Team/Directorate: Strategy and Modernisation Team

Role: Principal Strategy Advisor (Cross-Jurisdictional)

Grade: G7

of the Judicial Office

The Judicial Office (JO) reports to, and is accountable, to the Lady Chief Justice (LCJ). It was established in 2006 to provide support to the LCJ and to the wider judiciary in upholding the rule of law and in delivering justice impartially, speedily and efficiently, following the Constitutional Reform Act 2005.

In addition, we support, and are accountable to, the Senior President of Tribunals, whose responsibilities extend to Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The JO is an interesting and unique place to work. Everything we do is in support of upholding the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. We work closely with HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and others across Government as well as with the legal professions.

We are an Arm’s Length Body sponsored by the Ministry of Justice. This creates an interesting and complex environment in which to work where we agree our priorities with the senior judiciary and receive our funding to deliver them from the Ministry of Justice. The Judicial Office has been through a period of significant growth resulting from an expansion of our remit and responsibilities.

of the team

The Strategy and Modernisation Team supports the senior judiciary to deliver their strategic priorities in a cross jurisdictional way; it plays an integral part in providing policy expertise across the Judicial Office, developing key policy, and advising the most senior judges on the strategic questions of the day. The team works across all jurisdictions (civil, family, tribunals, crime and coronial as well as on cross-jurisdictional projects such as One Judiciary), working with a range of judges. The team has close links with several different teams within Judicial Office, in particular HR Policy, the Judicial College and the Private Offices. Externally the team has close working relationships with HMCTS and MoJ and represents the judiciary on a number of boards and working groups.

Hybrid Working Requirement

This position is eligible for hybrid working (current minimum requirement for time spent at base location is 60%, which is subject to business requirements).

of the role

This is an exciting and challenging opportunity to provide direct support to the senior judiciary in delivering their vision for cross-jurisdictional reform. The Strategy and Modernisation Team (‘StratMod’) includes sub-teams focused on modernisation in the civil, family, tribunals and criminal jurisdictions. This particular role leads on cross-jurisdictional projects, including One Judiciary: a long-standing ambition of the Lady Chief Justice, the Senior President of Tribunals and the senior judiciary to bring courts and tribunals closer together. Historically, the courts and tribunals judiciaries have sometimes operated differently in relation to procedure, policy and working practices. One Judiciary aims to create a more flexible and efficient system by breaking down barriers, encouraging greater collaboration, and fostering a single judicial family with a shared purpose and values, while respecting the strengths of each jurisdiction.

The previous role holder led major constitutional changes under the One Judiciary banner, including reform of the role of the Senior President of Tribunals to strengthen unified leadership under the Lady Chief Justice and create a clearer structure for the courts and tribunals judiciary in England and Wales. These measures are included in the Courts and Tribunals Bill, introduced to Parliament in February 2026. This has been a large and technically complex project.

The previous post holder has also been delivering a major modernisation of the High Court structure through the establishment of a new Business and Property Division. The relevant caseload is currently spread across both the King’s Bench and Chancery Divisions. Under the reform, the new Division will bring high-value, complex disputes together in one place, covering commercial, business, property, technology, construction and intellectual property cases. This work is complex, fast-paced and dependent on strong working relationships with senior judges and officials.

The cross-jurisdictional team also includes an SEO and an HEO, who lead on aspects of One Judiciary and parliamentary monitoring and engagement.

A strong candidate will be able to support judicial commissions in designing and delivering a range of policies and strategies, working with stakeholders to ensure that the work is practical, deliverable and implemented effectively. The postholder will need the confidence and judgement to maintain momentum and influence colleagues internally and across Government to deliver change. This will include providing regular oral and written briefings to senior judges and colleagues, and chairing official-level working group meetings. This is a stretching G7 role requiring a high degree of independent working.

The team’s work supports the effective operation of the judiciary and the wider justice system, with a broad and positive impact on society. Our staff engagement scores are consistently very high, and staff can clearly see the impact of their work. We are a happy and busy team that enjoys the chance to work directly with senior principals on projects of high interest to the wider judiciary and policy-makers within government.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties:

• Support the delivery of specific projects, including the Future Judicial Structures project and the development of the new Business and Property Division.
• Support the senior judiciary in implementing cross-jurisdictional reform and other modernisation initiatives.
• Liaise with HMCTS, MoJ and teams across Judicial Office to ensure the judiciary is an effective participant and leader in the delivery of key initiatives and projects.
• Line manage one SEO and hold counter-signing responsibility for one HEO.
• Contribute as a member of the StratMod Senior Management Team, working with six other Grade 7s to shape the team’s work and ensure the team plays an active role in the wider work of the Judicial Office.

Essential Knowledge, Experience and Skills

The successful candidate must be able to:

• Influence effectively, manage upwards with confidence, and speak with authority when engaging with senior officials and members of the judiciary.
• Demonstrate excellent communication and leadership skills, including the ability to build confidence and secure buy-in from a range of stakeholders.
• Show strong organisational skills, with the ability to drive multiple work strands forward at pace and sustain momentum over extended periods.
• Produce high-quality written briefing, advice and policy papers for senior audiences.
• Lead and support a small team, creating an inclusive and high-performing working environment.
• Exercise sound judgement in complex, sensitive or ambiguous situations, including where judicial independence or constitutional considerations are engaged.
• Build and maintain effective relationships across organisational boundaries, including with policy, operational and legal colleagues.
• Turn strategic objectives into practical plans, identifying dependencies, risks and opportunities for delivery.
• Show a broad understanding of the justice system, including how policy, legislation and operational delivery interact.
• Demonstrate experience of developing and delivering strategies or policies from inception through to implementation.
• Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills Experience of working with, or supporting, the judiciary, together with an interest in the courts and tribunals system.
• An understanding of constitutional principles, including judicial independence and the respective roles of the judiciary, Government and Parliament.

Behaviours (for Recruitment/Success Profiles):

• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace

Assessment process at application - CV and a Statement of Suitability of up to 750 words.

Assessment process at interview - 5-minute presentation, plus a behaviour and strength-based interview.

Security clearance required:

(this will be determined by the location)

• CTC

Please note:

Central Government policy dictates that applicants for National Security Clearance must be a resident in the UK for these minimum periods:

• CTC - 3 years
• SC - 5 years
• DV - 10 years

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 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 Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

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 Planand 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
• 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.

A sift based on the lead behaviour, Communicating and Influencing, 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.