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
Head of Parliamentary Strategy and Engagement
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Private Office and Parliament (POP)
The Private Office and Parliament (POP) Directorate is recruiting permanently for one experienced and highly motivated leader to head its Parliamentary Strategy and Engagement function. You will lead a team operating at the heart of the Department, providing strategic advice to Ministers, Private Offices, policy colleagues and senior officials on parliamentary engagement, parliamentary risk, and ensuring the Department takes a proactive and informed approach to its relationship with Parliament.
This campaign is open to current civil servants on level transfer and suitable candidates on promotion.
Location
Successful candidates will have the option to be based at the following locations:
- 102 Petty France, London
- 5 Wellington Place, Leeds
Employees must work from the office for at least 40% of their hours, usually two days per week. This hybrid working arrangement is not contractual and as a result staff could be asked to attend their base location more frequently.
Salary
Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay rules.
Security Clearance
The role requires CTC vetting level and to be eligible to apply for this role you should have been present in the UK continuously for the past 3 years.
If you do not hold the appropriate level of vetting, you may still apply but must meet the required criteria as you will be required to undergo vetting to attain the enhanced vetting requirement. If you are not cleared at the required NSV level, you will not be able to take up the role and the offer will be withdrawn.
You can find more information by reviewing the information held in the following links:
United Kingdom Security Vetting: Applicant - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The vetting charter - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
The Work of the Parliament and Legislation Team
The Parliament and Legislation (P&L) team manages the Department's parliamentary business including all primary and secondary legislation, all parliamentary scrutiny of the Department (written and oral parliamentary questions, select committee liaison, debates, statements and briefing for No.10 and the Leader of the House), and the strategic approach to the Department’s interaction with Parliament as a stakeholder.
The work is fast-paced and requires the ability to adapt to new information, constantly reprioritise and work closely with senior stakeholders and ministers. The team sits within the Private Office and Parliament (POP) Directorate.
Head of Parliamentary Strategy and Engagement – the role
As Head of Parliamentary Strategy and Engagement, you will lead the team responsible for the Department's strategic approach to parliamentary engagement. You will have line management responsibility of 2 HEOs.
Your team will lead the Department's work on proactively managing Parliament as a key stakeholder in policy development, ensuring parliamentary considerations are embedded early in decision-making and delivery. You will oversee parliamentary handling for major announcements and policy developments, advising colleagues and Ministers on how best to engage Parliament.
You will also lead the Department's parliamentary intelligence and horizon-scanning functions, bringing together information on parliamentary trends, emerging risks and stakeholder interests to inform ministerial decision-making and departmental strategy. You will also be expected to lead on providing written and oral briefings on such matters.
The role requires strong leadership, political awareness and the ability to influence senior stakeholders across the Ministry of Justice and wider government. You will work closely with ministers, policy colleagues, senior officials and Private Offices to develop and deliver a coherent approach to parliamentary engagement across the department.
Key Responsibilities
- Leading the Parliamentary Strategy and Engagement Team, including the management and development of team members and the overall direction of the function.
- Providing strategic advice, both in writing and orally, to Ministers, Special Advisers, senior officials and Private Offices on parliamentary engagement, handling and risk.
- Be an expert on parliamentary procedure and best practise, especially regarding oral and written statements.
- Working with policy and operational teams across the Department to embed parliamentary considerations into policy development and implementation and have overall responsibility for clearance of all submissions to ministers.
- Overseeing parliamentary handling for major announcements and politically sensitive issues, ensuring Parliament is appropriately informed and engaged.
- Leading the Department's parliamentary intelligence function, identifying emerging trends, risks and opportunities.
- Supporting the Parliamentary Clerk and wider senior leadership team on parliamentary strategy, engagement and handling issues.
- Building strong relationships with Ministers, Private Offices, policy teams, parliamentary authorities, the Leader’s Office, No.10 and colleagues across Whitehall.
Skills and Experience
Essential
- Strong leadership skills, with experience of leading colleagues and coordinating delivery across teams.
- Outstanding capability to grip issues and work together to find solutions and navigate parliamentary procedures, often at pace.
- Excellent political awareness and a genuine interest in parliamentary business, politics and current affairs.
- Strong strategic thinking skills, with the ability to identify risks and opportunities at an early stage.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to distil complex information into clear, succinct products.
- Ability to manage multiple competing priorities and deliver high-quality outcomes at pace.
Desirable
- Experience and knowledge of parliamentary engagement and processes.
The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description.
Application process
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework .
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your career history and statement of suitability, are truthful and factually accurate.
Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Candidates will be assessed through a written application and interview.
Experience
You will be asked to provide your CV during the application process in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.
Statement of Suitability
During the application process, you will be asked to provide a CV of no more than 2 pages and a Statement of Suitability, which should set out how you meet the essential criteria with a word limit of 750 words.
Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing the following behaviours:
- Leadership
- Communicating and Influencing
- Delivering at Pace
You will also be asked Strength questions.
Please refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade: Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK
You can also refer to the CS Strengths dictionary for more details: Success Profiles - Civil Service Strengths Dictionary (publishing.service.gov.uk) .
Contact information
Please do get in touch if you would like to know more about the role or what it is like working in our team: Sarah Peyto ([email protected]).
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 are 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.
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 24039
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 24039
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.