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General Information

Salary
The national salary is £35,335 - £37,847. London salary is £40,014 - £42,859. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Internal
Location
National
Region
National
Closing Date
29-May-2026
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
17635

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Band & Job Title                      

HEO - Employee Relations (ER) Secretariat Manager and Adviser – HR Team            

Reports to                                 

HR Employee Relations Lead                                          

Directorate                                

HMCTS HR                                                 

Place of work                           

102 Petty France/National                                       

Employment type                    

Permanent                                           

Number of hours per week  37

Overview:

HM Courts & Tribunals Service was created on 1 April 2011. It brings together HM Courts Service & Tribunals Service into one integrated agency providing support for the administration of justice in courts and tribunals.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service is an agency of the Ministry of Justice. It uniquely operates as a partnership between the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals as set out in our Framework Document.

The agency is responsible for the administration of the criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It provides for a fair, efficient and effective justice system delivered by an independent judiciary.

HMCTS has been undergoing a period of significant change that will continue to see the organisation transform over the next coming year. Strong leadership is a critical element in this being successful and the jobholder must provide clear direction and focus, visibly championing and prioritising the changes. HMCTS expects its leaders to live our organisational values of purpose, humanity, openness, together. We also expect a commitment to change demonstrated through proactive involvement, a positive attitude and delivering results.

The HMCTS HR function has a pivotal role in supporting senior stakeholders and their teams through transformation with the right strategy and approach to building the necessary organisational capability. HR Operations works on a range of projects that both support the effective running of our business now and, through people and culture transformation, in the future.

Role Overview:

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work as part of the Employee Relations Team within HR HMCTS. As ER Secretariat Manager, you will primarily be responsible for organising and facilitating all HMCTS Trade Union consultation meetings and maintaining Management Information records, as well as supporting and advising both HR colleagues and Business Managers on the full range of Employee Relations matters. You will also have the opportunity to work closely with Senior Departmental Trade Union colleagues (DTUS) in support of the HMCTS Reform Agenda, and general operational business change.

Key Accountabilities:

The HMCTS ER Secretariat Manager is a key member of the ER Team that supports the facilitation of DTUS engagement and maintains the database of all DTUS engagement exercises; the HMCTS HR functional mailbox; the identification and assignment of Determining Authorities and Investigators; and supporting management coaching and learning delivery.

Main duties:

  • Provide secretariat duties for the ER team;
  • Work with HR colleagues, business/program leads and DTUS to facilitate engagement/consultation meetings;
  • Create and maintain a schedule of all meetings; ensuring each meeting is prepared in good time; and act as the main point of contact for queries relating to ER related events;
  • Develop agendas, coordinating and circulating relevant papers, maintaining distribution lists and taking responsibility for booking suitable rooms;
  • Provide accurate minutes as required; tracking and ensuring actions are completed by liaising with those assigned;
  • Maintaining an accurate and up to date communications log, including the ER outlook mailbox/calendar, ensuring that correspondence is prioritised and followed up;
  • Review Facilities returns from the union facility time portal;
  • Develop, collate and manage ER/DTUS management information. Be the knowledge and information management SPOC, including collating and reporting DTUS engagement information/activity to senior stakeholders and Union colleagues;
  • Provide advice and guidance on the application of consultation principles and processes;
  • Support and deliver management coaching sessions on both union matters and wider HR people management issues;
  • Manage and maintain the HMCTS HR query functional mailbox;
  • Manage the assignment of Determining/Appeal Authorities and Investigators.

Person Specification

Required Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

  • Good organisational skills and ability to prioritise; customer focused; self-starter; able to adapt quickly and deliver in a busy environment across competing tasks;
  • Knowledge and experience of applying HR policy
  • Comfortable with Microsoft packages (Excel, Word, PowerPoint);
  • Experience of diary management and ability to take accurate notes and draft correspondence;
  • Able to take responsibility for the quality and accuracy of your work and be comfortable working across teams/programs and at all levels, keeping HR leads and other stakeholders informed of progress.

Desirable criteria:

Experience of working with Trade Unions on industrial relations/collective bargaining matters.

You will be required to provide evidence of the following key Civil Service behaviours:

  • Delivering at Pace;
  • Managing a Quality Service.

Strengths will also be tested at interview.

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 - 17635

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

Application form stage assessments

Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Expected week commencing 22nd June subject to change
Behaviours
Delivering at Pace
Managing a Quality Service
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
DBS Basic

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.