General Information
Salary
The national salary is £71,381 - £80,419, London salary is £75,674 - £85,257. Your salary will be dependent on your base location
Working Pattern
Full Time, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach
External
Location
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
Region
South East, South West
Closing Date
16-Oct-2025
Post Type
Permanent
Civil Service Grade
Grade 6
Number of jobs available
2
Reserve List
12 Months
Job ID
10470
Descriptions & requirements
Job description
Proud to Serve. Proud to keep justice going.
Grade 6 Head of Operations (Crime)
About us
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. It is a cornerstone of our modern society. It protects some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, from families in crisis to claimants and commercial businesses. We have a responsibility to deliver a Justice system that is accessible to everyone and operates efficiently.
We have two permanent roles available:
South East Region:
The region is split both jurisdictionally; this vacancy is to cover the Criminal jurisdictions in the North side of the region. Whilst is no requirement for the successful candidate to be based in that work area, the successful candidate can be based in any SE region location.
Applicants will have the opportunity to select up to 3 preferred base locations.
Regular travel to courts in the North of the region will be required as will travel to London for regional meetings. Travel expenses will be paid in accordance with organisational policies.
The post holder will have a lead responsibility for the region of Magistrates Courts.
South West Region:
The successful candidate can be based in any SW region location.
Applicants will have the opportunity to select up to 3 preferred base locations.
The successful candidate/s will be required to regularly travel across the chosen Region, along with other HMCTS locations as required by business needs. Travel expenses will be paid in accordance with organisational policies.
Your Role
The Head of Operations will undertake the strategic leadership and performance of the Crime jurisdiction across multiple locations, ensuring a highly effective and consistent service delivery.
The role has considerable influence and responsibility across this service as well as significant people leadership responsibility. The postholder will have direct line management of the Deputy Head of Operations and indirect leadership of several hundred staff across the region.
As the jurisdictional lead for Crime, the Head of Operations will work with colleagues, leadership judge stakeholders and senior stakeholders to focus on developing the end-to-end service to maintain and improve performance.
Your skills and experience
Head of Operations will have;
* Excellent leadership and relationship management skills with proven ability of delivering through others and leading large operational teams.
* Experience of operational/service management and supporting stakeholders/partners. The Head of Operations will engage effectively with internal stakeholders, the legal profession and external stakeholders in managing interactions with the wider community and the media.
* The ability to anticipate and identify strategic organisational issues and analyse and interpret statistical information to assess performance. The Head of Operations will be expected to take responsibility for the resolution of a range of complex problems, escalating only those which are outside of current policy area or level of authority.
* Excellent communication and customer service skills, understanding the needs of our end users reflecting the diverse needs of our customer base from professional justice partners to vulnerable victims and witnesses.
* Strong influencing, collaborating and negotiating skills to deliver excellent levels of service within the jurisdiction.
* A demonstrable track record of strategic planning and delivering significant change
For a full job description, please read supporting document 1 included below before applying.
Ways of working:
Both roles require full time working hours, though consideration would be given to working a compressed working hours pattern.
Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. T is an expectation that you can be flexible with your working hours to accommodate the needs of the business.
HMCTS welcomes part-time, flexible, and job-sharing working patterns, w they meet the demands of the role and business needs and are agreed prior to appointment. All applications for part-time, flexible, and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the MoJ's Flexible Working policy.
Non-contractual hybrid working is currently available. Hybrid working arrangements will be determined by the business and will only be available when it has been established that delivering the service from home can be done effectively. We cannot facilitate requests for a particular work from home/working in the office schedule.
Interviews will be held at 102 Petty France, St James's, London, SW1H 9GL. Travel costs for non-Civil Servants will not be reimbursed. For Current Civil Servants please refer to your organisational policies
If you would like to discuss this role and the responsibilities, please contact:
SE
SW Region:
Additional Information
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements w 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). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.
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 role: all successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).
For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location's respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).
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.
MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.
All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.
Flexible working hours
The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, w 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 MoJ's 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.
T is also a scheme to allow qualifying staff to buy or sell up to three days leave each year. Additional paid time off for public holidays and 1 privilege day. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis.
Pension
The Civil Service offers a choice of pension schemes, giving you the flexibility to choose the pension that suits you best.
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. T are currently networks for employees of minority ethnic origin, employees with disabilities, employees with caring responsibilities, women employees, and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.
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 or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at
* 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 Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-);
* To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-);
To the Civil Service Commission (details available- )
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.
For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.
You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form. If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team.
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wver it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.
A Great Place to Work for Veterans
The "Making the Civil Service a Great Place to work for veterans" initiative includes a guaranteed interview scheme to those who meet the minimum criteria to provide eligible former members of the Armed Forces with opportunities to secure rewarding jobs. Allowing veterans to continue to serve their country, and to bring highly skilled individuals with a broad range of experience into the Civil Service in an environment, which recognises and values your previous service in the Armed Forces.
For further details about the initiative and eligibility requirements visit:
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)
* 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)
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 Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-
Please quote the job reference
HMPPS
If you require any assistance please call Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-
Please quote the job reference
Job Description Attachment
* Map of SW (Job Description Supporting Documents 2)
* G6 Head of Operations_Role (Job Description Attachment)
Select new file
Application form stage assessments
Behaviours
Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit
500
Communicating and Influencing
Experience
We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods
Statement of Suitability
Statement of Suitability
Guidance for the Statement of Suitability
As stated in the job advert and accompanying guidance, applicants are required to submit a 1000-word personal statement addressing the following prompt:
"Please tell why you are suitable for this role. Demonstrate your transferable skills, knowledge, and experience in relation to the essential criteria outlined in the job description.
You may draw on examples from work, education, volunteering, or other relevant experiences. To achieve the highest scores, we strongly encourage you to use the full word count 1000 words, Provide personalised, real-life evidence, clearly linking your experience to the essential criteria."
Please ensure that all information provided is truthful and factually accurate.
Important: Submitting content that is copied or plagiarised—including material generated by others or by artificial intelligence—may result in your application being withdrawn
Evidence of Experience
Statement of Suitability
Interview stage assessments
Interview Dates
Interviews expected week commencing 3rd November Interviews will be held at 102 Petty France, St James's, London, SW1H 9GL.
Behaviours
Seeing the Big Picture
Leadership
Changing and Improving
Communicating and Influencing
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed .
Technical
Candidates successful at sift stage will be provided with the presentation details ahead of their interview. A five-minute window will be provided for you to demonstrate your ability to communicate effectively in terms of content and structure. No use of visual aids during the presentation – such as PowerPoint presentation or handouts. The use of notes is permitted for reference during the presentation and interview.
Other Assessments
Which assessment methods will be used?
Presentation
Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Level of security checks required
Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)