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This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.

General Information

Salary
The national salary range is £35,335- £37,847. London salary range is £40,014 - £42,859. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Cross Government
Location
Birmingham, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Jarrow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Nottingham
Region
East Midlands, East of England, London, North East, North West, South East, South West, Wales, West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Humber
Closing Date
28-Nov-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
11807

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job Title & Grade: People Engagement Manager - HEO

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary range (depending on location): National - £35,335 to £37,847  London - £40,014 to £42,859  

Please note that unless you are currently employed by the Civil Service and are earning more than the minimum above, if successful you will be offered the minimum for the grade depending on your location.

Location: National – LAA Offices

Directorate: Corporate Services

Team: People and Capability

Working Pattern: The post is supported by the MOJ flexible working policy and includes colleagues who work flexibly, remotely (as part of hybrid working), part time or as part of a job share etc.

To meet legal requirements, if you are between the ages 16-18 and you are a successful candidate, you will be required to complete an apprenticeship after your initial on the job training. 

Reporting to: Head of Leadership & Talent

The Legal Aid Agency

We are an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). We are responsible for operationally administering the legal aid fund to provide criminal and civil legal aid advice to people in England and Wales.  

Our people are at the heart of achieving excellence. Employing around 1,200 colleagues across England and Wales, we feel proud to have some of the best People Survey results in the Civil Service. 

Our LAA commitment to Diversity and 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.

As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months. 

If you are responding to a role within the Legal Aid Agency and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the sift or later selection processes.

The LAA’s goal is to build an organisation that is open and inclusive and truly values and celebrates the diversity of its workforce. One that reflects and understands the needs of the diverse society we serve. This is regardless of social background, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, beliefs, disabilities or long-term illness or caring responsibilities.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term condition (for example dyslexia, anxiety, autism, a mobility condition or hearing loss) and need us to make any reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process, please let us know by adding the information to the applications system or emailing LAARecruitment@justice.gov.uk after you have applied so that we can discuss options with you.

Corporate Services

The Corporate Services team helps shape and enable the priorities of the Chief Executive, Executive Leadership Team and People Committee to be delivered.

The LAA fully supports hybrid and flexible working.  Members of the Corporate Services and the People and Capability Team are based in multiple locations across England and Wales.  Travel will be required on occasion.

People & Capability

The People & Capability Team oversee the implementation and delivery of the LAAs People Strategy, the annual People Survey and delivery of actions within the People Plan, the LAA’s learning and development offer, capability, talent, management support, recruitment, diversity and inclusion.

The People and Capability Team play a key role in helping us to deliver our People Strategy objective to become an inclusive and diverse employer of choice.

Job Summary

The People Engagement Team within People & Capability support our leaders and teams to deliver the People Plan, which is developed based on the feedback from the People Survey, and delivers high profile leadership and change engagement activities.

This is an exciting and dynamic role with the potential to work across the People & Capability Team and leaders to analyse and improve our people services.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Manage people engagement services relating to the Civil Service People Survey, the LAA’s People Strategy (The LAA Way) and the People Plan, ensuring standards are maintained and actions monitored
  • Deliver activities or actions within the People Plan which help us deliver LAA Strategic Objectives, ensuring that the LAA is a great place to work, for everyone, every day
  • Manage the governance and delivery of our people plans, liaising with action owners to track progress and mitigate risks, maintaining a tracker to ensure our People Committee and others receive accurate and timely updates
  • Manage stakeholder engagement by being a point of contact for people strategy and engagement across the business, understanding stakeholder needs, identifying issues and forms of support, as well as presenting to different levels and groups of staff
  • Working closely with the Internal Communications team to implement communication plans based on work required to deliver the people strategy.
  • Develop and maintain positive relationships with a wide network of key stakeholders to work effectively together and provide support, advice, challenge and clarification to leaders and managers across the organisation on people engagement matters 
  • Act as secretariat for the People Plan Steering Group which brings together leaders from across the LAA to oversee the delivery of our People Strategy and Plan
  • Create and coordinate opportunities to involve colleagues in the design and implementation of employee engagement communications, activities and improved ways of working.
  • Apply appropriate techniques, tools and processes to effectively analyse data and communicate data to stakeholders with different needs to inform future plans.

