24005 - Policy Advisor

Ministry of Justice; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave pro rata

9 bank holidays

Flexible working

Season ticket loan

Training and development opportunities

Promotion programmes

Induction and training

Job summary

Ministry of Justice’s NOMS Agency policy function is seeking a Policy Advisor for a two-year loan or detached-duty basis. The role develops policy, drafts ministerial material, and provides high-level advice to senior officials. It is a national, full-time post with hybrid working and a MoJ office base.

Existing Civil Service or accredited NDPB staff are eligible; 37 hours per week with DBS checks. The job involves supporting the Head of Policy, guiding staff on policy, and representing NOMS in

Qualifications

• Draft ministerial and parliamentary material.
• Provide day-to-day written and verbal advice to stakeholders and senior officials.
• Represent NOMS at meetings with external organisations and other government departments.

Responsibilities

• Support the Head of Policy and advise staff and managers on policy.
• Contribute information for ministerial submissions and briefings.
• Commission and analyse reports from colleagues, contractors and stakeholders.
• Draft or contribute to Parliamentary Questions, official letters and FOI responses.

Skills

Policy analysis

Stakeholder engagement

Written communication

Oral communication

Job description

The Policy Advisor works in the NOMS Agency policy function within HMPPS, supporting the Head of Policy on a two-year loan or detached-duty basis. The post develops policy and provides advice on complex issues, including drafting ministerial and parliamentary material and corresponding with legal representatives. It is a national, full-time role with hybrid working possible and an agreed MoJ office base. Applicants must be existing Civil Service or accredited NDPB employees; the role is 37 hours a week and requires a Standard DBS check.

What the job involves

• Support the Head of Policy
• Advise and guide staff and managers on policy
• Provide day-to-day written and verbal advice to stakeholders and senior officials
• Contribute information for ministerial submissions and senior-official briefings
• Commission and analyse reports from colleagues, contractors and criminal justice stakeholders
• Analyse complex policy information and evidence, draft protocols and develop operational and non-operational policy
• Represent NOMS at meetings with external organisations, stakeholders and other government departments
• Draft legal correspondence and liaise with solicitors and legal representatives
• Attend ad hoc meetings for the team
• Provide secretariat support and act as Key Information Liaison Officer
• Check draft reports and correspondence for compliance with current NOMS and MoJ policy
• Draft or contribute to Parliamentary Questions, official letters and Freedom of Information responses, and prepare briefings in line with statutory requirements

What’s required

Experience

• Excellent written and spoken communication to explain issues clearly and accurately to ministers, the MoJ, other government departments and the public

Skills & knowledge

• Strong awareness of current policies and practices
• Writing suitable for legal correspondence and dialogue with solicitors and legal representatives
• Strong organisational knowledge and operational understanding of NOMS and the prison estate
• Ability to interpret and summarise complex information
• Ability to engage and influence senior staff and stakeholders
• Behaviours assessed include Seeing the Big Picture, Changing and Improving, Managing a Quality Service, Delivering at Pace, Communicating and Influencing, Leadership and Working Together

Checks & eligibility

• Existing Civil Service employee or employee of an accredited NDPB
• Eligibility under Civil Service nationality rules
• Standard DBS check and security and identity checks
• External candidates serve six months’ probation; internal candidates do so if they have not completed probation within HMPPS

Other

• Declare membership of any group or organisation HMPPS considers racist

What’s offered

• Annual leave, calculated pro rata where applicable
• Nine days (66 hours 36 minutes) for bank, public and privilege holidays
• Choice of two Civil Service pension schemes
• Flexible working arrangements, subject to business needs and applicable conditions
• Season ticket advance after two months’ service
• Training and development opportunities
• Access to promotion programmes
• Security and diversity training and an individual induction