Team Manager

This vacancy is only available to existing Civil Servant employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). Please review the "Eligibility" section before you apply.

General Information

Salary

£35,335 - £37,847

Working Pattern

Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working

Vacancy Approach

Cross Government

Location

Cardiff

Region

Wales

Closing Date

14-Nov-2025

Post Type

Permanent

Civil Service Grade

HEO

Number of jobs available

1

Reserve List

12 Months

Job ID

11455

Descriptions & requirements

Job description

Job Title & Grade:

Team Manager - HEO

Contract Type:

Permanent

Salary range (depending on location):

National - £35,335 to £37,847

Please note that unless you are currently employed by the Civil Service and are earning more than the minimum above, if successful you will be offered the minimum for the grade depending on your location.

Location:

Cardiff

Directorate:

Case Management

Team:

Civil Applications Team

Working Pattern:

The post is supported by the MOJ flexible working policy and includes colleagues who work flexibly, remotely (as part of hybrid working), part time or as part of a job share etc.

If you are applying for a part time role, please note that in order to meet business demands we need cover for a minimum of 28 hours and to cover 4 days of the week, one of the working days must include a Monday.

Reporting to:

Operations Manager

Closing date for applications

14th November 2025

The Legal Aid Agency

We are an executive agency of the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). We are responsible for operationally administering the legal aid fund to provide criminal and civil legal aid advice to people in England and Wales.

Our people are at the heart of achieving excellence. Employing around 1,200 colleagues across England and Wales, we feel proud to have some of the best People Survey results in the Civil Service.

Our LAA commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain, and invest in talent wver it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

As a Disability Confident organisation, we will offer a guaranteed interview to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role. Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months.

If you are responding to a role within the Legal Aid Agency and would like to be considered under the guaranteed interview, please indicate this in your application and let us know of any reasonable adjustments you may require during the sift or later selection processes.

The LAA's goal is to build an organisation that is open and inclusive and truly values and celebrates the diversity of its workforce. One that reflects and understands the needs of the diverse society we serve. This is regardless of social background, gender, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, beliefs, disabilities or long-term illness or caring responsibilities.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to ensuring our recruitment process is inclusive and accessible to all. If you have a disability or long-term condition (for example dyslexia, anxiety, autism, a mobility condition or hearing loss) and need us to make any reasonable adjustments to support you through the recruitment process, please let us know by adding the information to the applications system or emailing after you have applied so that we can discuss options with you.

Case Management

The Case Management Directorate is the operational delivery function of the LAA, and our staff ensure that each year in excess of 500,000 new clients are able to access the justice they require, and that their providers are fairly remunerated for the delivery of the legal aid. With staff based across multiple sites we deliver services for those facing both criminal and civil legal problems including family, immigration, mental health, housing, and exceptional funding cases.

Civil Case Management

The Legal Aid Agency (LAA) is responsible for making sure legal aid services from solicitors, barristers and the not-for-profit sector are available to the general public. Our work to administer legal aid is essential to the fair, efficient and effective operation of the criminal justice systems and we work ly with legal providers and the wider Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to achieve our purpose. This commitment is at the heart of our day-to-day decision making and our work to improve legal aid services. The engagement and commitment of our staff is crucial to achieving our purpose. Together we show openness, honesty, and commitment, and, of course, to deliver results.

Civil Case Management is responsible for the processing applications and claims for costs for legal aid and associated items of work.

Job Summary

The role will principally be to effectively lead a team to meet Key Performance Indicators, analysing performance statistics and developing team members to ensure an effectively engaged team on a daily basis.

