This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.

General Information

Salary £58,511 - £65,329 Working Pattern Full Time Vacancy Approach Cross Government Location Ashford (Surrey), Basildon, Brighton and Hove, Cambridge, Canterbury, Chelmsford, Colchester, Dartford, Great Yarmouth, Guildford, Hastings, Hertford, High Wycombe, Horsham, Huntingdon, Ipswich, King's Lynn, Lewes, Luton, Maidstone, Milton Keynes, Norwich, Oxford, Peterborough, Reading, Slough, Southend-on-Sea, St Albans, Staines, Stevenage, Watford, Worthing Region South East Closing Date 01-Oct-2026 Post Type Permanent Civil Service Grade Grade 7 Number of jobs available 2 Reserve List 12 Months Job ID 22367

Descriptions &

requirements Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.

There are two positions available: one covering North Crime and one covering South CFT.

If you have a preference for either position, please let us know during your interview if selected.

About us

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is responsible for the administration of criminal, civil and family Courts and Tribunals in England and Wales and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Our roles support our service users and colleagues within HMCTS, where people and businesses access potentially life-changing justice. We’re looking for individuals who are committed to public service and making a difference in people’s lives to deliver justice.

If you are interested in developing a career with a real purpose, please apply.

Your role

Deputising and supporting the Head of Operations, the role holder will have considerable influence and responsibility over service provision within the region. The role holder will provide a high level of support to the Head of Operations in the operational management of services across the region. A key part of this role will involve creating, developing, and maintaining relationships with internal and external stakeholders and managing their varying and complex needs.

This role has significant people leadership responsibility, and will provide clear strategic direction and focus, leading by example, and visibly championing and leading change which delivers results and improved performance across the region. The role holder will create and enhance effective working relationships to support the local judiciary and ensure hearings operate effectively and efficiently, supporting the Head of Operations and representing them as required. The scope of the role is significant, contributing substantially to the achievement of business objectives across their region.

The role holder will promote inclusive leadership, champion our values and behaviours, and foster a culture that values innovation and creativity, ensuring everyone feels valued, supported, challenged and capable.

Your skills and experience The Deputy Head of Operations will have;

· Excellent leadership and relationship management skills with proven ability and experience of delivering through others, leading and managing operational teams in accordance with appropriate management practices policy and strategy.

· Assess locational performance to anticipate strategic organisational issues, drawing evidence from multiple sources and drawing out key insights to understand workload fluctuations and variances and to identify where improvements are needed.

· Analyse and interpret complex and possibly conflicting evidence and data to make sound judgment on the most appropriate solutions that take into account the views of important stakeholders.

· Use own judgement to resolve sensitive/complex problems and or complaints as they arise, engaging personally with the key stakeholders to ensure constructive outcomes and exercising appropriate discretion approaches and taking the necessary mitigating actions. The Deputy Head of Operations will be responsible for reviewing potential solutions and mitigations referred by Operations Managers and for making the final decision.

· Identify and implement workable solutions to immediate significant issues as they arise at a Court or Tribunal on the day of a hearing.

· Take steps to resolve complex issues involving organisational interdependencies, collaborate with C&T; Managers and Heads of Operations to influence and develop strategic solutions and improve overall service performance.

· Develop innovative approaches to maintaining and improving service delivery, balancing public user, qualified user and judicial needs in a complex and challenging operating environment, identifying and evaluating risks to service delivery.

Further details:

Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. This is a business-critical role requiring full time hours.

Travel:

Whilst post holders can be based at any regional location, they will be required to regularly travel across SE Region, along with other HMCTS locations as required by business needs. Travel expenses will be paid in accordance with organisational policies.

For the position within North Crime – The successful applicant will be required to undertake regular travel to all criminal courts in the North Crime area (Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, Suffolk & Essex)

For the position within South CFT– The successful applicant will be required to undertake regular travel to Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent.





The successful candidate/s will lead operational delivery and be responsible for high quality service provision (for one or more services across the region) and complex operations, which may include those delivered within our high profile and larger site(s).

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.

Additional Information Working Arrangements & Further Information 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) – 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 location’s respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

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.

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.

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. There 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 www.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.

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 [email protected]);
- To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([email protected]);
- To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

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 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.

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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
- 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

Reserve 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 [email protected]

Please quote the job reference 22367

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]

Please quote the job reference

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Application form stage assessments

Behaviours Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit 250 Leadership 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 A 1000-word suitability statement providing evidence of your personal skills, experience, strengths and behaviours relevant to the role. Evidence of Experience Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates Virtual Interviews are expected week commencing 26th of October. Behaviours Leadership Seeing the Big Picture Making Effective Decisions Working Together Strengths Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here. Level of security checks required DBS Basic Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

Artificial Intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

📌 22367 - Deputy Head of Operations (Surrey)
🏢 Ministry of Justice
📍 Surrey