Skip to content

General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £42,914 - £46,182 London salary range is £49,325- £53,081 Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
03-Jul-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
SEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
18859

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Directorate Overview

The Business Architecture and Transformation Directorate support and work with the MoJ leadership team, and in turn advise ExCo, on the people, skills, capability, resilience, and infrastructure needed across the department to put us in the best possible place to deliver for the current and future Governments. We work alongside and in partnership with functions and business areas to ensure the machinery of the department is efficient but maintains a strong ‘people first’ culture.

Team Overview

The Business Solutions Team’s purpose is to enhance departmental effectiveness through informed decision-making, efficient processes, and strong collaboration.  The Business Solutions Team is a small, well-established team at the heart of the MoJ within the Chief Operating Officer group, which supports the department to deliver its vital agenda through timely and transparent decision-making. The team reviews, researches and proposes evidence-based solutions to improve processes, working relationships, and effective operation of the department. It facilitates regular forums and activities to draw together policy, strategy, agencies, and functions to collaborate towards business-wide system effectiveness.

Job description

As a critical role within the Business Solutions team, the Senior Business Solutions Manager will work closely with colleagues to make evidence-based recommendations to improve MoJ wide effectiveness.  The Senior Business Solutions Manager will be required to collect and analyse evidence to support problem identification and use this to inform and justify recommendations to Senior MoJ Leaders for problem resolution.  They will guide the wider team in assisting on their priorities and ensure the timely completion of complex pieces of work.  They will be required to apply sound judgement and creativity to recommend the best solution and be able to speak with authority about the work being undertaken.

Main activities and responsibilities

The main responsibilities of the post include, but are not limited to:

  • Working across the MoJ, its agencies and arm’s length bodies, and other key stakeholders internally and externally, to drive forward the agenda for pan-MoJ business effectiveness ambitions.
  • Supporting the Head of Business Solutions and Business Solutions Leads to deliver a portfolio of improvement and resolution activities, from commencement through to delivery.
  • Leading a key deliverable for each resolution activity – scoping, planning, delivery, analysis, through to completion – to include developing options and preparing briefing for those who will consider the proposal.
  • Leading lessons learned and scrutiny activities to track improvement and understand the impact of our resolution activities.
  • Facilitating regular forums and activities to draw together policy, agencies, and functions to collaborate towards business-wide system effectiveness.
  • Analysing and presenting findings to recommend improvements across the MoJ; this will include consulting with functions and other teams across the department.
  • Ensuring that the Senior Leadership Team and Department Leads are informed of priority matters where necessary, are involved in decision making at the appropriate level and have sufficient information and advice to help them operate effectively.
  • Providing ad-hoc support to the Director General, Director and Deputy Director related to themes that are of importance to them, not limited to the theme of business effectiveness.

Expectations of post holder in executing the role:

  • Working discreetly and handling confidential information is a critical element of this role, as is the ability to prioritise and manage a complex and demanding workload.
  • Being confident collaborating with others and having a strong commitment to communicate clearly and deliver at pace.

Travel requirements

This role involves occasional travel to other MoJ offices (e.g. London, Manchester, or Leeds), typically around once every other month.

Skills and Experience

Essential

  • Confidence in drawing on a range of evidence and analysis to deliver high-quality, innovative and inclusive advice. (Assessed via the behaviour Changing and Improving)
  • Strong problem-solving skills, bringing structure to complex issues and able to draw sound conclusions. (Assessed via the behaviour Changing and Improving)
  • The ability to impose structure on complex problems, allocate scarce resources in the context of the department’s strategy and political direction, and set-up and lead teams and bring colleagues together to reach your end goal. (Assessed via the Statement of Suitability)
  • Excellent stakeholder engagement skills and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships, and influence across the department and beyond to ensure that the work of your team has maximum impact. (Assessed via the Statement of Suitability)
  • Openness to challenge and able to effectively navigate conflicting priorities. (Assessed via the Statement of Suitability)
  • Strong prioritisation skills and the ability to make effective decisions on how to structure your work to make the best use of your resources. (Assessed via the Statement of Suitability)
  • The ability to develop an understanding of how your work fits into the department’s priorities and provide strategic insight, drawing on your understanding of the wider context to ensure your work is clear, effective and relevant. (Assessed via the Statement of Suitability)

Desirable

  • Awareness of the Government Reform Agenda, and specifically its implications for departmental operating models.
  • Experience of continuous improvement activity-related work.
  • Continuous Improvement, Lean Six Sigma, and Change Management related qualifications are desirable but not essential.

We may consider any evidence within your application and/or from interview that demonstrates meeting the desirable criteria as set out in the job description. This will only be after essential criteria is scored 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.

Please refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-profiles-civil-service-behaviours#why-we-assess-behaviours

Sift:

Behaviours

You will be required to provide a 250-word example for the behaviour listed below:

  • Changing and Improving (lead behaviour)

Experience 

  • You will be required to provide a Statement of Suitability (750 words max) outlining your experience against the relevant essential criteria above.
  • You will also be required to provide an anonymous copy of your CV.

Please refer to the ‘Skills and Experience’ section above which details how each of the essential criteria will be assessed. 

If we receive a high number of applications during the vacancy process, we will complete an initial sift based on the lead behaviour Changing and Improving.

Candidates invited to interview

Interviews will be held virtually via MS Teams.

You will be assessed on behaviours (below) and strengths from the success profiles framework.

  • Changing and Improving (lead behaviour)
  • Making Effective Decisions
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Delivering at Pace

Contact point for applicants

For more information about the role please contact Rachel Harrison (Rachel.harrison7@justice.gov.uk)
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). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

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 role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale.  This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity). 

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

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.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ 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 MoJ’s Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

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 day. 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

The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.

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.

Support

  • A range of ‘Family Friendly’ policies such as opportunities to work reduced hours or job share.
  • Access to flexible benefits such as voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts on a range of goods and services.
  • For moves to or from another employer or moves across the Civil Service this can have implications on your eligibility to carry on claiming childcare vouchers. You may however be eligible for alternative government childcare support schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. More information can be found on www.GOV.UK or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
  • Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
  • Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

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.

For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

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.

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 18859

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 18859

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Changing and Improving, 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
Changing and Improving
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
You will be required to provide a Statement of Suitability (750 words max) outlining your experience against the relevant essential criteria in the JD
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Expected from the end of July/early August
Behaviours
Changing and Improving
Making Effective Decisions
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
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.
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)

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.