Forensic Area Manager

Staffordshire Police; Carlisle; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible / Agile Working

Fostering friendly policy

Family friendly policies – maternity, 

paternity, parental leave, adoption, 

disability leave and carers leave

Job summary

Staffordshire Police seeks a senior leader to join the Forensic Investigation Unit as a Forensic Area Manager. You will lead frontline forensic services across Staffordshire, providing operational, strategic and technical leadership to forensic investigation functions.

Reporting to the Forensic Investigation Manager, you will ensure services are delivered safely, effectively and in compliance with regulatory standards, and you will deputise when required.

Qualifications

• Significant experience within a forensic, scientific or comparable operational environment.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
• Proven ability to manage change and deliver service improvement.
• Strong knowledge of quality management systems, governance and regulatory compliance.
• Experience supporting serious, complex or high-profile investigations.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Leading and developing high-performing forensic teams.
• Providing operational leadership for forensic investigation services.
• Supporting major, serious and complex investigations.
• Acting as Technical Manager for accredited incident scene examination activities.
• Ensuring compliance with the FSR Code and ISO/IEC requirements.
• Managing governance, audit, risk and continuous improvement activity.
• Leading organisational change, innovation and service development projects.
• Managing resources, budgets and operational demand.
• Developing staff capability through coaching, mentoring and professional development.
• Building effective stakeholder relationships locally, regionally and nationally.
• Deputising for the Forensic Investigation Manager when required.

Skills

Forensic experience

Team leadership

Change management

Quality systems

Investigations support

Stakeholder management

Job description

Job Title Forensic Area Manager

Grade H £47, Min - £54, Max

Location Smithfield or Lichfield

Contract Type Full Time Permanent

Staffordshire Police is continually striving to deliver the best possible service for the county’s residents, businesses and visitors. It is a fast-paced organisation, adaptive to modern policing needs and open to continual improvement.

Everyone who works for the force has an important role to play in shaping the future of Staffordshire Police. The force seeks people who will champion new ways of working, be collaborative and agile and represent in a fair and ethical manner those that Staffordshire Police serves.

About the Opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to join Staffordshire Police as a Forensic Area Manager, a senior leadership position within the Forensic Investigation Unit.

As a key member of the Forensics leadership team, you will lead the delivery and development of frontline forensic services across Staffordshire, providing operational, strategic and technical leadership to forensic investigation functions.

Reporting directly to the Forensic Investigation Manager, you will be responsible for ensuring forensic services are delivered safely, effectively and professionally whilst maintaining compliance with the Forensic Science Regulator's statutory Code, ISO/IEC accreditation requirements and force quality standards. You will also act as deputy to the Forensic Investigation Manager.

This role provides a unique opportunity to influence force-wide forensic strategy, shape future forensic capability and lead Organisational improvement within a modern forensic environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Leading and developing high-performing forensic teams.
• Providing operational leadership for forensic investigation services.
• Supporting major, serious and complex investigations.
• Acting as Technical Manager for accredited incident scene examination activities.
• Ensuring compliance with the FSR Code and ISO/IEC requirements.
• Managing governance, audit, risk and continuous improvement activity.
• Leading organisational change, innovation and service development projects.
• Managing resources, budgets and operational demand.
• Developing staff capability through coaching, mentoring and professional development.
• Building effective stakeholder relationships locally, regionally and nationally.
• Deputising for the Forensic Investigation Manager when required.

What We’re Looking For

• Significant experience within a forensic, scientific or comparable operational environment.
• Experience of leading and developing high-performing teams.
• A proven ability to manage change and deliver service improvement.
• Strong knowledge of quality management systems, governance and regulatory compliance.
• Experience supporting serious, complex or high-profile investigations.
• Excellent communication, leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical and decision-making capability.

Why Join Us?

This is a rare opportunity to help shape the future of forensic services within Staffordshire Police. You will join a professional and ambitious leadership team committed to delivering high-quality forensic services that support investigations, strengthen public confidence and contribute directly to the administration of justice.

Additional Information

This is a highly specialised role operating within a regulated forensic environment. Applicants should clearly demonstrate relevant technical, operational and leadership experience within their application.

Further details of the key tasks, responsibilities can be found within the role profile.

Interview and Presentation date:

To be Confirmed

In addition to your salary, you will have access to a range of benefits including:

• Flexible / Agile Working
• Fostering friendly policy
• Family friendly policies – maternity, paternity, parental leave, adoption, disability leave and carers leave