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General Information

Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
18-May-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SCS 2
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
17338

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

The Role

You will lead an organisation of around 2,000 staff, with a budget of c.£121m (2024–25), delivering critical statutory services at scale across England and Wales.

You will act as an internal and external advocate for the role of the Public Guardian, the work of OPG, and the principles of the Mental Capacity Act.

The role requires extensive external engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders, including maintaining a strong and constructive relationship with the Welsh Government and working across differing legal and delivery arrangements in England and Wales.

Key Responsibilities

  • Leading the organisation’s plans to modernise and transform its services
  • Maintaining the integrity and setting standards for the register of instruments and court orders
  • Efficiently processing the registration of LPAs, ensuring that they are legally correct, free from ambiguity and are operable
  • Maintaining and setting the standards for the regime of supervision
  • Maintaining a responsive and effective regime of handling safeguarding concerns
  • Ensuring a robust and client focused process of investigations into concerns about the actions of attorneys, deputies, and guardians; and
  • Ensuring that appropriate court action is taken, litigation strategy is set in general and for specific cases, appropriately responding to requests from the court.
  • The role sits within the Service Transformation Group (STG), and you will play an active role in its senior leadership -shaping priorities, supporting delivery, and representing OPG in wider transformation.
  • The Public Guardian is also the Chief Executive and Accounting Officer for OPG.

Essential criteria:

  • Proven experience of leading at scale, with the ability to inspire, build capability and deliver through high-performing teams across a large, complex organisation.
  • A strong track record of leading digital-enabled business transformation, delivering measurable improvements in public experience and service outcomes in a large organisation.
  • Experience of delivering excellent customer-focused services, particularly for vulnerable users, alongside delivering efficiency and strong value for money.
  • Outstanding communication and leadership presence, with the ability to inspire, engage and command confidence with senior stakeholders, including at Board and Board-adjacent level.
  • Strong influencing and relationship-building skills, with experience of operating effectively across complex systems, organisational and geographical boundaries, setting direction and driving delivery through others.
  • The ability to operate successfully in a political environment, balancing statutory responsibilities with wider departmental priorities and scrutiny.

Desirable criteria:

Existing knowledge of the Justice System would be desirable.

Additional Information

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We pride ourselves on being an employer of choice. We champion diversity, inclusion and wellbeing and aim to create a workplace where everyone feels valued and a sense of belonging. To find out more about how we do this visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity.

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.

Contact Information
If you require any assistance please contact us on scsrecruitment@justice.gov.uk. Please quote the job reference in your email to enable us to support you more quickly.

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
1. A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years.
2. A Statement of Suitability (no more than 1000 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to the criteria in the person specification.
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Week Commencing 15th June 2026
Behaviours
Communicating and Influencing
Seeing the Big Picture
Changing and Improving
Leadership
Managing a Quality Service

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used?
Other 1
Other - Assessment Title 1
Staff Engagement Exercise
Level of security checks required
Security Clearance (SC)

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.  Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.