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General Information

Salary
£41,197 - £45,316
Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
Internal
Location
National - Wales Only
Region
National - Wales Only
Closing Date
16-Sep-2026
Business Unit
Director of NOMS Wales
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
HEO
Number of jobs available
1
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
21727

Descriptions & requirements

Job description
 

Overview of the job

HMPPS is an agency of the Ministry of Justice (MOJ), a major government department at the heart of the justice system. Across HMPPS, all of our prisons, youth custody settings, probation offices and HQ, teams have a vital role in delivering our purpose and outcomes: protecting the public and reducing reoffending.   

Our vision is to work together to protect the public and help people lead law-abiding and positive lives. Everyone who works in HMPPS has a part to play in making these things happen. 

This is a HQ based, non–operational role. This role has line management responsibility.
 

Summary

The job holder will be accountable for ensuring the directorate’s business support hub is able to provide the generic support required by the constituent groups. 

They will support the Head of Group to provide operational and project support to a range of corporate functions which may include finance, accommodation, HR, governance, business continuity, risk management, staff engagement and internal communications.
 

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties

The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:  
  • Line manage the business support hub, ensuring it meets its requirements to provide a fully centralised administrative service to all of the groups within the Directorate. Develop and implement effective administrative and operational workflows.
  • Responsible for preparing and managing periodic reviews of the directorate Deliverable Plan, for use in Director Bilats.
  • Responsible for coordinating activities for the Group/Directorate, such as the Risk Register, Vetting Access and Performance Recognition.
  • Responsible for preparing and submitting Workforce Returns to each Directorate Group, for return and collation of any updates.
  • Responsible for management and periodic review of directorate business area continuity plans.
  • Prepare reports, presentations and documentation for senior management.
  • Support HR activities, such as onboarding, employee engagement and policy administration.
  • Act as a Local Information Manager (LIM) for the group/directorate and ensure compliance with all necessary protocols and procedures.
  • Maintain and manage people data, training, learning and development records, email distribution lists and other ad hoc tasks.
  • To undertake additional tasks as required, such as Expenses Compliance work for the Directorate and assisting in ensuring the Directorate is compliant with Health and Safety policy and procedures.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder. An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

Civil Service Success Profile Criteria 

Behaviours

(Note: We recommend you choose up to 6 behaviours. (Delete the behaviours you don’t want to select from the list below.)  
  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Changing and Improving
  • Communicating and Influencing
  • Working Together
  • Managing a Quality Service
  • Delivering at Pace

Experience

  • Experience of workforce planning
  • Experience of procurement.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Experience of handling commercial and sensitive information.
  • Ability to work well under pressure within short timeframes.
  • Effective time management and ability to prioritise workload of self and others.

Hours of Work (Unsocial Hours) Allowances

37 hour working week  
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). 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, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.

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.

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS 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 HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.

If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years. Applications are invited from suitable qualified staff.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

Benefits

Annual Leave

-The holiday year runs from 1 March. If you work a non standard work pattern your leave entitlement may be expressed in either hours or days as appropriate. Leave entitlement is calculated on a pro-rata basis and you will be advised of your actual entitlement on appointment. If you were appointed internally and your leave was previously calculated in days, this will continue to be the case.

Bank, Public and Privilege Holidays

-You are entitled to 9 days (66 hours 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays. These hours are added to your annual leave allowance. There is a requirement to work some public and bank holidays subject to your shift pattern and the operational needs of the establishment

Pension

-The Civil Service offers a choice of two pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.

Work Life Balance

HM Prison & Probation Service  (HMPPS) is keen to encourage alternative working arrangements. Work life balance provides greater opportunities for staff to work more flexibly wherever managers and establishments can accommodate requests to do so. HMPPS offers flexible working subject to completion of a satisfactory probationary period and NVQ

Season Ticket Advance

-After two months’ service, you’ll be eligible to apply for a season ticket advance to purchase a quarterly or longer-period season ticket for travel between home and your place of work

Childcare Vouchers

For any moves across the Civil Service may have implications on your ability to carry on claiming childcare vouchers

Training

HMPPS is committed to staff development and offers a range of training and development opportunities, including areas such as Equality and Diversity, Dealing with Challenging Behaviour, Suicide Prevention and Anti Bullying Programmes

-There are opportunities to access promotion programmes and HMPPS provides a variety of training appropriate to individual posts

-All staff receive security and diversity training and an individual induction programme into their new roles

Eligibility

-All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post

-All external candidates are subject to 6 months probation. Internal candidates are subject to probation if they have not already served a probationary period within HMPPS

-All staff are required to declare whether they are a member of a group or organisation which the HMPPS considers to be racist

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.

