24005 - Policy Advisor
About The Position
The Policy Advisor supports the development and implementation of specific policy and acts as policy lead on designated aspects, providing advice on complex or high-profile issues. The role requires strong knowledge and awareness of current policies and practices, and the ability to write at a level suitable for legal correspondence and maintain dialogue with solicitors and legal representatives. The post holder may represent NOMS in meetings with external organisations, stakeholders and other government departments. The role provides expert policy advice and guidance, contributes information to ministerial submissions and senior-official briefings, and consolidates complex policy information and evidence to develop operational and non-operational policy. It also involves drafting and checking responses to official correspondence, parliamentary questions and Freedom of Information enquiries, ensuring they comply with current NOMS and Ministry of Justice policy and statutory requirements. The post holder supports the Head of Policy, attends meetings, provides secretariat support when required, and acts as the Key Information Liaison Officer (KILO). This is a two-year loan or detached-duty position for existing Civil Service employees and employees of accredited NDPBs. The role is advertised nationally and offers hybrid working where business needs allow. Standard full-time hours are 37 hours per week, excluding unpaid breaks.
Requirements
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to present a clear and accurate understanding of issues to Ministers, the Ministry of Justice, other government departments and the wider public.
- A high level of organisational knowledge and operational understanding of NOMS and the prison estate.
- Ability to understand, interpret and summarise complex information.
- Ability to interact with and influence senior staff and stakeholders.
- Strong knowledge and awareness of current policies and practices.
- Ability to write legal correspondence and maintain dialogue with solicitors and legal representatives.
Responsibilities
- Support and assist the Head of Policy.
- Provide expert policy advice and guidance to staff and managers.
- Act as a day-to-day point of contact for written or verbal advice and consultation with key stakeholders and senior officials.
- Contribute relevant information to draft ministerial submissions and briefings for senior officials.
- Commission and analyse reports from internal or external colleagues, contractors and criminal justice stakeholders when required.
- Consolidate and analyse complex policy information and evidence to draft new protocols, including when stakeholder viewpoints conflict.
- Develop operational and non-operational policy.
- Attend ad hoc meetings on behalf of the team as required.
- Provide secretariat support when required and act as the Key Information Liaison Officer (KILO).
- Ensure draft responses to reports and correspondence submitted to Team Leaders comply with current NOMS and Ministry of Justice policy.
- Provide senior managers with draft responses or contributions to Parliamentary Questions, official letters and Freedom of Information enquiries.
- Contribute to ministerial and senior-manager briefings and ensure responses are prepared in accordance with statutory legislation.
- Represent NOMS in meetings with external organisations, stakeholders and other government departments when required.
Benefits
- Annual leave entitlement, calculated on a pro-rata basis where applicable.
- Nine days (66 hours and 36 minutes) in recognition of bank, public and privilege holidays.
- Choice of two Civil Service pension schemes.
- Flexible working options, subject to business needs and relevant conditions.
- Season ticket advance after two months' service.
- Training and development opportunities, including promotion programmes, security and diversity training, and an individual induction programme.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Education Level
No Education Listed
