Lead Panel Support - Preventative Analytics for Youth Justice Advisory Panel (PAYJAP) (Ref: 23706)

We’re recruiting for a Lead Panel Support here at Justice Digital, Data and Science to be part of our warm and collaborative Youth Justice Data team.

The Cross-Government Division within MoJ brings together policy, data, and analytical capability to address complex justice challenges that cut across departmental boundaries. Within the division, Youth Justice Data focuses on using evidence to improve decision-making and outcomes for children and young people.

The preventative analytics portfolio is a response to the government commitments in the recently published youth justice White Paper, 'Cutting youth crime. Changing young lives.' Advances in machine learning and advanced analytics can strengthen prevention by identifying needs earlier and better allocating support, in line with the long-term interests with the child. The goal is to minimise contact with the justice system and the stigma that can accompany it. The MoJ established the ministerially-chaired Preventative Analytics for Youth Justice Advisory Panel (PAYJAP) in spring 2026. PAYJAP meets quarterly and is comprised of academics, practitioners and technologists. By suggesting and reviewing proposals for using machine learning and advanced analytics in youth justice, it will provide an additional layer of scrutiny within MoJ. It will ensure that any data science or algorithmic development is safe and appropriate.

This role will provide secretariat and organisational support for PAYJAP and its subcommittees. It will be an exciting and challenging opportunity with the potential to transform long-term outcomes for children through new technologies.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operation of the Preventative Analytics for Youth Justice Advisory Panel (PAYJAP) and its sub-panels.
• Provide high-quality secretariat support, including planning meetings, preparing papers, recording decisions and tracking actions.
• Coordinate the contributions of Panel members, including expert volunteers, Ministry of Justice colleagues and Arm's Length Body representatives.
• Maintain the Panel's governance arrangements, including membership records, appointments, terms of reference and supporting documentation.
• Ensure the Panel's outputs, decisions and activities are accurately documented and shared in line with agreed governance processes.
• Prepare briefings, correspondence and responses to internal enquiries and Freedom of Information (FOI) requests relating to the Panel.
• Maintain and update the Panel's GOV.UK webpages, working with the GOV.UK content management team.
• Build effective working relationships with colleagues across the Ministry of Justice, other government departments, academia and partner organisations to support the Panel's work.
• Promote awareness of the Panel and its work through internal and external engagement activities.
• Support the delivery of wider Youth Justice Data projects linked to the Panel's programme of work.
• Develop and maintain a good understanding of the youth justice system, its data, and the administrative processes that support preventative analytics.

Benefits

• A generous employer pension contribution of 28.97% through the Civil Service Pension Scheme.
• 25 days of annual leave, (increasing to 30 days once you have reached 5 years of service), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King’s birthday.
• Flexible working arrangements including hybrid working, working part time or compressed hours. Designed to support a positive work–life balance.
• Employees are allocated 10% of their working time for personal and professional development.
• A £1k per person learning budget is in place to support all our people, with access to best-in-class conferences and seminars, accreditation with professional bodies, fully funded vocational programmes and e-learning platforms.
• Compassionate maternity, adoption, and shared parental leave policies, with up to 26 weeks leave at full pay, 13 weeks with partial pay, and 13 weeks further leave. And maternity support/paternity leave at full pay for 2 weeks, too!

Person Specification

• Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to proactively manage competing priorities, meet deadlines and adapt to a fast-paced and changing environment.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to produce clear written communications and present confidently to a range of audiences, both in person and online.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with experience of building effective working relationships across government, academia and external partner organisations, including with senior stakeholders.
• Ability to display sensitivity and judgement within a complex multi-agency environment.

Salary Information

• Base salary for this role is from £42,914 - £46,182 (National) OR £49,325 - £53,081 (London)