Lead Implementation Adviser

Grade 7

Implementation Unit, Strategy, Priorities and Innovation Directorate

The MoJ Implementation Unit (IU) is seeking a proactive and solution-oriented Lead Implementation Adviser to join our team.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)

MoJ is one of the largest government departments, employing around 70,000 people (including those in the Probation Service), with a budget of approximately £9 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at over 300 courts and hearing centres, and over 100 prisons in England and Wales.

Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

About the role

The IU provides the department with clear, practical insight into how policies and programmes land on the ground. By combining frontline fieldwork with data and analysis, we help ensure policies and programmes are shaped and implemented in ways that work in practice.

As Lead Implementation Adviser you will take responsibility for delivering high-profile IU projects, leading small project teams from scoping through to final report and presentation. You will engage directly with decision-makers, senior officials and frontline staff, turning complex evidence into clear, actionable recommendations that support better decision-making and drive improvements across the justice system.

You will also play a leadership role within the IU: line managing colleagues, coaching the wider team, and strengthening our methods, tools and ways of working.

With implementation set to remain a central priority for this government, this is an exciting opportunity to join the team and help shape reforms at a crucial moment of change for the justice system.

About the team

The MoJ IU is part of cross-Whitehall network, giving us access to established tools and methodologies being used across government.

The team sits at the centre of the department, within the Strategy, Priorities and Innovation (SPI) Directorate. The Directorate is made up of several functions, including the MoJ’s Implementation Unit, Strategy Unit, innovation function, priority projects team and Board secretariat. We work collaboratively to provide strategic, systems leadership across the MoJ, embedding longer-term thinking, supporting effective governance and surging high-capability teams into priorities for the justice system.

The key focus of the IU’s work is carrying out ‘deep-dive’ projects that support departmental priorities by engaging with frontline staff and service users to better understand implementation issues and provide advice to decision makers. We work across the whole system, from prisons and probation to courts and other frontline settings. Our reports blend frontline evidence with policy, data analysis and evidence reviews. We also experiment with new technologies, tools and methodologies.

The team has a wide range of experience - some have worked in different parts of MoJ and other government departments, others have joined from outside the Civil Service and some have previous experience working in frontline roles. We have a friendly, supportive and collaborative team culture that encourages learning and development. We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice.

To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

Why work in the IU?

• You will work across a wide range of areas across the department, making a real difference to how departmental priorities are delivered.

• You will work with a high degree of autonomy and engage directly with decision-makers as well as service users.

• You will be part of a forward-thinking, supportive team with a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Job description

As Lead Implementation Adviser, you will:

• Lead the delivery of IU projects from scoping through to final report, ensuring they are robust, timely and aligned with departmental priorities.

• Gather and analyse frontline evidence, combining qualitative and quantitative sources to deliver clear, evidence-based insights.

• Translate complex findings into clear, compelling reports - using written as well as visual design techniques to make messages easy to understand and ensuring they land persuasively with Ministers, senior stakeholders and delivery partners.

• Lead engaging workshops and presentations, from initial scoping sessions to sharing project findings- bringing together stakeholders with sometimes conflicting views, and facilitating constructive discussions that influence outcomes.

• Provide line management and coaching to colleagues, modelling a supportive and high-performing team culture.

• Innovate IU processes and tools, and help shape future project opportunities by building networks across the department.

Location

The successful candidate will have the option to be based at one of the following locations:

1. 102 Petty France, London

2. 5 Wellington Place, Leeds (occasional travel between Leeds and London may be required)

All staff are expected to attend their base location (102 Petty France or 5 Wellington Place Leeds) at least 2 days a week. This hybrid working arrangement is not contractual and as a result staff could be asked to attend their base location more frequently.

Whichever your base location, the role will also involve some travel within England and Wales (including occasional overnight visits). Fieldwork is often carried out on-site, including in prisons, courts and probation settings. Travel and subsistence costs associated with site visits will be covered in line with the MoJ’s travel and subsistence policy.

Skills and Experience - essential

• Leading and developing others: Experience of motivating, coaching and supporting colleagues to perform at their best, acting as a role model and contributing to a supportive, high-performing team culture.

• Delivering complex projects: Proven ability to scope, plan and manage complex projects at pace, mastering new areas quickly and delivering high-quality outputs that influence decision-makers.

• Using evidence to engage and influence stakeholders: Drawing insight from varied or conflicting evidence to identify patterns and trends. Communicating findings clearly and persuasively through written, visual and verbal means, including confidently facilitating discussions with a range of stakeholders.

Desirable skills and experience

• Awareness of qualitative and quantitative research techniques.

• Understanding of or experience of working within the justice system.

Please note that whilst we don’t assess or score ‘desirable’ criteria, we may consider evidence provided that demonstrates meeting the desirable elements of the role, only after essential criteria is assessed and where there is a need to differentiate between closely scored candidates.

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.

To apply, you will need to submit your CV/work history alongside a statement of suitability (no more than 750 words).

This statement should explain why you believe you are a suitable candidate, demonstrating how you meet the skills and experience set out above.

Interview

Interviews are likely to be conducted via video call and will include questions about the Behaviours needed for the role.

You will also be asked to prepare a presentation - details will be provided to candidates invited to interview.

The behaviours we are looking for are as follows:

• Leadership

• Communicating and Influencing

• Working Together

• Making Effective Decisions
  
  

We will be looking at how you meet the Behaviours and experience for the grade of role you are applying for (G7 equivalent):

Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK

Interviews are expected to take place in late October.

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.

Information session

We will be holding an informal information session for candidates to learn more about the role, what it’s like working in our team and answer questions on 24^th of September 16:00-17:00.

If you would like to attend, or have more specific questions about the role, please contact: Alex Plotkin: alexandra.plotkin@justice.gov.uk.

Annex A - The STAR method

Using the STAR method can help you give examples of relevant experience that you have. It allows you to set the scene, show what you did and how you did it, and explain the overall outcome.

Situation - Describe the situation you found yourself in. You must describe a specific event or situation. Be sure to give enough detail for the job holder to understand.

• Where were you?

• Who was there with you?

• What had happened?

Task - The job holder will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation you found yourself in.

• What was the task that you had to complete and why?

• What did you have to achieve?

Actions - What did you do? The job holder will be looking for information on what you did, how you did it and why. Keep the focus on you. What specific steps did you take and what was your contribution? Remember to include how you did it, and the behaviours you used. Try to use “I" rather than “we" to explain your actions that lead to the result. Be careful not to take credit for something that you did not do.

Results - Don’t be shy about taking credit for your behaviour. Quote specific facts and figures. Explain how the outcome benefitted the organisation or your area. Make the outcomes easily understandable.

• What results did the actions produce?

• What did you achieve through your actions and did you meet your goals?

• Was it a successful outcome? If not, what did you learn from the experience?

Keep the situation and task parts brief. Concentrate on the action and the result. If the result was not entirely successful describe what you learned from this and what you would do differently next time. Make sure you focus on your strengths.