Overview 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.
See JO staff talk about working here: https://design102.wistia.com/medias/uhgtmbtnlv
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).
Summary of the role
This role works closely with the Deputy Director Head of HR (DDHR) across a broad range of Judicial HR business. The role provides the sole business support to DDHR, leads on budget management and headcount controls for the directorate (c£370,000), and also provides assurance to DDHR across the range of activity and projects underway in the HR teams, ensuring high quality standards are maintained. It has a vital role in managing the flow of work through DDHR's office, and is the main link for the HR function into the private offices, collating and preparing briefings for the Lady Chief Justice and Heads of Division.
The role requires the incumbent to maintain confidentiality when sighted on sensitive issues. The post holder is required to provide views and advice on briefings and papers and make suggestions for change, as well as providing first drafts of a range of papers to allow DDHR to keep on top of the diverse and voluminous amount of work that comes with running a large directorate. The postholder frequently manages upwards to HR SLT, delivering difficult messages and ensuring work remains on track. This unique role will give the post holder an opportunity to work directly with a senior HR leader in providing
important support to the senior judiciary, working regularly with the Chief Executive's Office, and with a range of stakeholders such as senior officials from MoJ, HMCTS and JAC.
Responsibilities, Activities & Duties:
- Maintain oversight of the Judicial HR Budget, working across the HR teams. Lead on reporting and providing assurance to DDHR and the Business Support Team.
- Managing and monitoring all corporate returns on behalf of Judicial HR.
- Commission and collate high level briefings at pace, meeting deadlines and ensuring quality.
- Assist DDHR in leading and managing the HR function across the full range of Judicial HR business, to enable the assurance and governance of judicial HR.
- To enable HR to achieve its strategic and operational objectives, to put processes in place to ensure that DDHR has oversight of the HR strategy, HR action plans, progress, outcomes, related policy activities, and where appropriate program governance.
- To run DDHR's office, ensuring papers are commissioned in a timely manner, managing the flow of work, providing first drafts, leading project work as required and inbox and diary management.
- To support DDHR in running the HR SLT, liaising with members to populate the Forward Look for agenda items, making recommendations to improve the efficient running of the Board.
Essential Knowledge, Experience and Skills
- Ability to work at pace, to prioritise and adapt workloads and delivery to emerging or changing priorities.
- Strong negotiation and persuasion skills with the ability to navigate through and influence senior stakeholders and senior managers as appropriate.
- Ability to quickly build trusted relationships across a broad range of stakeholders, at all levels.
- Ability to identify risks and make suggestions to resolve issues effectively.
- Ability to communicate effectively and in a timely.
- Excellent project management skills.
- Excellent IT skills, including Microsoft Excel
Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills
- Experience working within Assurance and Governance.
- Experience of budget management and reporting.
- Experience of working with Judicial Office Holders and/or knowledge of the judiciary.
Behaviours (for Recruitment/Success Profiles):
- Seeing the big Picture
- Leadership (Lead Behaviour)
- Making effective decisions
- Changing and Improving
Assessment process at application
At application, candidates will be asked to submit a CV, Statement of Suitability and the listed Civil Service Behaviours.
In case of a large number of applications, we will be sifting only the lead behaviour, Leadership.
Assessment process at interview
At interview, candidates will be assessed on the listed Civil Service Behaviours.
Security clearance required:
CTC
