Head of Operations in Ashford

Regular travel to courts in the South of the region will be required as will travel to London for regional meetings. Travel expenses will be paid in accordance with organisational policies.

The post holder will have a lead responsibility for the region of Civil Courts. South West Region: The HMCTS SW Region spans 9 counties and operates across 41 court and tribunal buildings as part of one of the largest and most geographically diverse justice regions in England. Across the Civil and Family and Tribunals jurisdictions, the region delivers services from within this wide network of court and tribunal venues with the largest centres being Bristol, Gloucester, Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth, Truro, Bournemouth, Swindon, Southampton and Portsmouth. The successful candidate can be based in any SW region location but ideally at one of the larger centres. This broad and varied estate means the Head of Operations plays a crucial role in ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery across dispersed sites, covering everything from major urban courts to rural and coastal locations.

Both Roles: Applicants for both regions will have the opportunity to select up to 3 preferred base locations. The successful candidate/s will be required to regularly travel across the chosen Region, along with other HMCTS locations as required by business needs. Travel expenses will be paid in accordance with organisational policies.

Your Role: The Head of Operations will undertake the strategic leadership and performance of the CFT jurisdiction across multiple locations, ensuring a highly effective and consistent service delivery. The role has considerable influence and responsibility across this service as well as significant people leadership responsibility. The postholder will have direct line management of the Deputy Head of Operations and indirect leadership of several hundred staff across the region. As the jurisdictional lead for CFT, the Head of Operations will work with colleagues, leadership judges and senior stakeholders to focus on developing the end-to-end service to maintain and improve performance.

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). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

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.

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.

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.

Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit 500 Communicating and Influencing Experience: We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods Statement of Suitability Guidance for the Statement of Suitability. As stated in the job advert and accompanying guidance, applicants are required to submit a 1000-word personal statement addressing the following prompt: "Please tell why you are suitable for this role. Demonstrate your transferable skills, knowledge, and experience in relation to the essential criteria outlined in the job description. You may draw on examples from work, education, volunteering, or other relevant experiences. To achieve the highest scores, we strongly encourage you to use the full word count 1000 words, Provide personalised, real-life evidence, clearly linking your experience to the essential criteria." Please ensure that all information provided is truthful and factually accurate. Important: Submitting content that is copied or plagiarised-including material generated by others or by artificial intelligence-may result in your application being withdrawn.

Evidence of Experience Statement of Suitability Interview stage assessments Interview Dates: Interviews are expected to take place face to face on the 10th & 11th March 2026.

Behaviours: Communicating and Influencing, Seeing the Big Picture, Leadership, Changing and Improving.

Strengths: Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance.

Other Assessments: Which assessment methods will be used? Other - Assessment Title 1 Presentation at Interview (5 minute verbal) - Full questions will be provided at interview invite stage.

Level of security checks required: DBS Basic. Excellent leadership and relationship management skills with proven ability of delivering through others and leading large operational teams. Experience of operational/service management and supporting stakeholders/partners. The Head of Operations will engage effectively with internal stakeholders, the legal profession and external stakeholders in managing interactions with the wider community and the media. The ability to anticipate and identify strategic organisational issues and analyse and interpret statistical information to assess performance. The Head of Operations will be expected to take responsibility for the resolution of a range of complex problems, escalating only those which are outside of current policy area or level of authority. Excellent communication and customer service skills, understanding the needs of our end users reflecting the diverse needs of our customer base from professional justice partners to vulnerable victims and witnesses. Strong influencing, collaborating and negotiating skills to deliver excellent levels of service within the jurisdiction. A demonstrable track record of strategic planning and delivering significant change.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is an agency of the Ministry of Justice. We provide support for the legal system across England and Wales, ensuring justice works for everyone. Our Justice system defends our fundamental rights and freedoms. It is a cornerstone of our modern society. It protects some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, from families in crisis to claimants and commercial businesses. We have a responsibility to deliver a Justice system that is accessible to everyone and operates efficiently.

The national salary range is £71,381 - £80,419, London salary range is £75,674 - £85,257. Your salary will be dependent on your base location.

Working Pattern: Full Time, Flexible Working. Vacancy Approach Cross Government, Both roles require full time working hours, though consideration would be given to working a compressed working hours pattern. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. There is an expectation that you can be flexible with your working hours to accommodate the needs of the business. Non-contractual hybrid working is currently available. Hybrid working arrangements will be determined by the business and will only be available when it has been established that delivering the service from home can be done effectively. We cannot facilitate requests for a particular work from home/working in the office schedule.

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.

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.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.