International Bilateral Engagement Team LeaderMinistry of Justice

23679

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

International Bilateral Engagement Team Leader

G7

International, Rights and Constitutional Policy Directorate (IRCPD)

International, Rights and Constitutional Policy Directorate (IRCPD) is recruiting permanently for a Grade 7 International Bilateral Engagement Team Leader.

This campaign is open to current civil servants on level transfer and suitable candidates on promotion.

Candidates are reminded that to be eligible for this campaign; you must still be employed as a civil servant at the point of accepting the role.  If you resign or your FTA contract ends before you are made and accept an offer, you will become ineligible and you will be withdrawn from the process.

Location:

Successful candidates will have the option to be based at one of the following locations:

102 Petty France, London

5 Wellington Place, Leeds

Occasional travel between the two locations may be required.  We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your base location (102 Petty France or 5 Wellington Place Leeds).

Ways of Working

At the MoJ we believe and promote alternative ways of working, these roles are available as:

Full-time, part-time or the option to job share

Flexible working patterns

We welcome and encourage applications from everyone, including groups currently underrepresented in our workforce and pride ourselves as being an employer of choice. To find out more about how we champion diversity and inclusion in the workplace, visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice/about/equality-and-diversity

Salary

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department’s pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ)

MoJ is the largest government department, employing over 90,000 people with a budget of approximately £10 billion. Each year, millions of people use our services across the UK - including at 500 courts and tribunals, and 133 prisons in England and Wales.

Further information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice

The Work of the International Engagement Team

The International Engagement Team plays a central role in shaping and delivering the Ministry of Justice's relationships with countries around the world. We work at the intersection of domestic justice policy and international diplomacy, helping to advance the department's priorities, strengthen international partnerships and promote UK interests overseas.

Our work is varied, fast-paced and often high-profile. We lead the planning and delivery of overseas visits by MoJ ministers, coordinate incoming international visits and support bilateral engagement and negotiations with international partners. We work closely with ministers, their Private Offices, colleagues across Whitehall, the FCDO and our diplomatic network overseas.

We also work across the department to ensure that international engagement is strategic, makes a real contribution to MoJ's policy objectives and delivers value for money.

The team offers a unique vantage point across the department's priorities, combining exposure to senior decision-makers with the opportunity to help shape how MoJ engages with the world.

International Bilateral Engagement Team Leader - the role

This is an exciting opportunity to lead a talented and supportive team at the heart of the MoJ's international work. The International Engagement Team is a busy, collaborative and enjoyable place to work, with a strong team culture and a varied portfolio that offers plenty of opportunities to make an impact.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and confident leader who enjoys working with people, thrives on variety and can bring energy, sound judgement and a strategic perspective to a demanding but rewarding role. The post would suit either an established Grade 7 looking for a new challenge or an ambitious and experienced SEO ready to take the next step.

You will lead the delivery of a high-profile programme of international engagement, working closely with ministers and their Private Offices, senior officials, policy teams across Whitehall and international government representatives. You will have opportunities to influence how the department engages internationally, develop strong networks across government and beyond, and help turn ministerial priorities into successful engagements and tangible outcomes.

The role calls for someone who can balance strategic thinking with effective delivery, manage competing priorities and remain calm and adaptable when circumstances change. Just as importantly, we want someone who enjoys leading and developing people, builds a positive and inclusive team culture and helps colleagues thrive in a fast-moving environment.

Key responsibilities will include:

Lead, develop and support a high-performing team, providing clear direction, coaching and opportunities for professional development, while contributing to the leadership of the wider division and directorate.

Shape and deliver the department's international engagement programme, identifying opportunities that advance MoJ and wider HMG objectives and respond to evolving ministerial priorities working closely with the Grade 7 Head of International Strategy.

Develop and oversee delivery of a programme of high-impact engagements, visits and events for ministers and senior officials, ensuring effective delivery and management of associated budgets.

Build and maintain strong relationships with UK diplomatic posts overseas, diplomatic missions in London and senior stakeholders across government and the justice sector to advance departmental objectives.

Working with the G7 Head of International Strategy, coordinate international engagement across the department, working closely with ministers, policy officials, operational teams and private offices to ensure a coherent and strategic approach.

Represent the department credibly and effectively with senior partners, influencing and collaborating across organisational boundaries to achieve shared outcomes.

The role may also include negotiations and leading elements of wider international justice policy.

This post holder will report to the Grade 6 Head of International Engagement, Strategy and Ukraine Response.

This role sits alongside the Grade 7 Head of International Strategy.  Together, the two Grade 7s will provide leadership across a team comprising five SEOs, four HEOs and a Fast Streamer. The postholder is expected to have line management responsibility for approximately five colleagues, although the precise allocation of responsibilities will be agreed upon appointment.

Other similar roles may be available and suitable merit listed candidates may be offered these roles.

Skills and Experience

Essential:

Excellent leadership and team management

Organisational and planning skills, ability to drive forward a broad portfolio of work

A proven track record of collaborative working

Credibility engaging with external stakeholders

Demonstrated ability to work flexibly to set and meet deadlines, manage competing demands and prioritise where appropriate

An ability to manage your own resilience and that of your team/colleagues

Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex and sensitive information clearly and concisely

Interest in foreign policy and international relations and ideally experience of diplomacy and/or delivering international engagement.

Additional Information

The role may involve some occasional international travel.

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.

Candidates applying from HMPPS should note that the Ministry of Justice does not have the same conditions of employment as HMPPS. It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure they are aware of the terms and conditions they will adopt should they be successful.

The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description.

Application process

You will be assessed against the Civil service success profiles framework.

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.

Experience

You will be asked to provide a CV (2 pages maximum) during the application process to assess any demonstrable experience, career history and achievements that are relevant to the role.

You will also be asked to upload a Statement of Suitability of no more than 500 words stating what you would bring to the role, with reference to the Skills and Experience listed above.

Behaviours

During the application process you will be asked to provide an example of how you have met the following behaviour – Delivering at Pace

Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:

Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK

Should we receive a large number of applications, we will sift primarily on the Statement of Suitability.  Successful applicants will then be invited to an interview, testing both behaviours and strengths.

Candidates invited to Interview

Please note that interviews will be carried out remotely.

At interview you will be assessed against behaviours where you will be asked to provide examples of how you have demonstrated them. In addition, you will also be asked strength-based questions.

Behaviours:

The following Behaviours will be tested at interview:

Leadership

Working together

Delivering at pace

It may help to use one or more examples of a piece of work you have completed or a situation you have been in and use the WHO or STAR model to explain:

WHO - What it was? How you approached the work/situation? What the Outcomes were, what did you achieve?Or

STAR - What was the Situation? What were the Tasks? What Action did you take?  What were the Results of your actions?

Please also refer to the CS Behaviours framework for more details at this grade:

Success Profiles: Civil Service behaviours - GOV.UK

Strengths:

It is difficult to prepare for strength type questions. However, you can think through your answers, focus on your achievements and aspects you enjoy and decide how these can be applied in the organisation and role. While strengths questions are shorter and we do not expect a full STAR response, the panel is interested in your first reaction to the question and information or reasoning to support this. Further information on Civil Service Strengths can be found via this link Success Profiles: Strengths - GOV.UK

Presentation:

Candidates invited to interview will be asked to deliver a short presentation.  Details will be provided when candidates are shortlisted.

Interview Timeline:

Interviews are expected to take place in early December.

Contact information

If you would like to know more about this role, please [email protected]