Role Overview
The Business Manager supports the Deputy Director/Heads of Group to provide leadership and management to a HMPPS directorate. The role involves managing workflow, liaising with the Chief Executive’s office, other Directors, Ministers, and the Directorate’s Corporate Hub. It requires strong influencing and relationship‑management skills, authoritatively communicating across the directorate, and undertaking projects on behalf of senior leadership.
Responsibilities
- Keep the Deputy Director(s) and Heads of Group informed of priority matters, support decision‑making, and provide timely advice.
- Oversee all papers and correspondence, ensuring appropriate profiling and information for senior leadership.
- Act as a point of contact for urgent issues, including media responses, and keep senior leaders apprised of emerging matters.
- Manage workload, prioritise tasks, meet deadlines, and commission work to meet set timescales and quality standards.
- Serve as secretary for relevant meetings: create agendas, take accurate minutes, and follow up on action items.
- Maintain and develop good relationships with the CEO office, MoJ DGs, other HMPPS Directors, Ministers, and MoJ Directors.
- Support preparation for Deputy Director bilaterals with the Director.
- Represent the Group at meetings as requested by the Deputy Director/Head of Group.
- Accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of similar level, with significant changes subject to review.
Qualifications and Experience
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Experience of managing and developing relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strong influencing, communicating and networking abilities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Project, PowerPoint).
- Knowledge of corporate issues such as governance, efficiency and propriety within a government or public sector environment is desirable.
Benefits and Working Arrangement
- Hybrid working arrangements where business need allows; work from a base location, MoJ sites and/or home.
- Standard full‑time working hours of 37 hours per week (excluding unpaid breaks).
- Part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing working patterns are considered where they meet the business needs.
- Loan/Secondment available for up to 2 years for current NPS employees.
- Annual leave pro‑rated on a 37‑hour week; public and bank holidays counted as 9 days.
- Eligibility for a season ticket advance after two months of service.
- Security and identity checks; probation periods: 6 months for external candidates, internal candidates subject to previous probation.
Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
All candidates are considered on merit with a fair and open competition. The MoJ is a disability confident employer and will provide reasonable adjustments where required.
