11103 - Director of Operations

General Information

Salary The national salary range is £67,332 - £79,881, London salary range is £69,072 - £84,429. Your salary will be dependent on your base location Working Pattern Full Time Vacancy Approach External Location London, National Region London, National Closing Date 03-Nov-2025 Post Type Permanent Civil Service Grade Grade 6 Number of jobs available 1 Reserve List 12 Months Job ID 11103

Descriptions & Requirements

Job description Job Title  Director of OperationsDepartment Operations
Team OperationsJob Grade Grade 6
Number of Posts 1Reports to Chief Operating Officer
Job Purpose 

As the Director of Operations, your overarching responsibility is ensuring parole reviews are progressed effectively, in a timely manner and to oversee the implementation of a new end-to-end operating model over the next 12 - 18 months. You will be responsible for the Board’s operational case management and direct the casework of the Board’s 350 members, who make over 30,000 case management decisions each year, including 17,000 final decisions to decide if someone’s risk can be safely managed in the community. You will also oversee the team and systems responsible for paying member’s fees and expenses. You will manage two functions, Operations and Operations Development and support the Board’s 350 members in their decision making, working closely with the elected Member Representative Group (MRG).  You will work closely with the Director of Legal and Head of Capability to ensure the Board’s decision making is effective and efficient. You will collaborate with a wide range of colleagues and stakeholders both internally and externally to continuously improve operational delivery and performance across the wider Parole system.  You will lead the programme of change needed in Operations to implement new processes at the Board in standard determinate recall sentences, flowing from the Sentencing Bill. This will include new systems for member work allocation, increased use of delegated authority by case managers and changes to the way the Operations functions are structured and resourced. You will be responsible for digitalising processes across Operations, including member payment systems, and developing the use of AI within Operations.  You will be responsible for the management of a budget of £15.9m, manage risks to operational delivery, forecast future workloads, and manage staff and member resources to set and deliver key performance measures.
Main Duties and Scope of Responsibilities:

· Part of the Senior Leadership Team and deputy for the Chief Operating Officer. Ensure the COO is kept up to date with challenges, risks, and issues.· Lead SLT meetings and attending formal Governance meetings including Management Committee, Audit and Risk, Standards and People.· Set operational objectives and performance measures in the Parole Board business plan.· Responsibility for leading the Operations and Operations Development Team to deliver business activities in line with the Parole Board business plan.· Lead on change as required by the business need and engage staff across Operations in changes affecting them, ensuring HR policies are applied fairly.· Line management of 2 Heads of Function, and up to 2 SEO members of staff.· Develop positive relationships with Parole Board members and the Members Representative Group (MRG). Ensure all members are supported to make effective risk assessments that are rigorous, fair, and timely, whilst maintaining the prisoner’s right to a fair hearing.· Manage panel sittings and workload allocation in line with budget allocations. Work with finance colleagues in the Board and Ministry of Justice to develop accurate finance plans in year and for the medium to long term.· Review and set performance indicators for the timeliness and effectiveness of Parole Board reviews and lead Operations to achieve these.· Ensure members fees are properly accounted for, tracked, and paid.· Develop positive relationships with the Capability and Legal and Policy hubs to ensure that member learning and changes to member practice are implemented across Operations.· Work with other hubs at the Parole Board to bring about business change that improves operational performance, expands digital working, and develops the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Operations.· Work with senior stakeholders in HMPPS to improve performance across the system. Produce and share accurate data and information, to support the operation of the parole system oversight group.· Attend and actively participate in internal and external stakeholder engagement activity, including prison governors, heads of public probation, heads of probation delivery units, regional probation directors and leads for regional psychology.· Develop positive relationships with stakeholders to ensure that they are held to account for undertaking effective parole reviews.· Have overall budget and performance management responsibility for the Operations function as a whole. Oversee resource planning, updating forecasts and managing risks to delivery. · Undertake responsibilities in line with current legislation, local and national policies.
Primary Deliverables