Key Responsibilities:

• Planning of internal resources to ensure all business targets are met, including individual quality and productivity targets, collating, and analysing data to inform decisions, escalating issues as they emerge and helping to find effective solutions.
• Analysis of financial and performance management data to identify key issues and ensure appropriate action is taken to address areas of concern.
• Setting and communicating a clear direction for the team in relation to the Agency's aims, objectives, purpose, and vision to ensure understanding and engagement in the vision.
• Supporting the internal transformation programme ensuring that teams are aware of proposed changes that affect them and feel supported throughout the process.
• Ensuring performance meetings are held in line with the MoJ process and conversations are meaningful for both individuals and the LAA, providing constructive and honest feedback on performance.
• Setting SMART targets and objectives for the direct reports in the team and for self to ensure effective performance management can take place.
• Undertake succession planning for the team recognising the potential in team members and encouraging them to achieve their potential including conducting 1-2-1 meetings, touch point meetings, absence reviews, mentoring, coaching, setting objectives and developing training plans.
  Ensuring that internal processes are fit for purpose and making recommendations for improvement, showing and awareness of risks in- nt in internal processes, including Health and Safety and Information Awareness. Ensure risks are logged, relevant managers made aware and appropriate action taken.
• Take responsibility for the effective management of poor performance and absence issues on the team from both a team and individual perspective, understanding and addressing any issues as they arise in line with MoJ policies and procedures.
• Take a leading role in the recruitment and selection of staff locally ensuring campaigns are run in line with MoJ Recruitment guidelines.
• Encourage, handle, and respond to feedback from staff, customers, partners, and suppliers to develop and improve services.
• Ensure actions are completed against team action plans arising out of the annual People Survey and engage team in actions.
• Promote equality & diversity, treating everyone fairly and actively, encouraging ideas and contributions from all members of your team and across the case management teams.
• Communicate effectively with people from across the business to foster effective and productive working relationships with all stakeholders.
• Support team engagement and communication, delivering team briefings and cascading messages. Take a leading role in team meetings, encouraging the sharing of views, ideas, and solutions.

Essential Knowledge, Experience and skills

• Experience of working within an operational environment and setting SMART objectives
• Experience of observing behaviours and performance and giving constructive feedback
• Effective communication skills both written and verbal.
• Established problem-solving skills to achieve positive outcomes.
• Experience of supporting Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace

Desirable Knowledge, Experience and skills

• Experience of developing others
• IT Literate – a good knowledge of Microsoft office
• Health & Safety Awareness

Person Specification

• This role is suitable for someone who enjoys working in a leadership role in a fast-paced operational background

Assessment approach

Application Process

To apply please provide a statement of suitability showing how you meet the essential criteria in no more than 1000 words.

Your statement should demonstrate your ability to do all of the essential criteria listed, using examples can help strengthen your application.

Please note we do not require a CV.

Interview / assessment Process

If you are successful through the application stage, you will be invited to an interview / assessment centre in person or via Microsoft Teams w you will be assessed against the following:

• Strengths relevant to the role
• Behaviours relevant to the role:
• Leadership
• Delivering at Pace
• Communicating & Influencing

Leadership

Examples of leadership at HEO grade or equivalent are when you:

• ensure colleagues and stakeholders have a clear understanding of objectives, activities and timeframes
• take into account different individual needs, views, and ideas, championing inclusion and equality of opportunity for all
• consider the impacts of own and team's activities on stakeholders and end users
• role-model commitment and satisfaction with role
• recognise and praise the achievements of others to drive positivity within the team
  effectively manage conflict, misconduct and non-inclusive behaviour, raising with senior managers w- appropriate

Delivering at pace

Examples of delivering at pace at HEO grade or equivalent are when you:

• show a positive approach to keeping the whole team's efforts focused on the top priorities
• promote a culture of following the appropriate procedures to ensure results are achieved on time whilst still enabling innovation
• ensure the most appropriate resources are available for colleagues to use to do their job effectively
• regularly monitor your own and team's work against milestones ensuring individual needs are considered when setting tasks
  act promptly to reassess workloads and priorities when t- are conflicting demands to maintain performance
  allow individuals the space and authority to meet objectives, providing additional support w- necessary, whilst keeping overall responsibility

Communicating & Influencing

Examples of communicating and influencing at HEO grade or equivalent are when you:

• communicate in a straightforward, honest and engaging manner - choosing appropriate styles to maximise understanding and impact
• encourage the use of different communication methods, including digital resources and highlight the benefits, including ensuring cost effectiveness
• ensure communication has a clear purpose and takes into account people's individual needs
• share information as appropriate and check understanding
• show positivity and enthusiasm towards work, encouraging others to do the same

• ensure that important messages are communicated with colleagues and stakeholders respectfully, taking into consideration the diversity of interests

• Your Experience of implementing, promoting, or understanding diversity and inclusion policy - Diversity is the presence of difference, this can include one or more of the protected characteristics (Gender, Age, Race, Disability etc.) or it can be about working patterns, whether we like to jump into a task or reflect on it before acting. Inclusion is how we welcome, value, and celebrate diversity, giving everyone a voice, tapping into ideas, and enabling everyone to be themselves at work and achieve their potential.

