Read more in Loughborough

The Judicial Office is an arm’s length body of the Ministry of Justice, which supports the Lady Chief Justice and the wider judiciary in the effective administration of justice. It also supports the Senior President of Tribunals, whose responsibilities extend across England and Wales and, for some tribunals, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Everything we do supports the independence and impartiality of the judiciary.

This is an exciting opportunity to lead an in-house people services function and have a tangible impact on a growing organisation of nearly 500 members of staff. The Judicial Office derives many of its HR policies from the sponsoring department so the prompt establishment of good relationships is key.

Overview of the team

The People Services Team is an established central function within the Judicial Office, and sits within the wider Business Support Team. It provides strategic people advice, organisational insight and practical services to the Judicial Office Management Board (JOMB), senior leaders, managers and staff. Its portfolio includes:

• Strategic workforce planning
• Recruitment
• People policy
• People data and analysis
• Learning and development
• Staff engagement
• The People Survey
• Reward and recognition
• Talent and succession planning
• Oversight of people-related risk

Hybrid Working Requirement

This position is eligible for hybrid working (current minimum requirement for time spent at base location is 60%, which is subject to business requirements).

Summary of the role

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Head of People Services is the senior people adviser for the Judicial Office. The postholder will provide JOMB and senior leaders with authoritative, evidence-based advice on the organisation’s immediate and long-term people priorities, translating strategic objectives into a coherent people plan and ensuring that decisions reflect workforce capacity, capability, culture, inclusion, risk and affordability.

The role combines strategic leadership with strong operational grip. The postholder will lead and develop the People Services Team, maintain reliable business-as-usual services and create sufficient capacity to address longer-term priorities. They will be expected to challenge constructively, present clear options and recommendations, and ensure agreed actions are implemented and evaluated.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties:

• Provide JOMB, the Chief Executive and senior leaders with clear, evidence-based strategic people advice on current and longer-term organisational priorities.
• Lead proactive workforce planning and resourcing, using data on demand, skills, funding and organisational priorities to anticipate future needs.
• Provide strategic oversight of people policy, governance and risk, ensuring fair and controlled approaches across the Judicial Office.
• Turn people data, survey findings and engagement insight into clear priorities, targeted interventions and measurable improvements in culture and performance.
• Set the strategic direction for learning, capability and talent, aligning development activity with future workforce needs and priority capability gaps.
• Lead the People Services Team (currently five people) to deliver reliable business-as-usual services while maintaining capacity for strategic priorities and continuous improvement.
• Engage outwardly with MOJ and other ALBs to share best practice and influence the development and operation of core policies.

Essential Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Substantial experience of providing authoritative strategic people or HR advice to boards, executive teams or senior leaders in a complex organisation.
• A strong track record of translating organisational strategy and evidence into clear, deliverable medium- and long-term people priorities.
• Experience of balancing a broad operational service with strategic programmes, using prioritisation, delegation and performance management to deliver through others.
• Highly developed influencing and relationship-management skills, including the confidence to challenge senior stakeholders constructively.
• Experience of leading and developing a team, improving services and embedding consistent, customer-focused ways of working.

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• CIPD qualification, or equivalent breadth and depth of professional HR experience.

Behaviours (for Recruitment/Success Profiles):

The recruitment campaign will assess the following behaviours: