Senior Policy Advisor - Foreign National Offender, Prison Policy Directorate

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.

The national salary range is £42,914 - £46,182;
London salary range is £49,325- £53,081. Your salary will be dependent on your base location.

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

Cross Government.

Leeds, London.

London, Yorkshire and the Humber.

13-Jul-2026.

Permanent.

Foreign National Offender, Senior Policy Advisor
Senior Executive Officer
Prison Policy Directorate

The Prison Policy Directorate is recruiting permanently for SEO, Senior Policy Advisor in the Foreign National Offender policy team. This campaign is open to current civil servants on level transfer and suitable candidates on promotion.

Successful candidates will have the option to be based at one of the following locations:

• 102 Petty France, London
• 5 Wellington Place, Leeds

Occasional travel between the two locations may be required. We offer a hybrid working model, allowing for a balance between remote work and time spent in your base location.

• Full‑time, part‑time or the option to job share.
• Flexible working patterns.
• Hybrid working model: balance between remote work and time spent in your base location.

If we receive applications from more suitable candidates than we have vacancies for at this time, we may hold suitable applicants on a reserve list for 12 months, and future vacancies requiring the same skills and experience could be offered to candidates on the reserve list without a new competition.

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

Applicants must submit a CV, a statement of suitability (no more than 750 words) and evidence of experience. All statements must be truthful and factual. Plagiarism may lead to withdrawal.

This is a high‑performing SEO role focusing on Foreign National Offenders within the Prison Policy Directorate.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading engagement with priority countries (Nigeria, Albania, Ghana) to deliver the Prisoner Transfer Agreement strategy and support early removal scheme implementation.
• Developing and delivering specific projects to support implementation of Prisoner Transfer Agreements with priority countries – working with MoJ international teams, HMPPS, FCDO and Home Office.
• Supporting ministerial international visits and bi‑lateral engagements related to FNO interests.
• Representing the department at cross‑Whitehall boards on complex policy and strategic/operational issues, providing accurate, high‑quality, timely advice and policy papers to Ministers.
• Line management of one HEO (TBC).

Essential:
Get to grips with a complex policy area quickly; work under pressure and to tight deadlines; work flexibly and independently, leading own areas of work; build constructive working relationships; write clearly and present confidently; solve problems creatively; analyse data comfortably.

• Experience of working with international partners, including negotiating and hosting delegations.
• Line management experience.

• Essential:
  Engage with complex policy area quickly; work under pressure and to tight deadlines; work flexibly and independently; build constructive working relationships; write clearly and present confidently; solve problems creatively; analyse data comfortably.
• Desirable:
  International partnership experience; line management experience.
• Note:
  
  For candidates applying from HMPPS, must understand MoJ employment conditions.

• Communicating and Influencing (Lead)
• Seeing the Big Picture
• Making Effective Decisions
• Working Together
• Delivering at Pace (during interview)

• Must be a civil servant or accredited NDPB employee.
• Must satisfy eligibility for this cross‑government role.
• Must meet minimum selection criteria.

The MoJ is a Disability Confident employer and commits to providing adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

Annual leave is 25 days on appointment with an increase to 30 days after five years. Additional paid time off for public holidays and one privilege day. Pro‑rated leave for part‑time and job share posts.

Pension – Civil Service pension schemes available. Training and development opportunities. Employee networks for diversity and inclusion.

Raie Wilkins –  Please quote the job reference 18745.

JD Template FNO SEO X Gov Final.docx – Job Description Attachment.