Business Manager to Regional Probation Director, North East

Ashington, Darlington, Durham, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newton Aycliffe, Peterlee, South Shields, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland

Region

North East

Closing Date

11-Sep-2026

Business Unit

Post Type

Fixed Term, Detached Duty, Loan, Secondment

Other

Number of jobs available

1

Reserve List

12 Months

Job ID

21321

Descriptions & requirements The Regional Business Manager will report directly to the Regional Probation Director and plays a key role in supporting the effective delivery of probation services across the region. The postholder will lead the coordination and business management of the RPD's Private Office, providing assurance, managing priorities, overseeing briefings and correspondence, and acting as an important link between the region, HQ, MoJ and wider stakeholders. This is a varied and influential role requiring sound judgement, strong organisational skills, confident communication and the ability to work tactfully and effectively with senior leaders and colleagues across a complex operational environment. This is a regional role and travel throughout the North East will be required. This will be a 12 month fixed term position.

Any Applicants wishing to apply for this role on the basis of a loan/secondment cover, MUST have the permission of their Business Unit Head before submitting an application

Overview of the job This role reports to the Regional Probation Director.

Supporting the RPD to ensure the effective delivery of probation services within the region, provide assurance to the RPD of effective delivery and maintain a broad understanding of issues and business across MoJ, acting as the link between the Region and HQ.

They will be accountable for delivering effective coordination and business management of the RPD's private office. The post is based in the RPD's Private Office with line management responsibilities.

Summary The postholder will need to be persuasive and influence others views positively, to deal confidently and tactfully with other colleagues.

Judgement and decision making - including readiness to take a high level of responsibility and the ability to exercise sound and sometimes rapid judgement based on the evidence presented in a range of situations.

The ability to analyse stakeholder positions and formulate proposals and options for consideration by the RPD, taking into account wider issues.

Responsibilities, Activities & Duties The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:

• Coordinate activity in the RPDs private/regional office; ensuring efficient and effective diary management, provision of documents and smooth running of the private/regional office.
• Represent the RPD in non-operational matters with stakeholders, correspondents, members of the public and others as determined by the RPD
• Commission work on key regional objectives In live with the organisations corporate plans working to challenging timescales and ensuring delivery on time and to required quality standards. Commissioning will be to SMEs and involve the RPD's lead specialist operational responsibility as well as the day to day operation of the region including Accredited Programmes and Interventions; Acquisitive Crime; County Lines; Domestic Violence and MARAC; Foreign National Offenders; Health; Performance & Quality; Young Adults including Care Experienced.
• Receive correspondence, review, prepare briefings for the RPD and draft responses. Ensuring the RPD is informed of matters where necessary and is involved in decision-making at the appropriate time and level.
• Manage the RPD Office budget, with delegated authority to approve expenditure up to approved limits within Financial Regulations.
• Line manage the RPD Office team, including diary manager, senior admin officer and other staff who may be assigned to the office from time to time. Additionally, to be the head of professional for PDU BMs across the region.
• Maintain and grow good relationships and working contacts with the CPO's office, DG office and senior leaders across HMPPS and MoJ as well as MoJ Press Office. Develop effective working relationships with relevant Ministerial offices and local MPs, and other criminal justice agencies e.g. office of the Chief Constable, Directors of Social Services etc. Be the point of contact for centralised/HQ services.
• Manage all incoming e-mails/correspondence to the RPD and prioritise the work accordingly. Responding direct where it is possible to do so without reference to the RPD, including handling all incoming telephone calls and enquiries to the RPD's private office, responding direct where possible and ensuring effective resolution in order to maintain organisational reputation.
• Prepare RPD bi-lats with the CPO and visit reports in preparation for meetings with Heads of PDU, ensuring any actions are carried out.
• Support the updating of Regional Corporate risk reports and review of high-risk recommendations, and maintaining implementation plans across the Region, progress chasing as appropriate. Undertake ad-hoc projects and investigations on behalf of RPD.

The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.

An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or (where specified in Wales) Welsh.

Behaviours

• Making Effective Decisions
• Managing a Quality Service
• Leadership
• Communicating and Influencing
• Working Together
• Experience of working at a managerial level in a complex environment is required.
• Experience of stakeholder engagement at various levels is essential.
• The postholder will need to be persuasive and influence others views positively, to deal confidently and tactfully with other colleagues. Judgement and decision making - including readiness to take a high level of responsibility and the ability to exercise sound and sometimes rapid judgement based on the evidence presented in a range of situations.
• Experienced organiser, coordinating, preparing briefs & correspondence; gatekeeping/protecting and taking the pressure away from the RPD.
• Typically, this individual will have worked in a private office as an assistant, with a developed understanding of the workings of civil service protocols
• Experience of dealing with correspondence, dealing with ministers, MPS, senior leaders in complex high volume/busy environments.

Technical requirements Ability

• High level IT and Business Management skills.
• The ability to analyse stakeholder positions and formulate proposals and options for consideration by the RPD, taking into account wider issues.

Additional Information

New entrants to the Civil Service will be expected to join at the entry point salary for the advertised band

Existing Civil Servants will have their salary calculated in accordance with the Department's pay on transfer / pay on promotion rules.

Working Arrangements & Further Information 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 aMoJoffice 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 withthe HMPPS' Flexible Working policy.

The MoJ offers a range of benefits:

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years' service, plus public holidays.Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis

Pension The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF).Please visit for further information.

Please note: Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS . click apply for full job details