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.

Hours
Full-time, part-time or the option to job share with flexible working patterns available.

Salary
£35,335 per annum. The Ministry of Justice contributes £10,236 towards membership of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme.

About the Role
The Scrutiny – Strategy and Policy Team within the Prisons Directorate is recruiting a permanent HEO Policy Advisor. The team manages the policy relationship with four Arm’s Length Bodies: HM Inspectorate of Prisons, the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, the Independent Monitoring Boards, and the Lay Observers. These bodies provide expert scrutiny of prisons, probation, and courts.

The role involves maintaining and developing relationships with these scrutiny bodies, connecting them with relevant policy teams, operational partners, and other government departments. You will lead on briefing Ministers and senior officials, draft high-quality advice and correspondence, and use scrutiny intelligence to influence policy development.

Key responsibilities include drafting ministerial briefings, managing day-to-day relationships with scrutiny bodies, supporting senior public appointments, leading niche projects to improve the scrutiny landscape, providing secretariat support for strategic forums, consulting with internal and external stakeholders, and contributing to wider policy initiatives aimed at strengthening prisons policy.

The division is friendly, collaborative, and committed to personal and career development, supporting team members to make a positive difference in the justice system.

Experience
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to plan and deliver outcomes according to agreed priorities.
- Ability to make sound judgements and provide well-articulated advice, including experience in using and interpreting data and evidence.
- Experience consulting and collaborating with colleagues and stakeholders from a range of organisations to achieve tangible outcomes.

About you
- Ambitious, organised, and collaborative with a strong commitment to improving prisons and outcomes for those in care.
- Strong communication skills, including experience drafting policy, parliamentary correspondence, and ministerial submissions/briefings (desirable).
- Interest in or knowledge of prisons, courts, or probation (desirable).
- Operational experience in the justice system (desirable).
- Understanding of governmental and parliamentary processes (desirable).
- Experience in project management or support (desirable).

Qualifications
No specific qualifications are required; however, candidates must demonstrate relevant skills, experience, and behaviours aligned with the Civil Service success profiles framework.