Head of Authorisation (Senior Operations Manager), SOLICITORS REGULATION AUTHORITY

Guardian Jobs; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading regulator of legal services is seeking a Head of Authorisation (Senior Operations Manager) to enhance customer experience and drive operational efficiency. This role involves leading a significant team, managing admissions, and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership skills, technical knowledge in regulation, and a commitment to continuous improvement, contributing to the organization's mission of maintaining high standards in legal services.

Benefits

Opportunity to lead a significant team

Work for a leading regulator of legal services

Visibility across all organizational levels

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience managing performance and developing teams.
• Experience leading project plans and change initiatives with tangible results.
• Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic environment.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for delivery of Admissions and SQE applications and casework.
• Lead a team of around 50 professionals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Ensure achievement of KPIs with a customer-focused approach.

Skills

Leadership

Operational Delivery

Change Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Risk Management

Education

Strong technical knowledge in regulation or legal sectors

Job description

Head of Authorisation (Senior Operations Manager), SOLICITORS REGULATION AUTHORITY

Join to apply for the Head of Authorisation (Senior Operations Manager), SOLICITORS REGULATION AUTHORITY role at Guardian Jobs.

Role Overview

Are you an exceptional senior operations manager with a proven track record of delivering results in complex and challenging environments with competing priorities? Do you have a passion for enhancing customer experience, driving simplification, and building a high-performance culture that nurtures high colleague engagement? Are you skilled in operational delivery, change management, and stakeholder engagement?

We have an exciting opportunity for a Head of Authorisation, SQE and Admissions—a key leadership role where you'll make a real impact.

The Role

The SRA regulates around 200,000 solicitors and approximately 9,400 law firms. The Authorisation teams assess individuals' suitability to be solicitors, either as sole practitioners or within legal firms, aiming to foster trust and confidence in legal services.

As a Head of Authorisation, SQE and Admissions, you will be responsible for the delivery of Admissions and SQE (Solicitors Qualifying Exam) applications and casework, adopting an outcomes-focused, risk-based approach to regulation. Leading a team of around 50 professionals, you will provide guidance, support, and development opportunities, fostering a culture of continuous improvement to enhance efficiency and customer service. You will exemplify our values within your teams.

You will ensure achievement of KPIs with a customer-focused approach, lead change initiatives, and collaborate with Business Improvement colleagues. Your role involves nurturing a high-performance culture through data-driven insights, maintaining high controls, proactive risk management, and developing best practices.

This senior role requires adaptive leadership and communication skills to engage effectively at various organizational levels. A collaborative and empathetic management style with high self-awareness is essential.

What Is In It For You

• The opportunity to lead a significant team within our organization
• Work for a leading regulator of legal services, protecting the public, maintaining high standards, and upholding the rule of law
• Responsibility for confident and consistent decision-making, ensuring regulatory principles are upheld
• Visibility across all organizational levels with influence over change initiatives

What We Are Looking For

• Strong technical knowledge in regulation, legal, or relevant sectors
• Proven leadership experience with the ability to manage performance and develop teams
• Influence and challenge stakeholders at all levels, with risk and outcome awareness
• Experience in leading project plans and change initiatives with tangible results
• Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic environment
• Proactive decision-making based on evidence and data, even when challenging

Additional Information

A full role profile is attached on our website. For questions not covered here, please contact us via the provided contact details.

This is a full-time role, working 35 hours per week, with a hybrid working model (2 days in Birmingham office, rest from home).

To Apply

Click 'apply' to complete the online form and upload your CV and cover letter (max two pages). For more details on the recruitment process, visit our jobs page.

Closing date: 2 June at 09:00. Interviews are scheduled for 10 June (first stage) and 17 June (second stage) at our Birmingham office.