For this grade/ role we would expect the candidate to demonstrate understanding of the terms Diversity and Inclusion and be able to explain why they are important to them, their team and to w they work. We would also expect examples of action they have taken (in or outside of work) to embrace diversity (e.g., increasing understanding) or improve inclusion at a team or group level.

Shortlisting is planned for week commencing 17th November 2025

Interviews are planned for week commencing 1st December 2025

If you would like more information on this opportunity, please contact – Brendan Lynch

Complaints procedure

If you have any complaints about this recruitment activity, please share your concerns by emailing initially. We aim to respond to any complaint within 10 working days.

Additional Information

Working Arrangements & Further Information

The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements w 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). All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity.

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: All successful candidates will be appointed to the nearest viable office nearest to their home postcode and on its respective pay scale. This will be at either a HQ building (subject to desk allocation, a Justice Collaboration Centre (JCC) or a Justice Satellite Office (JSO) – See Map. All employees will be expected to spend a minimum of 60% of their working time in an office, subject to local estate capacity).

For current MoJ employees, your base location will need to be changed to the nearest viable office (to your home postcode), either at a HQ building, JCC or JSO within the National Office Network and moved its location's respective pay scale (any legacy arrangements/locations will need to be amended).

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.

MoJ candidates who are on a specialist grade, will be able to retain their grade on lateral transfer.

All candidates who are currently in receipt of Mark Time / Pay Protection should ensure they are familiar with the new policy on permanent and temporary promotion which can be found on the employee intranet.

Flexible working hours

The Ministry of Justice offers a flexible working system in many offices. Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week. MoJ welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns, w 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 MoJ's Flexible Working policy.

Benefits

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual Leave

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

T 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 Ministry of Justice 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. T 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.

Eligibility

Staff on fixed term appointments must have been recruited through fair and open competition.

Vacancies advertised "cross-government" are only open to all Civil Service employees and employees of accredited non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) who were appointed on merit following a fair and open competition; or were appointed to a permanent post through an exception in the Civil Service Commissioners' rules.

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 or Childcare Choices. You can determine your eligibility at
• Paid paternity, adoption and maternity leave.
• Free annual sight tests for employees who use computer screens.

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code 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. Should you feel that the recruitment process has breached the recruitment principles you are able to raise a formal complaint in the following order

• To Transformative Business Services Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-);
• To Ministry of Justice Resourcing team (resourcing-management-);
  To the Civil Service Commission (details available- )

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 wver it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy.

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'.

MoJ is able to offer an interview to eligible candidates who meet the minimum selection criteria, except in a limited number of campaigns. Candidates 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)
• 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)

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 Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-

Please quote the job reference 11455

HMPPS

If you require any assistance please call Monday to Friday 8am - 6pm) or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-

Please quote the job reference 11455

Job Description Attachment

• HEO Team Mgr Cardiff (Job Description Attachment)

Select new file
Application form stage assessments

Experience

We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods

Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability

Experience Questions Application Form Question Word Limit

250

Evidence of Experience

Experience Questions, Statement of Suitability

Interview stage assessments

Interview Dates

Interviews are planned for week commencing 1st December 2025

Behaviours

Leadership

Delivering at Pace

Communicating and Influencing

Experience

Your Experience for this role will be assessed at interview. To learn more about Experience and how they are assessed .

We will assess your experience for this role via the following methods

Experience Questions

Strengths

Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. To learn more about Strengths and how they are assessed .

Level of security checks required

Baseline Personnal Security Standard (BPSS)

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. W 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.

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