At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and mentor developers while driving innovative software solutions.
- Company: Join the Legal Aid Agency's Digital team within the Ministry of Justice.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and a £1k learning budget.
- Other info: Hybrid working with opportunities for professional development and career progression.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a supportive environment focused on growth.
- Qualifications: Experience in software development and team leadership required.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 66000 £ per year.
Lead Developer post in the Legal Aid Agency Digital team within the Ministry of Justice's Justice Digital, Data and Science function.
The role combines hands-on software development with leading, mentoring and managing developers in one team or two small related teams, and shaping technical direction with architects and product managers.
It is aligned to the Government Digital and Data Framework's Lead Developer profile, with hybrid working and four vacancies.
Security Check clearance is required, and candidates must be willing to be assessed against it.
- What the job involves
- Lead, mentor, coach and manage software developers within a business domain, focused on their wellbeing and development
- Set product direction with technical architects and product managers
- Help design systems and build coherent, sustainable technical roadmaps
- Lead discussions with developers to reach consensus on technical and team decisions
- Support backlog refinement, planning and prioritisation of actionable tasks
- Carry out hands-on software development
- Support delivery managers in unblocking work, giving honest effort estimates and improving team maturity
- Promote knowledge sharing and documentation of systems through brown bags, workshops and other channels
- Maintain good coding standards and practices with principal developers and the wider community
- Help shape the wider technical strategy of the business unit
- Keep up with emerging technologies, tools and good practice, encouraging open discussion
- Take part in recruiting and onboarding developers
- What’s required
Experience
- Experience making and guiding complex technical decisions and contributing to technical strategy
- Experience nurturing a culture of good software practice that makes change easy
- Experience contributing to a high-performing, inclusive team culture
- Experience delivering value sooner and safer through Dev Ops, XP or other agile ways of working
- Experience coaching or managing other people
- Experience building or contributing to a community of practice
- Checks & eligibility
- Security Check (SC) clearance
- Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for SC clearance
- Other
- Contribution to the team, such as acting as point of contact or advocate, working with stakeholders, supporting delivery and product management, and improving processes
- Contribution to other developers through coaching, training, inspiring and encouraging learning and development
- Nice to have
- Robust understanding of web technologies, including semantic HTML, CSS, Java Script and Type Script, for front-end work
- Familiarity with Java, Python or Ruby, AWS, Kubernetes and Docker, though an exact match in languages is not required
- What’s offered
- Employer pension contribution of 28.97% through the Civil Service Pension Scheme
- 25 days annual leave rising to 30 after 5 years, plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King's birthday
- Flexible working, including hybrid working, part-time working and compressed hours
- 10% of working time allocated to personal and professional development
- £1k per person learning budget, with conferences, professional accreditation, funded vocational programmes and e-learning
- Maternity, adoption and shared parental leave, including up to 26 weeks at full pay, 13 weeks at partial pay and 13 further weeks
- Maternity support or paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks
- Non-pensionable Government Digital & Data Allowance, a temporary allowance reviewed annually
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
Lead Developer employer: Ministry of Justice
The Ministry of Justice is an exceptional employer, dedicated to transforming lives through education and vocational training. With a strong emphasis on supportive relationships and personal development, employees benefit from a collaborative work culture that prioritises safety and security while offering opportunities for professional growth and meaningful impact in the community. Working in this role not only allows you to make a difference but also provides a unique chance to contribute to the rehabilitation and resettlement of individuals in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead Developer
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at Ministry of Justice or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to Ministry of Justice.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like Ministry of Justice.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like Ministry of Justice that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead Developer
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at Ministry of Justice.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at Ministry of Justice and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at Ministry of Justice
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If Ministry of Justice uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
