ministers, senior judiciary and heads of criminal justice agencies, Parliamentarians, CEOs of third sector organisations, Police and Crime Commissioners and academics.
• Giving evidence to select committees and public inquiries.
• Briefing the VC at very short notice when they appear in the national press and on social media
• Overseeing all OVC recruitment and any restructuring of the OVC as required, to ensure the team is meeting the strategic objectives of the VC;
• Working with finance business partners to manage the OVC’s budget; and
• Collaborating with the MoJ through the Public Bodies Centre of Expertise, policy teams and other central MoJ corporate support services.