Head of Corporate Service

This post is responsible and accountable for leading and delivering high quality corporate services on behalf of the Regional Probation Director. As a member of the Senior Management Team, the post holder is required to lead effective Business Planning activity and NPS corporate functions, manage and direct business partner activity within the region, and take full responsibility for ensuring critical business services across the region are strategically aligned. This post will be responsible for providing services that directly support front line operational staff. An understanding of the wide range of probation policies and procedures across the organisation is required., The purpose of the role is to manage the delivery of corporate support services on behalf of the Regional Probation Director. The job holder will be accountable for developing and delivering short, medium and long-term strategic business plans for the region, with overall responsibility for implementation. These plans must ensure opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness are proactively pursued. The job holder will put in place appropriate governance arrangements to oversee the delivery of corporate services, identify and manage corporate risks, and escalate any significant issues to the attention of the Regional Probation Director. They will be accountable for ensuring adequate management/financial contracts and processes are in place for the region. Responsible for representing the region in the development, improvement and implementation of collaborative working arrangements for corporate services polices and processes, including engagement with Headquarters and Shared Services. The job holder will directly manage and co-ordinate the activity of Business Managers across the region (including litigation and inquests), and teams responsible for ICT, Complaints, the Divisional Support Hub, Equalities and Staff Engagement to ensure a consistent approach is deployed across all business units. The job holder will also oversee and provide strategic direction for the delivery of functional leadership services such as HR, Finance, Learning and Development, Health and Safety and Business Strategy and Change, to ensure that all corporate services operate effectively across the region. Responsibilities, Activities & Duties The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Accountable for the development and delivery of the Regional Business Plan and business risk registers, with overall responsibility for implementation.
• Accountable for ensuing corporate governance is embedded, monitored and reviewed in the region.
• Accountable for delivering all objectives within delegated budget including for specific programmes of work (e.g. regional learning and development budget).
• Monitor and control the overall use of the regional budget, ensuring there are appropriate governance frameworks in place to promote accountability.
• Responsible for ensuring management information systems are in place to monitor, analyse and report on corporate performance across the region identifying operational, resource or organisational issues that may impact on performance or increase business risk e.g. Health and Safety, L&D.
• Lead business partner activity across the region, taking a collaborative approach and ensuring the Regional Probation Director is updated with timely progress reports.
• Lead Business Manager activity across the NPS region ensuring compliance with policy and process in corporate activities.
• Lead the development of regional corporate support systems, policies and processes in response to business need in order to review and assess effective practice in business services.
• Responsible for ensuring the delivery of strategic employee communications utilising a range of techniques to suit the needs of the audience, the message and the objectives of active engagement.
• Provide leadership and management of the Regional Complaints Team ensuring compliance with policy and process.
• Identify opportunities for more efficient delivery of business services and develop proposals to convert those opportunities into new ways of working.
• Ensure effective HR systems are in place to manage and develop staff in line with organisational HR policies and procedures in order to achieve performance objectives and enhance productivity.
• Liaise with staff to receive, collate and analyse corporate performance information, developing systems and compiling reports as necessary.
• Develop and utilise data to identify trends and take appropriate action to maintain and enhance performance.
• Plan, implement and manage systems for the exchange of sensitive information, data and intelligence.
• Accountable for ensuring all risk assessments are undertaken in line with Health and Safety and staff are made aware of their personal responsibility to ensure Health, Safety & Fire compliance.
• Lead a culture within the region that promotes equality and values diversity through the effective development and implementation of systems, policies and processes.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.,
• Providing strategic leadership and direction for Corporate Services across the North West region.
• Supporting the Regional Probation Director and senior leadership team through effective governance, assurance and performance oversight.
• Leading and coordinating key corporate functions, including Workforce, Estates and Facilities Management, Risk, Health and Safety, and other regional priorities, to support safe, effective and consistent operational delivery.
• Working collaboratively with PDU Heads, regional leads and national colleagues to resolve issues, manage risk and drive improvement.
• Ensuring corporate services are responsive to regional priorities, business planning requirements and emerging operational pressures.
• Promoting a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture across the Corporate Services function., 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). 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, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks. 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. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS 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 HMPPS' Flexible Working policy., A sift based on the lead behaviour, Leadership, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered. Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit 500 Communicating and Influencing Leadership Managing a Quality Service Working Together Experience We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods Statement of Suitability Evidence of Experience Statement of SuitabilityInterview stage assessments Interview Dates To Be Confirmed Behaviours Communicating and Influencing Leadership Managing a Quality Service Working Together


• Changing and Improving
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Delivering at Pace
• Working Together
Ability
• The post holder will need to be an influential and visible senior leader, able to confidently engage staff and motivate, challenge and change behaviours. They will need to role model inclusive behaviours and have the communication and influencing skills required to develop effective relationships with staff across the region. They will need to be highly resilient and decisive when making finely balanced judgements. They will need negotiation skills both for reconciling differences in opinion between senior leaders within the region and managing competing demands for limited resources.
• The post holder will need to have significant corporate expertise and awareness, understanding both the vision of the wider NPS and HMPPS. They will need to manage the impact of decisions and actions on the reputation of the organisation and maintain financial and political awareness when making decisions.
Experience
• Detailed understanding and extensive experience of the wide range of probation procedures and policies both operationally and at HQ.
• Extensive experience of delegated budget management, business planning, business risk management, senior management, leading and delivering change programmes, and data analysis.
• Significant understanding of Equalities and Health and Safety legislation, and all other relevant legislation.
Technical
• Level 5 Degree/Diploma in Business Administration or equivalent or equivalent professional/managerial qualification or willingness to study for such., We are looking for an experienced and credible senior leader who can operate confidently in a complex regional environment. You will bring strong leadership, excellent communication skills and the ability to build effective relationships across operational and corporate teams.
You should be able to balance strategic oversight with practical delivery, manage competing priorities and provide clear advice and assurance to senior stakeholders. A collaborative, inclusive and solution-focused approach will be essential, together with the ability to lead through change and support continuous improvement., Presentation Level of security checks required DBS Standard

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, plus public holidays. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis Pension The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Please visit www.gmpf.org.uk for further information. Please note: Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme. 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. Eligibility All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post 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. 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 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-office@justice.gov.uk);
• 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. A Great Place to Work for Veterans The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces. For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans 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'.