The Role:
We are seeking an experienced, strategic and inclusive leader to join the Scotland Office’s Local Growth and Place Division as the Head of Strategic Engagement and Place Policy.
The Local Growth and Place Division is acting as the Scotland Office’s place-based delivery and local insights hub. To achieve this, it is composed of four teams overseen by the Deputy Director for Local Growth and Place:
The Local Growth Team: leading the delivery of Scottish City and Regional Growth Deals and the Scottish Local Growth Fund; and supporting the delivery of wider UK Government place-based local growth funds in Scotland.
Project Management Lead: ensuring SO project and delivery management reflect Government best practice.
The Head of Strategic Engagement and Place Policy would oversee and drive the work of the Strategic Engagement Team, the Social, Rural and Fiscal Policy Team, as well as the Project Management Lead.
We are looking for someone with impeccable organisational and prioritisation skills, confidence in their own judgement and a track record of translating ministerial priorities into tangible, implementable action.
They will possess the proven ability to deliver through others with kindness and compassion and demonstrate an ability to manage a demanding workload whilst horizon scanning and responding swiftly to emerging priorities.
They will also have experience in establishing and maintaining effective relationships with external stakeholders - including by establishing and maintaining an insights tracking system that supports the department’s policy influencing agenda. Further, they will have a strong understanding and experience of Government spending, project management and delivery best practices. Experience with / understanding of MHCLG, DfE, DCMS, Defra, DHSC, MoJ and HMT policy priorities and ways of working is desirable.
In return, they will be welcomed into a social, experienced and fast-paced team that places collaboration, challenge, innovation and high-quality outputs at the centre of what we do.
The role holder will lead the teams at a crucial moment in time. The Local Growth and Place Division has been restructured and stood up in its current form following a wider departmental reorganisation in June. The post holder will therefore have to balance effective BAU delivery across teams activities, while also supporting the Deputy-Director Local Growth and Place in designing and kickstarting the set-up, ways of working arrangements and longer term work planning for the teams in line with organisational transformation outcomes - embedding engagement throughout our work and pioneering the approach to matrix working in SO. Working creatively to drive continuous improvements and to lead processes and ways of working changes in-flight will be a key feature of this role.
Key responsibilities
Key responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
Work creatively to drive continuous improvements in how the team operates and is structured - including by supporting cross-departmental capability building as relevant.
Overseeing the work of the Strategic Engagement team, the Social Rural and Fiscal Policy team, and the Project Management Lead to ensure effective BAU delivery of (a) cross-Scotland Office engagement, visits and events activity; (b) ensuring MHCLG, DfE, DCMS, Defra, DHSC, MoJ and HMT opportunities for Scotland are considered; and (c) delivery of project management best practice workshops and supporting documentation.
Work closely with the Policy DDs, policy leads, and the engagement team to implement an updated Scotland Office engagement strategy - aligned with organisational transformation outcomes.
Work closely with the DD Local Growth and Place to stand up a new engagement insight sharing process and CRM recording system that drive the department’s policy influencing agenda.
Person Specification
Essential:
Proven strategic thinking and practical delivery skills, with the intellectual curiosity to understand the wider context within which you work.
Excellent written and verbal communication, and confident working closely with senior leaders/ministers.
Experience of providing policy and/or engagement advice to government ministers or senior leaders and demonstrated ability to pick up new topics quickly.
Ability to work confidently and credibly with a range of colleagues, external partners and ministers, and to influence and prioritise direction of work.
Ability to be creative and innovative, coming up with new ideas to tackle problems.
Thorough experience in stakeholder engagement and Government visits and events.
Experience of successfully leading teams through times of change and transition, including by building capability.
Desirable:
Experience in working with MHCLG, DfE, DCMS, Defra, DHSC, MoJ and HMT.
Understanding of the policy, delivery and stakeholder landscape in Scotland.
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
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.
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:
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.
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: 21146
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: 21146
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.
This is the official LinkedIn page of the UK Ministry of Justice.
This page is not moderated.
To find out more about our work follow us on:
X at www.twitter.com/mojgovuk
Facebook at www.facebook.com/ministryofjusticeuk
Instagram at www.instagram.com/mojgovuk
