Senior Policy Adviser, Youth Justice - Youth Justice and Offender Policy

Eligibility

The 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.

Salary: national £42,914 - £46,182;
London £49,325-£53,081 (dependent on base location). Working patterns:
Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working. Vacancy approach:
Cross Government. Locations:
Leeds, London. Region:
London, Yorkshire and the Humber. Closing Date: 16-Jun-2026. Job .

The Youth Justice and Offender Policy Directorate is recruiting permanently for SEO Senior Policy Advisers on youth justice. This campaign is open to current civil servants on level transfer and suitable candidates on promotion.

Location options: 102 Petty France, London or 5 Wellington Place, Leeds. Occasional travel may be required. Hybrid working is offered, with at least 60% of time in an office.

• Policy development – develop innovative approaches to support children’s lives and keep them, victims and communities safe, using evidence and data.
• Advice, briefing and correspondence – provide clear, well‑researched and timely advice to Ministers, senior leaders, Parliamentarians and stakeholders, including oral and written briefings, Parliamentary Questions and correspondence.
• Project oversight – scope, plan and manage work through project management techniques, monitoring risks, issues, dependencies and progress.
• Partnership working – collaborate with partners such as the Youth Justice Board, Youth Custody Service, HM Courts and Tribunal Service, other government departments, frontline staff, the judiciary and charitable and children’s rights sectors.

• Ability to set or support strategic direction in a fast‑paced and complex policy environment, working with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Politically astute, with experience influencing and managing stakeholders at different levels with credibility and effectiveness.
• Experience supporting the delivery of complex programmes of work, including governance, planning, project management, risk management, finances and resources.
• Confidence developing and using an appropriate evidence base to inform policy development and delivery.
• Understanding of the youth justice system.
• Experience working on criminal justice or related issues.
• Experience working in a policy environment.

Send a CV and a Statement of Suitability (no more than 750 words, referencing the Skills and Experience listed above). Evidence of experience will be assessed via CV/work history and Statement of Suitability.

The MoJ is proud to be Level 3 Disability Confident. Disability Confident is the approach through which we offer guaranteed interviews for all people with disabilities meeting the minimum criteria for the advertised role as set out in the job description.

Annual leave increases from 25 to 30 days after five years of service. Pension options are available. Training and development opportunities are offered. Flexible working arrangements are supported.

For more information about the role or working in the team, email Ja