Head of Operations (Ref: 20717)
Ministry of Justice UKHebburn, England, United Kingdom
Added 6 Aug · still live
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£55,000
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role may qualify for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 1121 is an eligible occupation, but we classified this role with low confidence (49% match). If the code is right — and Ministry of Justice UK is a licensed sponsor — it should qualify, but double-check the occupation eligibility rules against the actual role.
About the role
This position is based at Branston Registry Burton-On-Trent, DE14 3EG, MOJ JCC Jarrow Berkley Way, NE31 1SF
Job Summary
Please refer to Job Description.
Job Description
Background
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is here to protect the public, reduce offending, and deliver swift access to justice. We recognise that information plays an integral role in delivering our day-to-day business, underpins our operational delivery and policies and ensures our legal obligations are met.
The Offender Subject Access Request Team (OSARs) ensures that offenders are supported through their sentence and rehabilitation by having access to the right information, at the right time, by responding to requests in full and within statutory timescales.
This permanent role is essential to ensuring that SARs are processed in line with our legal obligations under the Data Protection Act 2018.
Job Description
OSARs manages and processes data protection subject access requests (SARs) on behalf of HMPPS, liaising with business areas to retrieve personal information and preparing it for release in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. The team handles more than 7000 requests annually and provides a vital service across HMPPS.
The OSARs team receive requests (from offenders and their representatives) and source all of the information directly from HMPPS systems or by reaching out to establishments. Once all of the requested information is received by the team, they review and redact any information that is exempt from disclosure (known as vetting). The team includes around 100 people working on: logging requests and sourcing the information to respond, vetting, despatching the responses, quality assurance and training. Vetting is a key safeguard, but a significant undertaking.
The Head of Operations is an interesting and stretching role leading a key delivery team.
Main activities/responsibilities
Operational Management
Job Summary
Please refer to Job Description.
Job Description
Background
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is here to protect the public, reduce offending, and deliver swift access to justice. We recognise that information plays an integral role in delivering our day-to-day business, underpins our operational delivery and policies and ensures our legal obligations are met.
The Offender Subject Access Request Team (OSARs) ensures that offenders are supported through their sentence and rehabilitation by having access to the right information, at the right time, by responding to requests in full and within statutory timescales.
This permanent role is essential to ensuring that SARs are processed in line with our legal obligations under the Data Protection Act 2018.
Job Description
OSARs manages and processes data protection subject access requests (SARs) on behalf of HMPPS, liaising with business areas to retrieve personal information and preparing it for release in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018. The team handles more than 7000 requests annually and provides a vital service across HMPPS.
The OSARs team receive requests (from offenders and their representatives) and source all of the information directly from HMPPS systems or by reaching out to establishments. Once all of the requested information is received by the team, they review and redact any information that is exempt from disclosure (known as vetting). The team includes around 100 people working on: logging requests and sourcing the information to respond, vetting, despatching the responses, quality assurance and training. Vetting is a key safeguard, but a significant undertaking.
The Head of Operations is an interesting and stretching role leading a key delivery team.
Main activities/responsibilities
Operational Management
– embedding strong operational management within the team. Scoping, managing and tracking deliverables, managing risks and resources effectively, and ensuring that accountable decision making is well managed through effective governance. Setting out clear processes and standards for delivery, ensuring delivery of timely, high-quality outcomes. Ensuring adherence to legal, regulatory and security requirements across area. Motivating staff to ensure delivery of overall targets and the ISD business plan.
Contracting and Delivery – contract work with delivery partners to establish effective outcomes, with the aim of improving service delivery.
Transformation – researching and applying new ideas and ways of doing things. Encouraging and supporting innovations from others, willing to experiment and follow ideas through to implementation. Identifying, highlighting and actioning further opportunities for services and process improvements.
Team Leadership – acting as the champion for the team, taking ultimate authority and personal accountability for effective delivery across all workstreams. Providing clear leadership and strategic direction to the team and senior managers. Planning, leading and effecting positive cultural change, securing commitment and buy-in and promoting a positive long-term vision. Having a well-defined Communication and Engagement model in place to ensure all teams understand the performance of the business and understanding the teams’ needs.
Knowledge management – identifying, sharing and promoting best practice and lessons learned to create a culture of learning and good practice that supports continuous improvement to optimise delivery. Responsible for the developing the operational talent pool by optimising the skills of the existing team and attracting the very best external talent.
Stakeholder engagement – identifying, analysing and communicating with stakeholders, using appropriate channels, to ensure outputs (including guidance) and other communications are high quality.
Essential:
Contracting and Delivery – contract work with delivery partners to establish effective outcomes, with the aim of improving service delivery.
Transformation – researching and applying new ideas and ways of doing things. Encouraging and supporting innovations from others, willing to experiment and follow ideas through to implementation. Identifying, highlighting and actioning further opportunities for services and process improvements.
Team Leadership – acting as the champion for the team, taking ultimate authority and personal accountability for effective delivery across all workstreams. Providing clear leadership and strategic direction to the team and senior managers. Planning, leading and effecting positive cultural change, securing commitment and buy-in and promoting a positive long-term vision. Having a well-defined Communication and Engagement model in place to ensure all teams understand the performance of the business and understanding the teams’ needs.
