Policy

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.

About the Department

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 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.

What we do

We work to protect the public and reduce reoffending, and to provide a more effective, transparent and responsive criminal justice system for victims and the public. We are also responsible for the following parts of the justice system:

• courts
• prisons
• probation services
• attendance centres

We also work in partnership with other government departments and agencies to reform the criminal justice system, to serve the public and support the victims of crime. We are also responsible for making new laws, strengthening democracy, and safeguarding human rights.

Priorities

• A prison and probation service that reforms offenders
• A modern courts and justice system
• A Global Britain that promotes the rule of law
• A transformed department that is simpler, smarter and more unified

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

Job Profile

Job Title / Group / Directorate

Senior Policy Adviser (SEO), City Deals & Levelling Up, Scotland Office – 2 year fixed term

Reports To

Craig Birrell, Team Leader, City Deals & Levelling Up

Location & Terms of appointment

This is two-year fixed term post based in either Edinburgh (Queen Elizabeth House) or London (Dover House). Please note the role will require travel to the alternate site from time to time to attend key meetings and deliver on the role’s requirements.

Grade

This post is Band B (SEO).

New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join on the minimum of the pay range.  

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

Background

The Scotland Office supports the Secretary of State in promoting the best interests of Scotland within a stronger United Kingdom. It ensures Scottish interests are fully and effectively represented at the heart of the UK Government, and the UK Government’s responsibilities are fully and effectively represented in Scotland.

The City Deal and Levelling Up team is responsible for supporting delivery of twelve City and Growth Deals across all of Scotland, as well as helping progress the UK Government’s Levelling Up agenda in Scotland, and promoting UK Government policy interests across these programmes, including in interactions with local government.  The team is headed by a Grade 6 and two Grade 7’s. We work closely with other Scotland Office Divisions and our external stakeholders to support UK Government objectives. 

The Scotland Office is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where we can all be ourselves and succeed on merit.

We encourage applications from people from all backgrounds and aim to have a workforce that represents the wider society that we serve. We offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements, people engagement forums, facilities and services.

Role Purpose 

The City Deals and Levelling Up Team is looking for an individual who will bring positive energy, creativity and collaboration to the team. Along with your team colleagues, you will be responsible for supporting the effective delivery of City and Growth Deals and levelling up initiatives in Scotland, collaborating with a range of stakeholders within and outside government. The post holder will also ensure Scotland Office Ministers are kept up to date with key activities in Scotland, and support the promotion of UK Government policy in Scotland.

This role provides an exciting and unique opportunity to work on diverse and high-profile policy issues, programmes and projects taking place in Scotland, ranging from significant infrastructure investments to smaller scale community projects.  

The post holder will have the opportunity to build relationships with a range of UK Government agencies, as well as Scottish Government, local City and Growth Deal partnerships and levelling up stakeholders. 

To support the team’s fast-paced work, you will work across a number of projects and policy priorities. The team works flexibly, and we adjust our priorities and responsibilities as needed to respond to a dynamic environment and ensure we can deliver on our local growth and levelling up objectives.

More information on the team’s work can be found here:

https://www.deliveringforscotland.gov.uk/levelling-up/city-region-deals/

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/levelling-up-reaches-new-heights-in-scotland

Main Activities / Responsibilities

This is a fast paced, high output and varied role, including, but not limited to:

• Providing advice, briefing and support to the Secretary of State for Scotland, Ministers and Special Advisors on your relevant policy areas;
• Collaborating with team members as well as counterparts in other government departments, Scottish Government and local authorities, to support the development and effective delivery of City and Growth Deal and levelling up projects in Scotland;
• Working with other UK Government departments to develop and implement plans for policy priorities in Scotland; and ensure policy developed in Whitehall supports needs and opportunities across Scotland;
• Representing the Scotland Office externally at events and meetings with key stakeholders, including private sector organisations, academia and the third sector, local government and the Scottish Government.

Person Specification:

Essential criteria

• Ability to prepare clear and succinct policy advice, briefings, replies to correspondence and other requests for Government Ministers, Special Advisors and senior policy colleagues.
• Ability to demonstrate effective leadership, communication and networking skills to secure the confidence of those you are engaging with. 
• Ability to effectively manage competing priorities.

Desirable criteria

• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment, with high levels of personal autonomy.
• Knowledge of the Scottish political landscape, the Devolution Settlement, City and Growth Deals and Levelling Up policy. 

Behaviours:

We’ll assess against these three behaviours during the selection process (written application and interview):

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

At interview, the following additional behaviour will be assessed in addition to the three above:

• Leadership

Candidates are strongly advised to use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) approach in their answers to the behaviour examples.

*Should we receive a high volume of applications, an initial sift of written applications may be conducted using the lead behaviour (Delivering at Pace) only. Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview.

Salary

The national salary is £37,683 - £41,506, London salary is £43,647 - £48,067. Your salary will be dependent on your base location

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.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices.

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 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

• To Shared Service Connected Ltd (0845 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. 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 SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team.

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.