A Great Place to Work for Veterans

The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

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:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

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.


HMPPS in Wales. 

A permanent base will be agreed with the successful candidate, with travel across Wales in line with role requirements.

This is a new role within the HMPPS in Wales Health, Safety, Fire and Litigation (HSFL) function. The role will report to the HSFL Lead Wales and provide governance, performance, assurance coordination, information management and business support. See attached cover note.

Job Summary 

Template: B6 Health, Safety, Fire and Litigation Business Support Unit Manager Role - HMPPS in Wales, HSFL Function.

Overview of the B6 Health, Safety, Fire and Litigation Business Support Unit Manager Role - HMPPS in Wales, HSFL Function.

This is a new role established to support the Health, Safety, Fire and Litigation (HSFL) Lead Wales and wider Wales HSFL function.

Whilst appointed against the generic Business Support Unit Manager Job Description, the role will primarily support governance, performance, assurance coordination, information management, and business support functions across the Wales HSFL team.

The post holder will report directly to the HSFL Lead Wales and will support the development of effective management systems, governance arrangements and administrative processes that enable delivery of HSFL priorities across Wales.

Whilst the generic Business Support Unit Manager Job Description includes line management responsibilities, no direct line management responsibilities are currently associated with this Wales HSFL post.

Responsibilities, Activities and Duties 

Examples of local HSFL responsibilities are likely to include:

  • Development and management of the Wales HSFL central mailbox.
  • Coordination and tracking of Health and Safety Information Notices (HSINs), Building Fire Risk Assessment Actions (BFRAs) and built environment related iAuditor actions.
  • Management and coordination of Requests for Information (RFIs).
  • Development and maintenance of action tracking and governance systems.
  • Preparation for governance boards, bilateral meetings, and associated documentation.
  • Production of management information, dashboards, and performance reports.
  • Maintenance of HSFL risk, assurance, and action registers.
  • Development and maintenance of HSFL process maps and supporting management system documentation.
  • Tracking recommendations arising from audits, inspections, and assurance activity.
  • Management of controlled HSFL documents and records.
  • Coordination of learning compliance and organisational requirements.
  • Support to strategic planning, performance management, and continuous improvement activity.
  • Support to SharePoint, information management, and communications processes.
  • Undertaking site visits where required to validate information, records, and supporting evidence.

Essential Knowledge & Skills 

The essential knowledge and skills are detailed within the Business Support Unit Manager Job Description.

Whilst not essential, the following knowledge and experience would be desirable:

Knowledge of Health, Safety, Fire and Litigation (HSFL) functions within HMPPS or wider public-sector organisations.

Experience of governance, assurance, compliance, risk management or performance management arrangements.

Awareness of management systems and continuous improvement methodologies.

Experience of coordinating actions arising from audits, inspections or assurance activities.

Familiarity with performance reporting, action tracking and organisational reporting systems.

Experience of working with multiple stakeholder groups across a complex organisational environment.

As the Wales HSFL function continues to mature, the role holder will have the opportunity to contribute to the development of governance, assurance and management system arrangements which support the delivery of Health, Safety, Fire and Litigation priorities across HMPPS Wales.

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: 21727

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: 21727

If you require any further information please contact Colin Talbot via email at colin.talbot@justice.gov.uk; During the vacancy manager's absence, role enquiries may be directed to Dave Burton at David.burton@justice.gov.uk

Application form stage assessments

Behaviours
A sift based on the lead behaviour, Managing a Quality Service, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered.
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
500
Managing a Quality Service
Changing and Improving
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
CV or Work History
Evidence of Experience
CV or Work History

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates
Expected: 07/10/2026 or 08/10/2026
Behaviours
Managing a Quality Service
Changing and Improving
Communicating and Influencing
Delivering at Pace
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 Standard

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.