Ministry of Justice UK
22661 - Senior Policy Advisor, Judicial Engagement Team
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Senior Policy Advisor, Judicial Engagement Team
Judicial and Legal Services Policy Directorate
The Judicial and Legal Services Policy Directorate is recruiting permanently for a SEO Senior Policy Advisor in the Judicial Engagement Team.
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 one of the following locations:
- 102 Petty France, London
- 5 Wellington Place, Leeds
Occasional travel between the two locations may be required. We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your base location (102 Petty France or 5 Wellington Place Leeds).
Ways of Working
At the MoJ we believe and promote alternative ways of working, these roles are available as:
- Full-time, part-time or the option to job share
- Flexible working patterns
We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity
Salary
Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.
Judicial and Legal Services Policy (JLSP) Directorate
JLSP is part of MoJ’s Policy Group. We are responsible for the department’s relationship with the judiciary and the legal services sector. Our aim is to support a flourishing legal sector and a world-class judiciary and to contribute to an effective and efficient courts system.
Judicial Engagement and Rule of Law Division (JERoLD)
JERoLD is a small, friendly and supportive division within JLSP. Our division is responsible for (1) supporting the Lord Chancellor and the wider department in engaging the judiciary; (2) advising the Lord Chancellor on his constitutional responsibilities; and (3) leading on the development of policies that ensure we have a modern judiciary that is well placed to meet the challenges of the future.
The judicial engagement team acts as a central hub facilitating the ongoing conversation between the executive and judicial branches of the state. In particular, we coordinate the briefing for regular bilateral meetings which are pivotal to the working relationship between departmental ministers (and senior officials) and members of the senior judiciary.
We also manage a regular cycle of meetings between the department and judicial associations (including the Association of District Judges; Council of Circuit Judges; and The Tribunals Forum). We are responsible for providing bespoke advice to other teams on engaging the judiciary and improving the department’s understanding of the judiciary and the role of government in its work.
Senior Policy Advisor - the role
The postholder will regularly support preparations for bilateral meetings between the department and senior judges at the highest level, as well as the department’s meetings with judicial associations. They will have frequent contact with a range of teams and seniors across the department and Judicial Office. They will need to negotiate with teams, exercising good judgement, excellent attention to detail, and be responsible for providing high quality briefing products
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The successful applicant will have scope to shape and develop the role, but it is likely to involve:
- Supporting the preparation of briefing materials for ministers and senior officials to use in bilateral meetings with members of the senior judiciary.
- Managing preparations for meetings between the department and judicial associations.
- Supporting the judicial engagement team to increase the wider department’s awareness and understanding of the judiciary and judicial engagement.
Skills and Experience
Essential
- Ability to work effectively with a diverse range of teams across the department and beyond, establishing strong working relationships.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Attention to detail and sound judgment.
- Adept at managing a demanding workload and prioritising and organising effectively.
Desirable
- Experience of working with judges, and an understanding of the legal system and the constitution would be an advantage.
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 CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, 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.
Experience
You will be asked to provide a CV during the application process to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.
Behaviours
During the application process you will be asked to provide an example of how you have met the following behaviours:
- Communicating and Influencing (Lead)
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:
Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK
Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the lead behaviour of Communicating and Influencing. Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.
Candidates invited to Interview
Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely.
At interview you will be assessed against behaviours where you will be asked to provide examples of how you have demonstrated them. In addition, you will also be asked strength-based questions and to deliver a presentation on justice issues – details to be provided nearer the time.
Behaviours:
The following Behaviours will be tested at interview:
- Communicating and Influencing
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Working Together
It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:
- WHO - What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve? Or
- STAR - What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take? What were the Results of your actions?
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:
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Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK
Strengths:
It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role. While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this. Further information on Civil Service Strengths can be found via this link:
Success Profiles: Strengths - GOV.UK
Interviews are expected to take place late October or early November 2026.
Contact information
Please do get in touch with matthew.gaunt@justice.gov.uk if you would like to know more about the role or what it is like working in our team.
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
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