Policy Lead - Digital Innovation Manager

Within the Rehabilitation & Change Directorate of HMPPS HQ, the Employment, Skills and Education (ESE) division aims to drive up employment outcomes on release, improve the quality and quantity of purposeful activity in prisons, and enhance efficiency and quality in Offender Management administrative hubs. In doing so, we seek to be transformational and maximise the opportunities presented by digital technology. The division includes ESE Digital Strategy, Prison Industries Operations and Strategy, Education and Skills Strategy, New Futures Network, and Creating Future Opportunities.

This vacancy sits within the ESE Digital Innovations team, which leads digital transformation across education, skills and employment services. We develop and deliver innovative digital products and pilots to improve rehabilitation outcomes, working at the intersection of policy, operations, technology and security. Our portfolio includes hybrid and in-cell learning, digital education platforms, emerging technologies, and the Innovation Catalyst Programme, which explores how new technologies can transform learning and employment services in prisons.

Role Overview The Digital Innovation Manager will be responsible for delivering a portfolio of digital innovation projects that transform education, skills and employment services across prisons through the effective use of technology. Working within one of Government's most complex operational environments, the postholder will manage the development, testing and implementation of innovative digital solutions, ensuring they are deliverable, secure and meet operational needs. Working across policy, operational prisons, Justice Digital, Cyber Security, Commercial and external suppliers, the postholder will coordinate delivery activity, manage competing priorities and navigate governance processes to support the successful implementation of new technologies.

The role requires someone who is comfortable working in ambiguity, enjoys solving complex problems and can build effective relationships across multiple disciplines to deliver meaningful change. This role is ideally suited to someone with experience of digital delivery who is looking to apply their skills in a challenging and rewarding environment, helping shape the future of digital education within prisons.

Innovation and Digital Delivery

• Manage a portfolio of digital innovation projects that support improvements to education, skills and employment services.
• Deliver agreed workstreams within the Innovation Catalyst Programme, supporting the identification, testing and evaluation of new technologies.
• Coordinate pilot activity, ensuring lessons learned are captured and used to inform future delivery.
• Monitor progress, risks and dependencies across projects, escalating issues where appropriate.
• Support the development of business cases, options appraisals and recommendations for senior leaders.

Stakeholder Management

• Build effective working relationships with colleagues across Justice Digital, operational prisons, Cyber Security, Commercial, policy teams and suppliers.
• Coordinate stakeholder engagement to support delivery across multiple organisations and professions.
• Represent the team at meetings and governance forums, providing clear updates on delivery progress, risks and issues.
• Work collaboratively to resolve delivery challenges and identify practical solutions.

Digital Products and Services

• Leading the delivery of the hybrid learning content pilot and the in-cell device reprocurement strategy, as well as supporting the implementation of other innovative digital education services, including the streamed education pilot and virtual reality pilot.
• Work alongside technical specialists to ensure solutions meet security, accessibility and operational requirements.
• Support procurement and transition activity associated with future digital education services.
• Monitor implementation activity, identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.

Governance and Performance

• Prepare high quality briefing material, reports and board papers for senior stakeholders.
• Support financial monitoring across the portfolio, ensuring expenditure is managed appropriately.
• Maintain project documentation, delivery plans, RAID logs and governance products in collaboration with Project Delivery Team colleagues.
• Ensure projects comply with relevant digital governance, assurance and security processes.
• Contribute to the development of policy and guidance relating to innovative education technologies.

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements where business need allows. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and / or from home (please be aware that this role can only be worked in the UK and not overseas). Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working.

Similarly, Hybrid Working will not suit everyone's circumstances. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review. For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office.

This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks. Some of MoJ's terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service.

Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid.

HMPPS 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 HMPPS' Flexible Working policy. If you are a current NPS employee, this vacancy may be available on a Loan basis for up to 2 years.

The Loan/Secondment is subject to the approval of the selected candidate's Business Unit, which should be obtained before confirmation of appointment.

• A good understanding of digital delivery methodologies and working within multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience building productive relationships with technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver at pace.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing reports and briefing material for senior audiences.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify practical solutions to complex issues.
• Experience managing risks, issues and dependencies within project or programme environments.

Desirable Experience

• Direct experience delivering digital products, services or technology-enabled change projects.

Person Specification

• A genuine interest in digital innovation and improving public services through technology.
• Resilience and adaptability when working in complex or changing environments.
• Confidence working with ambiguity and managing competing priorities.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to influence without direct authority.
• A collaborative approach, working effectively across organisational boundaries.
• Sound judgement, attention to detail and a commitment to delivering high quality outcomes.
• A proactive approach to identifying opportunities, resolving problems and continuously improving services.

Communicating and Influencing Delivering at Pace Making Effective Decisions

• To Transformative Business Services (0345 241 5358 (Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail [email protected]);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team ([email protected]);
• To the Civil Service Commission (details available here)

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. MoJ are able to offer an interview to disabled candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. You will be able to request reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process within the application form.

If you need additional help completing the application form, please contact the TBS Recruitment Enquiries Team. For more information on applying for a role as a candidate with a disability or long-term condition, please watch our animated videos.

Diversity & 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 and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

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 is committed, as part of the Redeployment Interview Scheme, to providing opportunities to those who are 'at risk of redundancy'.

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