Development Manager - SEO

Ministry of Justice; England; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the UK is seeking a Development Manager to provide expert advice on legal aid policy. The role involves engaging with various stakeholders, interpreting policy impacts, and leading training initiatives. Candidates should possess strong analytical and communication skills, and a commitment to diversity and inclusion. This position offers hybrid working arrangements and a competitive salary range of £42,914 to £53,081 depending on location.

Benefits

Hybrid working arrangements

Annual leave of 25-30 days

Access to development programs

Family friendly policies

Qualifications

• Enthusiastic, proactive, adaptable, and a team player.
• Enjoys fast-paced, politically sensitive work.
• Strong analytical skills, able to assess policy impact on wider priorities.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice to Ministers and external stakeholders.
• Interpret and evaluate operational impacts of legal aid policy proposals.
• Lead on the development of guidance and training events.
• Engage with delivery partners to ensure legal aid implications are incorporated.

Skills

Strong analytical skills

Effective communication skills

Team player

Adaptable

Adaptability

Job description

Overview

The post is supported by the MOJ flexible working policy and includes colleagues who work flexibly, remotely (as part of hybrid working), part time or as part of a job share, etc. Reporting to: Senior Manager, The Legal Aid Agency.

We are an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) responsible for operationally administering the legal aid fund to provide criminal and civil legal aid advice to people in England and Wales. Our people are the heart of our success: we employ around 1,200 colleagues across England and Wales and have strong People Survey results in the Civil Service.

The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining and investing in talent wherever it is found. To learn more, please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

Diversity, Equality, and Disability Confidence

We are a Disability Confident organisational partner and will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Candidates applying for a role within the Legal Aid Agency can be considered for the guaranteed interview if they indicate this in their application and indicate any reasonable adjustments required. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long‑term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day‑to‑day activities and has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.

We strive to create an organisation that is open and inclusive, celebrating the diversity of our workforce and the community we serve. This reflects a commitment to social background, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, beliefs, disabilities or long‑term illness, and caring responsibilities. We provide reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities or long‑term conditions (e.g. dyslexia, anxiety, autism, mobility or hearing impairments) to support them throughout the recruitment process.

Service Development

The Service Development team operates at the core of the LAA’s delivery, designing, implementing and ensuring effective rollout of key ministerial reform programmes. The team contributes to both the civil and criminal justice systems, improving efficiency and providing essential expertise to support core LAA business functions. As part of a Development Manager, you will provide subject‑matter expertise across legal aid policy and processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice to Ministers, MoJ, LAA Departments, other Government Departments and external stakeholders.
• Interpret and evaluate the operational impacts of legal aid policy proposals.
• Advise on the development and implementation of policy, ensuring accurate application.
• Apply specialist, category‑specific expertise to the LAA core business functions.
• Lead on the development of internal and external guidance, including refreshing guidance products, FAQ documents, and welcome packs.
• Deliver workshops and training events.
• Engage with delivery partners across the wider justice system, including multidisciplinary teams, to ensure legal aid implications are incorporated into whole‑system initiatives.
• Collate information and draft responses to ministerial correspondence, Parliamentary questions and Freedom of Information requests.
• Support the team to ensure effective performance and delivery against team and personal objectives.

Behaviours

Applicants will supply examples (max. 250 words each) for the following behaviours: Seeing the Big Picture, Working Together, Changing and Improving, Delivering at Pace. Using the Situation – Action – Result format is recommended.

• Seeing the Big Picture – Understanding strategic drivers and aligning activities to wider organisational priorities.
• Working Together – Establishing professional relationships with diverse stakeholders and fostering a positive team spirit.
• Changing and Improving – Identifying improvement opportunities, simplifying processes, leveraging technology and encouraging idea sharing.
• Delivering at Pace – Keeping focus on top priorities, following procedures, and managing resources effectively.
• Demonstrated experience of understanding and promoting diversity and inclusion policies.

Interview / Assessment Process

• Assessment of strengths relevant to the role.
• Behavioural assessment against the four key behaviours described above.
• Presentation of experience in implementing diversity and inclusion policy.

Person Specification

• Enthusiastic, proactive, adaptable, and a team player.
• Enjoys fast‑paced, politically sensitive work.
• Strong analytical skills, able to assess policy impact on wider priorities.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a pressured environment.
• Experience of delivering policy and achieving measurable outcomes.

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and Skills

• Rapidly acquire knowledge of the civil and/or criminal justice systems.
• Strong analytical and evidence‑based working style.
• Experience of working in a policy‑development environment.
• Knowledge of MoJ and LAA policy and operational frameworks.

Benefits and Working Conditions

• Hybrid working arrangements – a flexible, non‑contractual form of working blending office, MoJ sites and working from home (UK‑only).
• Minimum 60 % of working time in an office (subject to local estate capacity).
• Standard full‑time hours: 37 hrs/week – part‑time, flexible and job‑sharing options available.
• Annual leave: 25 days on appointment, rising to 30 days after five years (pro‑rated for part‑time).
• Pension: choice of Civil Service pension schemes.
• Training: access to extensive development programmes.
• Family friendly policies, flexible benefits (voluntary benefits, retail vouchers, discounts).
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for computer‑screen users.
• Public holidays paid.

Salary and Location

• National range: £42,914 – £46,182.
• London range: £49,325 – £53,081.
• Salary depends on base location.
• Location assigned nearest viable office to home postcode within the National Office Network (HQ, JCC or JSO).
• Hybrid working suitable only if business requires.

Recruitment and EEO Information

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission’s recruitment principles. If you feel your application experience has breached these principles you may raise a formal complaint following the order below:

1. Transformative Business Services – 0345 241 5359 (Monday‑Friday 08:00‑18:00) or email: [e-mail].
2. Ministry of Justice Resourcing team – [e-mail].
3. Civil Service Commission – details available online.

Veterans

The “Making the Civil Service a Great Place to Work for Veterans” initiative offers a guaranteed interview scheme for eligible former members of the Armed Forces. For further details visit gov.uk.

Application Deadline

Position open until filled. Please submit your application via the official MoJ recruitment portal. Good luck!