About this role
This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.
### 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
Job description
Job Title : Senior People Potential Partner
Grade : SEO
Business Group: People and Capability Group
Contract Types: Permanent and Fixed Term for 18 Months
Directorate: Strategy and Centre of Expertise
Team: Inclusive Culture Centre of Expertise
Location: National
People & Capability Group
People and Capability is here to support the organisation by enabling its people to be the best that they can be. We are continuously reviewing and enhancing the services we provide across the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to ensure the delivery of high-quality services for our customers.
As a department, we are going through a period of significant transformation and our people services are at the forefront of enabling that change. MoJ People and Capability is a team of 1,400 committed and capable professionals delivering people services across the Justice family. At the heart of delivering these services, are our people.
Information about the MoJ and its priorities can be found at www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about
About the Role
The Senior People Potential Partners are subject matter experts within the Inclusive Culture Centre of Expertise. They help to build our in-depth knowledge, research, thought leadership, best practice and work as experts influence practical and lasting cultural change for the better. We are seeking two experienced practitioners to join our team who can support work to progress inclusion across equality priorities including, but not limited to, gender equality, disability, age inclusion, carers and pay equity.
The post holder will provide expertise on a breadth of workforce inclusion and organisational change to the design and delivery of people policy and strategic projects across MoJ family linked to the delivery of Civil Service inclusion priorities and legal duties to contribute to a culture rooted in our values.
The identification of issues and solutions and development of policy will need to be underpinned by evidence and expertise.
The post holders will contribute to the central leadership offer from ICCE to stakeholders throughout the department including the business groups, executive agencies and ALBs (Arm's Length Bodies) and with teams in People and Capability Group.
The post holders will also represent MoJ externally and ensure that opportunities are taken up that show both our delivery and thought leadership. In this way we can show that inequalities are addressed, diverse representation increases, and bullying, harassment and discrimination related to diversity characteristics is eliminated. This will enable MoJ provides an inclusive employee experience.
Occasional travel will be required to attend team meetings across Ministry of Justice sites.
This recruitment campaign is seeking to fill two vacancies: one permanent role and one Fixed-Term Appointment (FTA) for 18 months. Candidates will be appointed in merit order following assessment. The highest-ranked appointable candidate will be offered first refusal of the roles.
Travel - Occasional travel will be required to attend team meetings across Ministry of Justice sites.
Main Activities / Responsibilities
The post holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities:
- Provide strategic subject matter expertise and informed advice on best practice in relation to at least two or more equality strands, taking in account the application of guidance relating to discrimination law, including the Equality Act 2010.
- Lead strategic work to develop the potential of our people, bringing your expert knowledge to bear in projects across the Ministry of Justice, working collaboratively and in partnership with colleagues to achieve measurable success.
- Use the departmental evidence base and best practice to identify specific challenges and seek solutions with clear success criteria to meet the inclusion aspirations of the Ministry of Justice.
- Work in partnership with other experts within ICCE and across the Ministry of Justice to collaborate on initiatives and influence change projects that have a specific link to your expert subject.
- Work in partnership with staff networks and inclusion champions to create the right environment to build an inclusive employee experience.
- Provide strategic subject matter expertise to ExCo Champions linked to your expert subject/s, working closely with their private offices to facilitate impactful outcomes.
- Provide high quality written briefings and present work that communicates key points clearly and appropriately for the audience.
- Measure progress and report on progress against agreed performance indicators and measures and support effective governance for your work.
- Engage across the Civil Service on cross sector best practice on inclusion.
- Gain, maintain or improve accreditation that highlights our best practice.
- Build and promote expertise on inclusive practices across the Ministry of Justice at all levels of the organisation.
Essential Criteria
- Knowledge of equality law and experience of advising on strategic initiatives. ( Seeing the Big Picture and Statement of Suitability)
- Ability to use evidence to identify opportunities for improvement, drive change through others, shape strategic priorities, and influence senior leaders. ( Changing and Improving and Statement of Suitability )
- Strong organisational skills, with the ability to balance priorities and meet personal and directorate targets, managing own workload within demanding timescales. ( Statement of Suitability)
- Experience of and the ability to make strong, influential, trust-based professional partnerships with a range of stakeholders, providing constructive challenge. ( Working Together and Statement of Suitability)
- Ability to work through others to motivate change, drive an agenda and influence senior leaders. ( Working Together)
- Demonstrates strong initiative and the ability to work independently, identifying priorities and taking appropriate action with minimal supervision. ( Changing and Improving)
- Strong communication skills, with an ability to get complex information across in a clear and succinct way. (Communicating and Influencing)
- Experience of managing projects and monitoring project delivery, including the development and delivery of strategic priority actions. (Delivering at Pace)
Desirable Criteria
- Experience of advising senior leaders.
- Ability to use data and qualitative feedback to identify trends and use insights to support work.
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 .
Sift
CV
Please provide an anonymised copy of your CV.
Statement of Suitability
Please explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide evidence to the essential criteria above. Please also put particular focus on experience of providing strategic subject matter expertise to lead change to improve workforce inclusion and building stakeholder relationships.
Behaviours
Please provide examples that show how you meet the behaviours associated with each of the essential criteria listed above.
- Changing and Improving (Lead Behaviour Sift and Interview)
- Communicating and Influencing (Sift and Interview)
- Seeing the Big Picture (Sift and Interview)
- Working Together (Sift and Interview)
- Delivering at Pace (Sift and Interview)
Please refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details, including by grade:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-profiles-civil-service-behaviours#why-we-assess-behaviours
If we receive a large number of applications, we will carry out an initial sift on the lead behaviour Changing and Improving.
Candidates invited to Interview
Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely via MS Teams. During the interview, we will be assessing you on behaviours, experience, presentation and strengths from the Success Profiles framework.
Presentation - Candidates invited to interview will be required to deliver a short presentation. Further details and the presentation topic will be provided in advance of the interview.
Experience questions
You will be asked questions on your knowledge and experience of equality, diversity and inclusion, including using evidence, stakeholder engagement and practical interventions to support inclusive and equitable outcomes.
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 roles: 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.
Eligibility
Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.
Vacancies advertised “cross-government” are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.
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. www.GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/tax-free-childcare) or Childcare Choices (https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/) . 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 Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) );
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ( [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) );
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/) )
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 TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos .
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 .
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 (https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fsettled-status-eu-citizens-families&data=05%7C01%7Cchristopher.jeffery%40soprasteria.com%7C8a2293860362402c15da08dbf4cff146%7C8b87af7d86474dc78df45f69a2011bb5%7C0%7C0%7C638372946312587803%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=s%2BxUsev%2BGeeK%2FLgTUjpjfTJu%2FjpKQZ%2BQPJXNduvik3Q%3D&reserved=0)
- 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 [email protected]
Please quote the job reference 21953
HMPPS
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]
Please quote the job reference
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.
### Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
Please explain how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience demonstrate your suitability for the role and provide evidence to the essential criteria above. Please also put particular focus on experience of providing strategic subject matter expertise to lead change to improve workforce inclusion and building stakeholder relationships
Your Experience for this role will be assessed at interview. To learn more about Experience and how they are assessed please click here (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-profiles-experience).
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/success-profiles/success-profiles-strengths).
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.