International, Rights and Constitutional Policy Directorate
The International, Rights and Constitutional Policy Directorate is recruiting permanently for a Senior Policy Advisor at SEO level.
Candidates are reminded that to be eligible for this campaign; you must still be employed as a civil servant at the point of accepting the role. If you resign or your FTA contract ends before you are made and accept an offer, you will become ineligible and you will be withdrawn from the process.
The post is open to all staff who currently hold valid DV clearance. Applicants invited to interview will be required to provide their DV clearance reference number, together with the commencement and expiry dates of their clearance, which can be found on your clearance confirmation letter. In addition, applicants must meet the minimum UK residency requirements set by the Cabinet Office, which vary according to the security level required for the role.
This position is based at 102 Petty France, London.
We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your base location.
At the MoJ we believe and promote alternative ways of working, these roles are available as:
If we receive applications from multiple suitable candidates we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.
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
Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.
MoJ is the largest government department, employing over 90,000 people with a budget of approximately £10 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.
Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice
The work of the International, Rights and Constitutional Policy Directorate The International, Rights and Constitutional Policy Directorate (IRCPD) is a busy directorate with a wide-ranging policy portfolio covering human rights, international justice, devolution, the Crown Dependencies, and the wider corporate functions for the MoJ’s Policy Group. We have responsibility for the international work of the department, including setting the direction and priorities for MoJ’s international work. We have responsibility for the human rights framework in the UK, and internationally in relation to our human rights obligations with the United Nations and the Council of Europe. We also have responsibility for constitutional policy, which includes managing our relationships with the Crown Dependencies and the devolved administrations.
The Rights and Public Law Division (RPLD) has policy responsibility for the UK’s human rights framework, both domestically through the Human Rights Act, and internationally through the European Convention on Human Rights, and a number United Nations conventions. The Division also oversees justice business in the Council of Europe, acting as a centre of excellence for the department. The CMP Policy team sits within the RPLD.
Closed Material Procedure (CMP) is a process that allows senior courts across the UK to consider sensitive material whilst protecting that information. CMP operates within several different jurisdictions including the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (SIAC), the Employment Tribunal, the Parole Board and certain civil proceedings. CMP in a civil context was reviewed by Sir Duncan Ouseley, former High Court Judge, and his report (the Ouseley report) was published in November 2022. The previous Government responded to this review on 29 May 2024 and accepted a number of Sir Duncan’s recommendations to improve the CMP system.
Following this a new team was established to take on responsibility for CMP policy and deliver the recommendations from the Ouseley report accepted by the current Government. This is a high-profile area with a high level of Ministerial interest and a complex wider context involving national security considerations, legal challenges and handling sensitivities.
We are recruiting for an established SEO to join the team, and to establish a merit list to provide further resilience. The successful candidate will drive the delivery of an electronic database of closed judgments, while also overseeing the team’s financial management and spend.
The post holder will lead the end-to-end delivery of the database project managing its development and overseeing a working group of digital, security, legal and commercial experts across MoJ and, where needed, other government departments.
There may also be opportunities for the post holder to be involved in other work of the team depending on workflows on the database.
This is a challenging and rewarding opportunity to work on a high-profile and sensitive area of policy at a critical time in its development. We are looking for candidates with strong communication skills, personal resilience, and a proven track of working proactively and delivering with others. The work will be fast moving, and we are looking for individuals who are motivated team players with a willingness to flex across role requirements according to business need.
This is a team that supports people to develop in their careers and is an open, inclusive and enjoyable place to work.
In order to build a strong and productive team we would encourage people from a range of backgrounds to apply, including those outside of traditional policy work with experience and/or an interest in this area.
Key responsibilities of this role will include the following:
Desirable:
Candidates applying from HMPPS should note that the Ministry of Justice does not have the same conditions of employment as HMPPS. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful.
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.
You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.
Experience
You will be asked to provide a Work History during the application process in order to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.
You will also be asked to upload a Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words, outlining your motivation for seeking the role, and how your skills and experience would contribute to the roles and responsibilities outlined.
Behaviours
During the application process you will be asked to provide an example of how you have met the following behaviour (see Annex A for more information):
Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attach ment_data/file/717275/CS_Behaviours_2018.pdf
Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.
Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely and prior to the formal start of the interview you will be asked to provide confirmation of your active DV clearance status.
During the panel interview, you will be asked behaviour-based questions to explore in detail what you are capable of, and strengths-based questions to also explore what you enjoy, and your motivations relevant to the job role.
You will be asked by the interview panel to provide examples of how you meet the following behaviours:
There is no expectation or requirement for you to prepare for the strengths-based questions in advance of the interview, though you may find it helpful to spend some time reflecting on what you enjoy doing and what you do well.
You can refer to the CS Strengths dictionary for more details: Success Profiles - Civil Service Strengths Dictionary (publishing.service.gov.uk)
Interviews are expected to take place during September 2026.
Please do get in touch if you would like to know more about the role or what it is like working in our team. CMP Project Team leader: Elspeth Rainbow, elspeth.rainbow@justice.gov.uk. Or through our shared email address: closedmaterialprocedure@justice.gov.uk
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.
Task - The job holder will want to understand what you tried to achieve from the situation you found yourself in.
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.
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.
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 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:
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 20752
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
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.
