Job Title: Director of Legal Services (General Counsel)
Grade: SCS2
Salary Range & Pay Band: Circa £135,000. Staff applying on promotion within the Civil Service will usually be appointed to the salary minimum or receive a 10% increase on their existing salary. Individuals appointed on level transfer will retain their existing salary.
Division: Legal Services
Security Clearance: Currently have or prepared to undertake DV security clearance.
Reports to (Position & Grade): The Director of the Serious Fraud Office, SCS3
Overview of the Job
The Director of Legal Services (DLS) is a key member of the Serious Fraud Office’s Executive Team and the SFO Board. The DLS is an organisional leader and is responsible, as the most senior legal professional in the organisation, for the provision of legal advice to the Director and for enhancing the SFO’s relationships with legal stakeholders to deliver the SFO’s strategy. The DLS also has responsibility for leadership and oversight of organisational risk and assurance as well as chairs the Portfolio Committee.
Key Responsibilities
- With Executive Team colleagues, to provide clear and visible leadership across the SFO to build an engaged and motivated workforce through role modelling the SFO’s and Civil Service values and behaviours, and operating as an inclusive and visible leader;
- To be accountable for the provision of legal advice to the Director, both criminal and civil, and bringing legal expertise to the most complex and highest risk cases;
- To be responsible for developing and implementing the SFO’s legal strategy, including engagement of stakeholders within the legal sector to deliver the SFO’s organisational strategy;
- As Head of the Legal Profession in the SFO, to oversee the professional development of SFO lawyers;
- To be accountable for the Legal Services budget;
- As a senior and strategic leader, to implement and drive organisational initiatives throughout the SFO;
- To lead and develop the SFO’s understanding and response to organisational risk and assurance;
- To lead and develop the SFO’s operational policy and procedure, including case evaluation and review processes.
Additional Information
Line Management Responsibility
The DLS has five direct reports:
- The SFO’s Chief Investigator (SCS1).
- Four Assistant General Counsel (Grade 6).
Benefits
This role sits at the heart of the SFO’s leadership and is an essential part of its strategic and tactical decision making.
This Job Pack sets out current duties of the post that may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility entailed.