To ensure Operations delivers:· An effective secretariat to support the Parole Board membership for the purposes of paper reviews and oral hearings.· To ensure cases are progressed to enable the Operations hub to meet the relevant Key Performance Indicators.· To ensure changes to the operating model are properly implemented, tested and benefits realised.· To work with stakeholders to improve performance across the wider parole system, reduce failure demand and reduce delay.
Person Specification

See below for a list of essential and desirable attributes and skills required to carry out this role.
Essential

· Experience of successfully setting strategy and delivery in an operational setting.· Evidence of leading teams to deliver change.· Proven leadership skills with the ability to set direction aligned to business priorities and manage risks to delivery.· Evidenced team management experience.· Evidence of using data to drive continuous improvement activity and forecast future workloads and budgets.· Experience in communicating and influencing internal and external colleagues at all levels.· Proven ability to work at executive Board level.· Resilience and ability to stay focused and positive in the face of complexity and uncertainty.· Ability to deal with potentially difficult and challenging situations.· Excellent IT skills and experience in using programmes, including Microsoft Excel, Teams, Word, and PowerPoint.· Ability to follow processes, policies, and guidelines. 
Desirable

· Proven understanding of the Parole Process and Parole Board Decision Making Framework (DMF).· Proficient knowledge of PPUD (Public Protection Unit Database) and its reporting functions.· Experience of managing several geographically dispersed teams within a large operational department.· Experienced in business change management or continuous improvement methodologies.
Main Duties:

As set out in the job description above.
Behaviours
We will assess you against these behaviours during the selection process: · Leadership· Communicating and Influencing· Seeing the Bigger Picture· Changing and Improving· Working together 
Accessibility
The Parole Board is a disability confident recruiter. Accessibility requests will be carefully considered and, where reasonable, actioned.Whilst the Parole Board office is principally located in London, and, for the purposes of organisational management and administration, it is not required to conduct business in Welsh. However, the Parole Board welcomes applications from candidates who speak Welsh and English as part of its commitment to treat both languages on a basis of equality in the conduct of public business and administration of justice in Wales, as far as is both appropriate and reasonable, and to reflect the community it serves.
Office requirements 
This role is hybrid. You will be required to spend 20% of your time in person contact. For some SLT meetings as well as Operations team away days, you will be required to attend in person in London.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles and will assess your Behaviours and Experience. At the interview stage you will be assessed against Behaviours, Strengths and Presentation. 
Additional Information

• Salary: £67,333 to £84,429 depending on experience and where the candidate is situated. 
• The expected start date is 1st April 2026.
• The Parole Board offers a range of benefits:

For nationally advertised campaigns, candidates will be appointed to their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) on the completion of pre-employment checks.

The Parole Board offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. Parole Board welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, where 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 Parole Board’s Flexible Working policy.

Annual Leave

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service.

There 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 Parole Board 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. There 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 https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

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: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-the-civil-service-a-great-place-to-work-for-veterans

Redeployment Interview Scheme

Civil Service departments are expected to explore redeployment opportunities before making an individual redundant. The MoJ are committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

MoJ are able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidate's 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) https://www.gov.uk/settled-status-eu-citizens-families
• 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) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/nationality-rules

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 0345 241 5359 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference 11054

Hmpps

If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk

Please quote the job reference

Job Description Attachment

• Director of Operations G6 Sept 2025.docx (Job Description Attachment) Download | Preview | Open in a new tab Close preview

Select New File

Application Form Stage Assessments

Behaviours A sift based on the lead behaviour, Leadership, may be held if a large number of applications are received. If a large number of applications remain after the initial sift, your application will be progressed to a full sift, where all behaviours will then be considered. Behaviours Application Form Question Word Limit 500 Leadership 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 Referring to the essential and desirable criteria in the job description, demonstrate your suitability for the role. Evidence of Experience Statement of Suitability

Interview Stage Assessments

Interview Dates Expected W/C 17th November 2025 Behaviours Leadership Communicating and Influencing Seeing the Big Picture Changing and Improving Working Together Strengths Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed please click here.

Other Assessments

Which assessment methods will be used? Presentation Level of security checks required DBS Standard

Use of Artificial Intelligence (Al)

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 for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.