Eligibility
This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non‑departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.
General Information
Salary: The national salary range is £71,381 – £80,419; London salary range is £75,674 – £85,257. Your salary will depend on your base location.
Working Pattern: Full Time, Flexible Working.
Vacancy Approach: Cross Government.
Locations: Aldershot, Amersham, Ashford (Kent), Aylesbury, Barnstaple, Basildon, Basingstoke, Bath, Bedford, Bodmin, Bournemouth, Brighton and Hove, Bristol, Bury St Edmunds, Cambridge, Canterbury, Chatham, Chelmsford, Cheltenham, Chichester, Colchester, Crawley, Dartford, Exeter, Folkestone, Gloucester, Great Yarmouth, Guildford, Hastings, Hatfield, Havant, Hertford, High Wycombe, Horsham, Huntingdon, Ipswich, King's Lynn, Lewes, Luton, Maidstone, Margate, Milton Keynes, Newport (Isle of Wight), Newton Abbot, Norwich, Oxford, Peterborough, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Reading, Salisbury, Sevenoaks, Slough, Southampton, Southend‑on‑Sea, St Albans, Staines, Stevenage, Swindon, Taunton, Torquay, Truro, Watford, Weston‑super‑Mare, Weymouth, Winchester, Worthing, Yeovil. Regions: South East, South West.
Closing Date: 18-Feb-2026
Post Type: Permanent
Grade: Grade 6
Jobs available: 2
Reserve List: 12 months
Job ID: 14471
Job Title
Grade 6 Head of Operations – Civil Family and Tribunals (CFT)
About HMCTS
HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) is an agency of the Ministry of Justice. We provide support for the legal system across England and Wales, ensuring justice works for everyone.
Our Justice system defends our fundamental rights and freedoms, protecting some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
Regions
South East Region: Covers Bucks, Berks, Oxfordshire, Surrey, Sussex and Kent. The post holder will have a lead responsibility for the region of Civil Courts. Regular travel to courts and London is required.
South West Region: Spans 9 counties and operates across 41 court and tribunal buildings. The successful candidate can be based in any SW region location but ideally at one of the larger centres.
Both Roles
Applicants may select up to 3 preferred base locations. Regular travel across the chosen region and other HMCTS locations is required. Travel expenses are paid in accordance with organisational policies.
Your Role
The Head of Operations will undertake the strategic leadership and performance of the CFT jurisdiction across multiple locations, ensuring a highly effective and consistent service delivery. The role has significant people leadership responsibility, with direct line management of the Deputy Head of Operations and indirect leadership of several hundred staff across the region. The jurisdictional lead will work with colleagues, leadership judges and senior stakeholders to focus on developing the end‑to‑end service to maintain and improve performance.
Your Skills and Experience
* Excellent leadership and relationship management skills with proven ability to deliver through others and lead large operational teams.
* Experience of operational/service management and supporting stakeholders/partners; effective engagement with internal stakeholders, the legal profession and external stakeholders.
* The ability to anticipate and identify strategic organisational issues and analyse and interpret statistical information to assess performance. Will take responsibility for resolving complex problems, escalating only those outside policy or authority level.
* Excellent communication and customer service skills, understanding the needs of end users including professional justice partners, vulnerable victims and witnesses.
* Strong influencing, collaborating and negotiating skills to deliver excellent service levels within the jurisdiction.
* A demonstrable track record of strategic planning and delivering significant change.
Selection Process
High application volume will be sifting using the Statement of Suitability. If progressed from sift stage, in‑person interviews (likely in central London) will be required.
Ways of Working
Both roles require full‑time working hours (37 hrs per week). Consideration may be given to compressed working hours. Non‑contractual hybrid working is available, subject to business needs and effective delivery from home. A minimum of 60% of working time must be spent in an office.
Benefits
* Annual Leave: 25 days on appointment, increasing to 30 days after five years service. Additional paid time off for public holidays and one privilege day. Leave for part‑time and job‑share posts calculated pro‑rata.
* Pension: The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes.
* Training: Extensive range of training and development opportunities.
* Networks: Opportunity to join employee‑run networks for minority ethnic origin, disabilities, caring responsibilities, women, LGBTI employees.
Nationality Eligibility
* UK nationals
* Nationals of the Republic of Ireland
* Nationals of Commonwealth countries with right to work in the UK
* Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members with settled or pre‑settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
* Nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members with valid application for settled or pre‑settled status under EUSS
* Individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain 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
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: Call 0345 241 5359 (Mon‑Fri 8am‑6pm) or email. Quote job reference 14471.
HMPPS: Call 0345 241 5358 (Mon‑Fri 8am‑6pm) or email. Quote job reference 14471.
Attachments
* G6 Head of Operations_Role Profile.pdf (Job Description Attachment)
* 09-2025 Map of SW Region.pdf (Job Description Supporting Documents 2)
* SE REGION MAP 1.pdf (Job Description Supporting Documents)
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