Operations Manager

Ministry of Justice; Nottingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A government department is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to oversee day-to-day operations across Civil and Family Courts in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire. Responsibilities include leading teams, managing budgets, and driving service improvements. The ideal candidate will have proven leadership skills and the ability to foster relationships in a multi-stakeholder environment. This role offers hybrid working arrangements with a focus on continuous improvement within the court system, providing a chance to significantly impact service delivery.

Benefits

Annual Leave: 25 days increasing to 30 after five years

Choice of pension schemes

Extensive training and development opportunities

Employee-run networks for minority groups

Flexible benefits and childcare support

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior operations or management role within a complex, multi‑stakeholder environment.
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of leading teams through change.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills to maintain relationships at all levels.
• Experience in budget management and resource allocation.
• Level of security checks required DBS Basic

Responsibilities

• Lead operations across multiple Civil and Family Courts.
• Manage a team of Delivery Managers and deploy resources effectively.
• Control budget expenditure while driving continuous improvement.
• Foster strong stakeholder relationships and deliver customer-focused services.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Influencing skills

Budget management

Change management

Education

Experience in senior operations or management role

Job description

Overview

Our Operations Managers play a crucial role helping deliver justice and are accountable for day-to-day operations across Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Civil and Family Courts. We are seeking an experienced leader able to motivate remote teams, foster strong relationships with key stakeholders and ensure our services are customer focused and efficient. Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Civil and Family Courts sit within HMCTS' Midlands Region, you’re responsible for the strategic oversight of Civil and Family Courts, supporting your Head of Operations to meet operational needs and deliver cluster performance objectives. You will be at the forefront of organisational change, making a real difference in how service is delivered, working in a supportive environment with a focus on continuous improvement. Leading a team of Delivery Manager's to provide a consistent and customer‑focused service, you’ll drive a collaborative culture across the cluster, ensure effective deployment of resources and manage an allocated budget to control delegated expenditure, ensuring efficiencies are made. The Operations Manager is responsible for Civil and Family Courts across Nottinghamshire (Nottingham and Mansfield) and Derbyshire (Derby and Chesterfield), as well as co‑lead for a regional workstream.

Responsibilities

Leading operations across multiple Civil and Family Courts, managing a team of Delivery Managers, ensuring resources are deployed effectively, controlling budget expenditure, driving continuous improvement and delivering cluster performance objectives. Motivating remote teams, fostering strong stakeholder relationships, delivering customer‑focused and efficient services, and supporting the Head of Operations in strategic oversight. Overseeing organisational change and ensuring consistent and customer‑focused service delivery across the cluster.

You are a resilient and positive leader who thrives on delivering effective and efficient services and enjoys working with a variety of stakeholders. You lead by example, coaching and developing your team in setting local priorities and objectives to achieve National/Regional and Area strategies and plans. You’re able to work collaboratively with other Operations Managers in the cluster to manage conflicting demands on the business and able to reprioritise local and regional goals where required.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a senior operations or management role, preferably within a complex, multi‑stakeholder environment.
• Strong leadership skills with a track record of leading teams through change.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to maintain relationships at all levels.
• Experience in budget management and resource allocation.
• Level of security checks required DBS Basic

Interview and Application Details

Interviews are to be held in person and are expected to take place 9th to 13th February 2026. Requests for alternate dates and/or virtual interviews will only be considered in exceptional circumstances or as part of a reasonable adjustment.

Looking for a challenging and rewarding role? Apply today. Standard full‑time working hours are 37 hours per week.

Work Arrangements

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 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.

EEO Statement

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.

Civil Service Code and Recruitment

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. 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 [e-mail]);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([e-mail]);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

Benefits

• Annual Leave: 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after five years’ service; scheme to buy or sell up to three days leave each year; public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave pro‑rata for part‑time and job share posts.
• Pension: choice of pension schemes.
• Training: extensive range of training and development opportunities.
• Networks: employee‑run networks for minority groups, disabilities, caring responsibilities, women, LGBTQ+.
• Family Friendly policies: reduced hours, job share.
• Flexible benefits: voluntary benefits, retail vouchers and discounts.
• Childcare support: alternative government childcare support schemes, tax‑free childcare.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.