Policy Adviser

This is an exciting opportunity to undertake a key role in a fascinating, sensitive and often high-profile area of the Ministry of Justice's portfolio. MoJ is the lead department on burial, cremation and coroner law and policy, working closely with other departments which also have a direct interest. The Death Management, Inquiries and Coroners Division (DMIC) therefore delivers a wide range of high-profile policy, and exercises statutory functions on behalf of the Lord Chancellor, working with a number of government departments and a wide range of external stakeholders.

Senior Policy Adviser in the Death Management Policy and Casework Team - the role You will have the opportunity to develop a wide range of skills, including policy development, stakeholder management, and leadership, among others. The role will involve regular liaison with lawyers, analysts, ministers and their private offices as well as colleagues in other government departments, in particular the Department of Health and Social Care, Home Office and Cabinet Office.

The post holder will report to the Grade 7 and will have responsibility for taking forward policy development and implementation on specific policy issues which may include amongst others:

• the Government's response to the Law Commission's project on Burial, Cremation and New Funerary Methods - a once in a generation review of the law governing how we dispose of the bodies of our loved ones;
• a range of interesting and often complex issues relating to burial and cremation law and policy;
• MoJ's interest in changes flowing from the introduction in 2024 of the statutory Medical Examiner scheme;
• supporting the team's casework function.

• Responsibility for the management and development of at least one HEO.
• Advising Ministers and senior leaders, orally and in writing, to inform strategic decisions and long-term policy development on issues relating to death management (including in the context of the Government's response to the Law Commission project).
• Leading on engagement with key stakeholders and work closely with MoJ lawyers and analysts to ensure all policy, legislative and operational issues are identified.
• Responsibility for responding to Parliamentary Questions and drafting responses to written correspondence from MPs and the public.
• Legislative work, working closely with MoJ lawyers.
• Providing updates on progress to senior managers, private offices and ministers.
• Providing project management support across their area/s, driving these forward independently.
• Providing advice on ad hoc policy issues and a source of advice and knowledge to departmental and wider government colleagues.

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.

• You will be self-starting, able to prioritise competing demands and to work proactively.
• You will have excellent written communication and oral communication/interpersonal skills.
• You will be highly organised.
• You will be able to take responsibility for solving problems and using those solutions to develop and improve your own and the team's ways of working.
• The role involves regular liaison with lawyers, analysts, ministers and their private offices as well as colleagues in other government departments. You will therefore have strong interpersonal, negotiation and stakeholder management skills and be able to translate these into policy options that can be delivered in an operational and judicial setting.
• You will also have an aptitude for detailed work, with the ability to…