23263 - Business Manager - South East & Eastern Approved Premises

Ministry of Justice; Basildon; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 25 days + 5 in first year

LGPS pension

Training & development

Job summary

The Ministry of Justice is seeking a Business Manager to operate across multiple functional areas and support the senior leadership team in delivering effective service. The post involves interfacing with internal and external stakeholders, managing budgets and procurement, and ensuring compliance with health and safety policies.

Hybrid working arrangements are offered; the role focuses on strategic oversight, policy understanding, and coordinating across regional teams.

Qualifications

• Experience managing workload of senior executives and extensive stakeholder engagement.
• Experience using Microsoft Office programmes to present information and data and reviewing outputs for quality.

Responsibilities

• Directly line manage, and provide secondary line management for staff to support good practice and personal development.
• Monitor and deliver procedures relating to human resources, equalities and inclusion, staff performance management, and learning and development.
• Oversee and maintain robust administrative processes to gather, monitor and synthesise business performance data to support staff development and service improvement, and support preparation for audits and inspections.
• Maintain knowledge of and assist with the review and improvement of a range of organisational policies and local procedures.
• Adhere to financial compliance policies including monitoring the function’s budgets and authorization of some expenditures.
• Complete the workforce planning tool to support resource and workforce management and regional recruitment activities.
• Build relationships with teams across the business and external stakeholders as a Probation Service Representative, including planning engagement events.
• Manage facilities portfolio for designated area, complete health and safety risk assessments, and ensure compliance with policies and security requirements.
• Respond to changing business needs and complete ad-hoc tasks to meet deadlines.
• Lead development of pilot initiatives and assist with emerging business issues.

Skills

Stakeholder engagement

Executive workload management

Financial management

Education

NVQ Level 4 in Business Administration

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job description

Overview of the job
The Business Manager will operate across multiple functional areas of the business. The job holder provides support to the senior team within their functional business area to assist in the successful service delivery, including making recommendations regarding operational and administrative requirements.
The jobholder will act as an interface between the senior leadership team and teams across the function and internal and external stakeholders on a range of issues.
This is a non-operational post although the job holder is required to develop an understanding of Probation Service policies and procedures at a regional and national level as well as an understanding of wider Civil Service policies and procedures as relevant.
The jobholder will report directly to the Head or Deputy Head of the functional area and have line management responsibilities for the Diary Manager, Senior Administrative Officers and Case Administrators within their designated functional area.

Summary
The purpose of the role is to provide support to the senior leadership team in the business function. The jobholder will ensure that performance across the function is monitored, that issues are highlighted and opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness are proactively pursued.
The job holder will communicate effectively to ensure that the senior leadership team, and others as appropriate, are informed of priority matters and are provided with advice to help them to operate effectively.
The job holder acts as a single point of contact within the function for a number of areas, Information Assurance, Business Continuity, and Workforce Planning, with lead responsibility for a portfolio of key areas, such as implementation of new procedures. The role holder will provide advice, support and signposting to managers and staff across teams in the function and region.
The jobholder will ensure effective management of the estate portfolio within their remit, ensuring that their business area complies with health, safety and fire regulations and escalating to their head of functional area where appropriate. The job holder is also responsible for maintaining a suite of risk assessments and ensuring staff understand their personal responsibilities for Health and Safety.

The role holder will have financial responsibilities including budget monitoring, procurement, and authorizing expenditure. They will be required to understand and comply with HMPPS and Civil Service financial policies.
The job holder will also build relationships and liaise with a range of internal and external stakeholders to support partnership working and effective service delivery.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties

• Directly line manage, and provide secondary line management, for staff to support good practice and personal development through effective supervision, coaching and facilitation of progression processes.
• Monitor and deliver procedures relating to human resources, equalities and inclusion, staff performance management, and learning and development.
• Oversee and maintain robust administrative processes to gather, monitor and synthesise business performance data to support staff development and service improvement, and support preparation for audits and inspections.
• Maintain knowledge of, and assist with the review and improvement, of a range of organisational policies and local procedures, providing advice, guidance, and support to staff.
• Adhere to financial compliance policies with financial responsibilities to include monitoring the function’s budgets, supporting financial planning activities, coordinating resource procurement, and authorization of some expenditures.
• Complete the workforce planning tool and provide accurate information to support decision‑making by senior leaders with regards to resource and workforce management, and involvement with regional recruitment activities.
• Build effective relationships with teams across the business, external stakeholders and partner agencies as a Probation Service Representative, including planning and coordinating engagement events as required.
• Manage facilities portfolio for designated area, complete all required health and safety risk assessments, and maintain appropriate systems for reporting and escalating issues, ensuring compliance with health, safety and fire policies and regulations, and security requirements.
• Respond to changing business needs, queries and requests, completing ad‑hoc tasks as appropriate to meet deadlines and support service delivery.
• Lead the development of pilot initiatives, undertake specific tasks, and hold specific areas of responsibility as determined by the Head of Operational Function, supporting the senior leadership team with emerging business issues.

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. An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

Behaviours

• Leadership
• Working Together
• Making Effective Decisions
• Developing Self and Others
• Delivering at Pace

Experience

Essential

• Demonstrate experience of managing workload of senior level executives and extensive stakeholder engagement. Demonstrate experience in using Microsoft Office programmes to present information and data and reviewing outputs for quality.
• Demonstrate experience of effectively managing financial or other resources.

Technical

Essential

• NVQ Level 4 in Business Administration or equivalent in a relevant subject (or appropriate practical experience)
• Sufficient ability in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint

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). 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.

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, plus public holidays. Leave for part‑time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro‑ratio 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

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post.

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.GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/tax-free-childcare) or Childcare Choices (https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/) . 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 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [e-mail] );
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ( [e-mail] );
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here (https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-complaints/) )

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 (https://eur01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gov.uk%2Fsettled-status-eu-citizens-families&data=05%7C01%7Cchristopher.jeffery%40soprasteria.com%7C8a2293860362402c15da08dbf4cff146%7C8b87af7d86474dc78df45f69a2011bb5%7C0%7C0%7C638372946312587803%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=s%2BxUsev%2BGeeK%2FLgTUjpjfTJu%2FjpKQZ%2BQPJXNduvik3Q%3D&reserved=0)
• 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 [e-mail]

Please quote the job reference: 23263

HMPPS

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

Please quote the job reference: 23263

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.