Knowledge management – identifying, sharing and promoting best practice and lessons learned to create a culture of learning and good practice that supports continuous improvement to optimise delivery. Responsible for the developing the operational talent pool by optimising the skills of the existing team and attracting the very best external talent.
Stakeholder engagement – identifying, analysing and communicating with stakeholders, using appropriate channels, to ensure outputs (including guidance) and other communications are high quality.
Essential:
Person Specification:
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is here to protect the public, reduce offending, and deliver swift access to justice. We recognise that information plays an integral role in delivering our day-to-day business, underpins our operational delivery and policies and ensures our legal obligations are met.
The Offender Subject Access Request Team (OSARs) ensures that offenders are supported through their sentence and rehabilitation by having access to the right information, at the right time, by responding to requests in full and within statutory timescales.
This permanent role is essential to ensuring that SARs are processed in line with our legal obligations under the Data Protection Act 2018.
Essential:
- Strong operational leadership experience, and experience managing a large team
- Proven ability to present a compelling vision to a team, setting direction and motivating everyone to work towards a common goal
- Experience in leading by example, encompassing the Civil Service Code of Conduct and MoJ values
- Commitment to engaging, motivating and coaching others, and creating an open and honest culture that promotes diversity and equality. Committed to challenging unacceptable behaviour
- Experience adapting to changing circumstances and adverse situations while remaining calm, reassuring others and maintaining performance
- Ability to demonstrate achievement of results in operational leadership e.g. business improvements, cost savings, performance management
- Excellent leadership, people management, communication and influencing skills at a senior level, including writing compelling and persuasive submissions and business cases
- Ability to translate business strategy into day-to-day delivery
- Experience managing financial resources against budgets, securing value for money, and making the case for additional resource
- Ability to build, maintain, manage and influence key stakeholders
- We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience of data protection, or candidates who are willing to learn this area of work and have a keen interest in it
- Strong quality assurance skills, with experience of monitoring performance, analysing outcomes and ensuring compliance with agreed standards, policies and Legislation.
The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is here to protect the public, reduce offending, and deliver swift access to justice. We recognise that information plays an integral role in delivering our day-to-day business, underpins our operational delivery and policies and ensures our legal obligations are met.
The Offender Subject Access Request Team (OSARs) ensures that offenders are supported through their sentence and rehabilitation by having access to the right information, at the right time, by responding to requests in full and within statutory timescales.
This permanent role is essential to ensuring that SARs are processed in line with our legal obligations under the Data Protection Act 2018.
Essential:
- Strong operational leadership experience, and experience managing a large team
- Proven ability to present a compelling vision to a team, setting direction and motivating everyone to work towards a common goal
- Experience in leading by example, encompassing the Civil Service Code of Conduct and MoJ values
- Commitment to engaging, motivating and coaching others, and creating an open and honest culture that promotes diversity and equality. Committed to challenging unacceptable behaviour
- Experience adapting to changing circumstances and adverse situations while remaining calm, reassuring others and maintaining performance
- Ability to demonstrate achievement of results in operational leadership e.g. business improvements, cost savings, performance management
- Excellent leadership, people management, communication and influencing skills at a senior level, including writing compelling and persuasive submissions and business cases
- Ability to translate business strategy into day-to-day delivery
- Experience managing financial resources against budgets, securing value for money, and making the case for additional resource
- Ability to build, maintain, manage and influence key stakeholders
- We are particularly interested in candidates who have experience of data protection, or candidates who are willing to learn this area of work and have a keen interest in it
- Strong quality assurance skills, with experience of monitoring performance, analysing outcomes and ensuring compliance with agreed standards, policies and Legislation.
Please Refer To Job Description
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Managing a Quality Service
- Leadership
- Seeing the Big Picture
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
- Access to learning and development
Link: https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
https://justicejobs.tal.net/vx/candidate/cms/About%20the%20MOJ
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Strengths and Experience.
Security
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
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
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) 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 (opens in a new window).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job Contact :
- Name : SSCL Recruitment Enquiries Team
- Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
- Telephone : 0345 241 5359
- Email : moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk
Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission’s Recruitment Principles. If you feel a department has breached the requirement of the Recruitment Principles and would like to raise this, please contact SSCL (Moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@gov.sscl.com) in the first instance. If the role has been advertised externally (outside of the Civil Service) and you are not satisfied with the response, you may bring your complaint to the Commission. For further information on bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission please visit their web pages: http://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/civil-service-recruitment/complaints/
https://jobs.justice.gov.uk/careers/JobDetail/20717?entityId=20717
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Ministry of Justice UK, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
SOC 1121 · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · ~406k in sampleP25 £43kP75 £85k
£31kmedian £59kgoing rate £55k£122k
Similar sponsored roles
See all jobsNo close matches live right now.
Browse more sponsored jobs at Ministry of Justice UK →About sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Ministry of Justice UK holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 1121 going rate of £55,000. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.