JOB DESCRIPTION 

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) 
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 

Public Bodies Directorate 

The Public Bodies and Public Appointments Directorate sits at the heart of the Ministry of Justice, leading sponsorship and governance relationships and making appointments across one of the largest and most complex public bodies portfolios in Government. Our bodies deliver critical public-facing services spanning prisons, probation, youth justice, legal services, family justice, parole, criminal case review and wider constitutional and oversight functions. 

This is a high-profile and exciting time to join the Directorate. Reform and strengthening of public bodies sponsorship and public appointments processes is a priority for Ministers and senior departmental leadership, with a strong focus on improving delivery, governance, diversity of representation and public confidence across the justice system. 

The Directorate offers a unique opportunity to influence real-world outcomes by supporting excellent leadership, governance and accountability across some of the justice system's most important institutions. 

We are a collaborative, supportive and high-performing team that works closely together to solve problems, navigate complexity and drive continuous improvement. We value creativity, sound judgement and strong relationships, and are proud to contribute to a justice system that serves the public effectively and fairly. 

About the Roles 

As one of the Deputy Heads of the Public Appointments Team, you will support the leadership and delivery of a complex and high-profile portfolio of public appointments activity across the Ministry of Justice’s Public Bodies landscape. 

You will oversee the delivery of appointment and reappointment campaigns across a diverse range of Public Bodies, ensuring processes are robust, compliant, and delivered to the highest professional standards. Public appointments are of significant operational, regulatory, and reputational importance, with appointments made by Ministers and, in some cases, by the Prime Minister and His Majesty The King. 

The role requires strategic, confident leadership of high-profile campaigns to attract and secure talented and diverse public body leaders capable of delivering ministerial priorities. In this central role, you will work closely with senior officials, Ministers’ offices, ALBs, Cabinet Office, and No.10, providing trusted advice in a politically sensitive and high-profile environment. 

As part of the wider leadership team, you will help shape a high-performing and inclusive team culture, driving continuous improvement, strengthening quality and consistency, and supporting the department’s wider strategic approach to public appointments and governance. 

Main Activities / Responsibilities 

The job holder will be required to undertake the following duties and responsibilities: 

• Lead high-profile public appointments and reappointments campaigns across a diverse portfolio of Public Bodies, ensuring delivery to agreed timescales and professional standards including excellent candidate care and stakeholder engagement.  

• Oversee a complex programme of campaign activity, ensuring processes comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments and wider statutory and Cabinet Office requirements.  

• Provide strategic advice and support to Ministers, senior officials, and stakeholders on appointments processes, governance, and handling considerations.  

• Build and maintain effective relationships with Public Bodies, Ministers’ offices, Cabinet Office, No.10, and wider stakeholders to support successful campaign delivery.  

• Support delivery of the department’s strategic approach to public appointments, embedding a strong customer-focused and inclusive approach across all stages of the appointments process.  

• Lead, support, and develop Campaign Managers, ensuring high-quality delivery and continuous professional development across the team.  

• Contribute to a high-performing and inclusive team culture, promoting innovation, quality assurance, and continuous improvement.  

• Contribute to the wider development of the Public Bodies Centre of Expertise and the Directorate’s strategic priorities.  

Management of Resources  

• The roles are likely to include line management responsibility for a small number of SEO colleagues, including supporting leadership and development across teams managing HEO staff. 

• Contribute as a member of the Public Bodies Centre of Expertise leadership team, helping to shape team culture, priorities, ways of working, and continuous improvement.  

Occasional travel to London or elsewhere will be required, in line with business need.

Deputy Head of Public Appointments 

Essential Criteria 

• Strong strategic thinking, organisational, and planning skills, with experience of managing competing priorities while achieving successful outcomes.  

• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships, provide constructive challenge, and work collaboratively.  

• Strong judgement and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work flexibly, manage competing demands, drive improvement and deliver effectively in a high-profile and fast-paced environment.  

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including drafting high-quality briefings, presentations, and advice for senior stakeholders.  

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills 

• Ability to lead and develop others and contributing, as part of the wider leadership team, to the development of a collaborative and high performing culture 

• Ability to embed a strong customer-focused approach and drive continuous improvement in service quality and delivery.  

• Resilience and adaptability, with the ability to remain focused under pressure and support others through change and challenge.  

• Experience of working with or alongside Public Bodies, Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs), or within a regulated or governance-focused environment.  

 Please note that whilst we don’t assess or score ‘desirable’ criteria, we may consider evidence provided that demonstrates meeting the desirable elements of the role, only after essential criteria is assessed and where there is a need to differentiate between closely scored candidates.

Application process 

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework. 

Application stage 

When applying, please clearly specify which role you are applying for within your application. 

 Behaviours

• Delivering at Pace

Experience

• Please submit an anonymous copy of your CV.

• Please submit a 1000-word statement of suitability which should outline your skills, experience, and achievements, providing evidence of your suitability for the role, with particular reference to your experience on how you meet the essential criteria (outlined above).   

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead criteria Statement of Suitability.

Interview stage 

All applicants that progress to interview will be assessed on Behaviours, and Experience through Success Profiles. The Behaviours tested during the interview stage will be: 

• Delivering at Pace 

• Seeing The Big Picture 

• Managing a Quality Service  

• Working Together 

You will also be asked Strength based questions.   

 For any enquiries please contact - Maggie.Garrett@Justice.gov.uk