Magistrates Reform Manager

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General Information Salary £47,657 – £52,040 Working Pattern Full Time Vacancy Approach Cross Government Location London Region London Closing Date 18-Jul-2025 Post Type Fixed Term Civil Service Grade SEO Number of jobs available 1 Reserve List 12 Months Job ID 7491 Descriptions & requirements Job description
About Us
HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales. Our roles support our service users and colleagues, w people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice. Were looking for individuals who are committed to public service and want to make a difference in peoples lives in delivering justice. If youre interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.
About The Role
Magistrates form a key part of the justice system and play a critical role in supporting the government to tackle priorities including addressing the backlog of cases in the criminal courts. The vast majority of criminal cases start in a Magistrates court and around 95% will be completed t.
The Magistrates Policy Teams main aim is to have enough magistrates, and to ensure the magistracy is diverse. This involves working with the judiciary, Judicial Office and His Majestys Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), magistrates themselves, and stakeholders, in particular the Magistrates Association.
We are recruiting for a Magistrates Reform Manager to join a newly formed cross-departmental team which will lead on magistrates\’ recruitment policy and take a holistic approach to recruitment, covering the full process from target setting through to onboarding.
This comes at a particularly critical juncture: magistrates already hear the majority of criminal cases in England and Wales, as well as many vital family cases, but Ministers have been clear on their ambitions for the lower courts to play a critical role in reducing the crown court back log. As demand increases, pro-actively safeguarding the resilience of the magistrates court is a top priority.
A joint cross-departmental team is being established comprising officials from across the MoJ, HMCTS and the Judicial Office. The team will also be responsible for delivering recommendations already approved by Ministers whilst making further new recommendations if needed. The team will have responsibility for establishing new governance arrangements (including Ministerial reporting) for recruitment; considering how the current recruitment systems can be strengthened and how approved Spending Review money can be utilised to improve such systems / processes.
Your role as the Magistrates Reform Manager encompasses several key aspects (but not limited to):

• Supporting policy development and operationalising / implementing magistrates recruitment policy with responsibility for the stage-by-stage review.
• Support the marketing team with policy steers to ensure effective campaigns, now and the future.

Work

• ly with analysts to establish a multi-year deployment model that will ensure it suits our needs for current forecasted workload but also for outcomes suggested through the independent Review of Criminal Courts.
• Working with HMCTS, JO and private office to establish new governance and oversight arrangements.
• Leading on and supporting broader ad hoc and cross cutting policy areas including responsibility for the Lord Chancellors Directions for Advisory Committees on Justices of the Peace.
• Providing high quality, timely and effective advice and briefing to Ministers.

Leading on and supporting engagement with senior officials, stakeholders, and Ministerial Private Offices. This will also include

• working with the judiciary and other policy, operational, and legal colleagues across MoJ on a range of related policy issues.

Who are we looking for? (Person Specification)
Essential
The ideal candidate for this position should demonstrate:

• A strong understanding of the criminal justice system with experience of working with magistrates
• Ability to understand complex issues and communicate them effectively to a range of audiences, including senior officials, ministers and senior judges.
• A proven track record of collaborative working.
• Ability to think strategically and keep one eye on the bigger picture while maintaining keen attention to detail.
• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment, with strong prioritisation skills and a record of delivery projects at pace.
• Planning skills, and the ability to drive a portfolio of work.
• Ability to understand and analyse large quantities of data to identify and summarise key themes, risks, and implications, and adapt accordingly

Desirable

• Knowledge of the role and governance structures of lay justices (magistrates) would be an advantage.

How To Apply
Application Stage
Please submit a Statement of Suitability demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria (up to 500 words)
Please ensure you cover both what you do but also how you do it. (i.e., the effective skills, knowledge & experience needed to undertake the role)
Interview Stage
If Successful At Sift, You Will Be Invited To Attend a Remote Interview, Via Microsoft Teams. During Your Interview, You Will Be Assessed Against The Following Civil Service Success Profiles Which Will Include
Questions in relation to the following Civil Service behaviours

• Communicating and Influencing
• Making Effective Decisions
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Changing and Improving

Further details
Working pattern
This is a full-time position only due to the nature of the role.
Travel Requirements
T will be a requirement to travel occasionally to any HMCTS site in line with business needs.
Location
The successful candidate will be based at 102 Petty France, London, SW1H 9AJ
Fixed Term Appointments (FTA) on Promotion
MoJ employees may apply for FTA opportunities in MoJ that are advertised at a higher grade than their current substantive grade. W an employee accepts an FTA on promotion, this promotion will be temporary, and the employee will revert to their substantive grade upon return to their home business area, as per the loan policy for OGD loans. Before applying, employees must seek approval from their line managers to ensure they can be released for the duration of the FTA and can return to their substantive role at the end. If t is no role available at the end of the FTA, the employee will be subject to redeployment and potentially redundancy procedures.
About Our Benefits
We reward our people for their hard work and commitment. We have a number of family
friendly and flexible working polices that will help you achieve a healthy work-life balance. In addition, we offer a range of employee benefits which include generous annual leave, a highly competitive contributory pension scheme, childcare benefits, season ticket and bicycle loans.
Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.
Additional Information
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements w 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 everyones 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 locations respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).
Some of MoJs 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, w 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 MoJs 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.
T 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. T 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 or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at
• 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

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail );
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ();

To the Civil Service Commission (details available

• )

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 wver 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

• 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)
• 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) 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
Please quote the job reference 7491
Hmpps
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am – 6pm) or e mail
Please quote the job reference 7491
Job Description Attachment

• SEO – Magistrates Reform Manager – Job Advert.docx (Job Description Attachment)

Select new file Application form stage assessments Experience We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods Statement of Suitability Statement of Suitability Guidance for the Statement of Suitability Please submit a Statement of Suitability demonstrating how you meet the essential criteria (up to 500 words).
Please ensure you cover both what you do but also how you do it. (i.e., the effective skills, knowledge & experience needed to undertake the role). Evidence of Experience Statement of Suitability Interview stage assessments Interview Dates Expected early August, subject to change Behaviours Communicating and Influencing Making Effective Decisions Seeing the Big Picture Changing and Improving Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al) You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own. Level of security checks required DBS Standard
LNKD1_UKTJ

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