Essential Qualifications 

  • Ability to write engaging communications
  • Ability to organise and facilitate meetings and event
  • Knowledge and understanding of employee engagement, wellbeing and/or inclusion
  • Ability to efficiently plan and organise time and workload to ensure delivery of plans.
Desirable Knowledge, Experience and skills
  • Ability to communicate, interact and engage with colleagues at all levels and beyond your own team to achieve shared goals
  • Experience of facilitating workshops, training and/or events
  • Experience of analysing quantitative and qualitative data.

Assessment approach 

Application Process

To apply please provide a statement of suitability showing how you meet the essential criteria in no more than 1,000 words.

Your statement should demonstrate your ability to do all of the essential criteria listed, using examples can help strengthen your application.

Please note we do not require a CV.

Interview / assessment Process

If you are successful through the application stage, you will be invited to an interview / assessment centre in person or via Microsoft Teams where you will be assessed against the following: 

  • Strengths relevant to the role
  • The following Behaviours: 

Changing & Improving

  • work with others to identify areas for improvement and simplify processes to use fewer resources
  • use technology where possible to increase efficiency
  • encourage ideas for change from a wide range of sources
  • clearly explain the reasons for change to colleagues and how to implement them, supporting individuals with different needs to adapt to change
  • encourage an environment where colleagues know that they can challenge decisions and issues safely
  • take managed risks by fully considering the varied impacts changes could have on the diverse range of end users

Working Together

  • encourage joined up team work within your own team and across other groups
  • establish professional relationships with a range of stakeholders
  • collaborate with these to share information, resources and support
  • invest time to develop a common focus and genuine positive team spirit where colleagues feel valued and respect one another
  • put in place support for the wellbeing of individuals within the team, including consideration of your own needs
  • make it clear to all team members that bullying, harassment and discrimination are unacceptable
  • actively seek and consider input of people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives

Communicating & Influencing

  • communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner - choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact
  • encourage the use of different communication methods, including digital resources and highlight the benefits, including ensuring cost effectiveness
  • ensure communication has a clear purpose and takes into account people’s individual needs
  • share information as appropriate and check understanding
  • show positivity and enthusiasm towards work, encouraging others to do the same
  • ensure that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversity of interests
  • Your Experience of implementing, promoting, or understanding diversity and inclusion policy - Diversity is the presence of difference, this can include one or more of the protected characteristics (Gender, Age, Race, Disability etc.) or it can be about working patterns, whether we like to jump into a task or reflect on it before acting. Inclusion is how we welcome, value, and celebrate diversity, giving everyone a voice, tapping into ideas, and enabling everyone to be themselves at work and achieve their potential.

For this grade/ role we would expect the candidate to demonstrate understanding of the terms Diversity and Inclusion and be able to explain why they are important to them and to where they work. Examples of action they have taken (in or outside of work) to embrace diversity (e.g., increasing understanding) or improve inclusion for others will increase the strength of their answer. 

Shortlisting is planned for week commencing 24th November 2025

Interviews are planned for week commencing 8th December 2025

If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact – Cate Jolley at cate.jolley@justice.gov.uk

Complaints procedure

If you have any complaints about this recruitment activity, please share your concerns by emailing LAARecruitment@justice.gov.uk initially. We aim to respond to any complaint within 10 working days.

Additional Information

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

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.

Contact Information

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: 11807

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: 11807

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability
Experience Questions Application Form Question Word Limit
250
Evidence of Experience
Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Expected: Interviews are planned for week commencing 8th December 2025
Behaviours
Changing and Improving
Working Together
Communicating and Influencing
Experience
Your Experience for this role will be assessed at interview. To learn more about Experience and how they are assessed please click here.
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Experience Questions
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)

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.