Office Head

Ministry of Justice; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A government agency in the United Kingdom is looking for a qualified legal professional to lead a team within the criminal justice system. This role involves managing key business processes, supervising team performance, and ensuring high-quality legal services are delivered. Candidates should possess a solicitor or barrister qualification with significant experience, alongside strong leadership, communication, and financial management skills. The position requires flexibility for travel across England and Wales.

Qualifications

• Proven ability to manage a team and improve service delivery.
• Strong understanding of criminal law, evidence, and procedure.
• Experience in preparing cases for trial at multiple court levels.

Responsibilities

• Manage key business processes and oversee delivery of the office head role.
• Supervise team performance and improve service delivery using management information.
• Maintain legal caseload and provide quality legal advice and representation.

Skills

Leadership experience

Communication skills

Financial management skills

Excellent advocacy skills

IT skills

Education

Solicitor or Barrister qualification with 5-7 years PQE

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Responsibilities

• Manage key business processes and lead the delivery of the Office Head role.
• Supervise the team performance, using management information to improve service delivery.
• Provide legal supervision of direct reports and the wider team.
• Manage resources to ensure an efficient, cost‑effective service.
• Ensure delivery of a quality, cost‑effective service and business development activities.
• Maintain health and safety and business continuity for the team.
• Implement the strategic PDS direction as set out by the Senior Management Team.
• Maintain a legal caseload, providing advice, assistance and representation to individuals subject to investigation or prosecution of a criminal offence.
• Contribute to the development of policy and practice that improves the quality and efficiency of the criminal defence market in England and Wales.
• Provide input to various projects within the LAA and wider Government.

Qualifications

• Leadership experience and capacity to develop management competence by attending management training courses and working with a management coach.
• Communication skills and personal presence that enable rapport‑building with all stakeholders.
• Financial and operational management skills including budget preparation, performance profiling and execution.
• Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX with 5‑7 years PQE, fully qualified to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales with excellent practical knowledge of criminal law, evidence and procedure.
• Excellent advocacy skills and experience preparing a range of cases for trial in both the Magistrates and Crown Courts.
• Ability to supervise legal work and legal service delivery by applying the components of the PDS quality assurance framework.
• Personal resilience and commitment to the wider aims of the PDS to become an exemplar of best practice in criminal litigation and advocacy.
• Sound IT hardware and Microsoft Office skills, particularly in Word and Excel.
• Full driving licence and flexibility to travel across England and Wales if required.

EEO Statement

As a Disability Confident employer, MoJ are committed to providing everyone with the opportunity to demonstrate their skills, talent and abilities, by making adjustments throughout all elements of the recruitment process and in the workplace. We will consider all applications on merit regardless of age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, socio‑economic background, religion, ethnicity, preferred working pattern and except for exceptional circumstances your working location.

Under the Equality Act 2010 a disability is defined as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long‑term adverse effect on your ability to carry out normal day‑to‑day activities which has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months. The MoJ offers a guaranteed interview scheme to candidates with a disability who meet the essential criteria for this role.