Ministry of Justice

The Role

The Deputy Director, Crime role reports to the Director Development, Strategy and Change. The role holder will work to lead two Divisions responsible for oversight of Crime jurisdictional support for HMCTS, and for leading the development of the Crime element of the Service Model.

This role will lead Crime Change work, specifically the proposed policy changes arising from the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts.

Like all Service Owners at SCS1 level, in this role you will be a visible member of HMCTS’ wider senior leadership team, both across the Development Directorate and HMCTS, demonstrating your commitment to and understanding of HMCTS’ goals.

You will in particular work closely within HMCTS HQ with the other Deputy Director of Crime, and with other Directors, Deputy Directors, the Change Portfolio Team, and operational Delivery Directors. You will also lead continuous improvement of Crime across the organisation in a consistent and coherent manner.

You will work in partnership with the senior judiciary, establishing and maintaining key internal, external and cross justice sector relationships. You will actively seek to join up processes and ways of working and be responsible for improving operating models and the development and maintenance of standard operating procedures. You will have a significant representational role for the agency on key aspects of tribunals business and will be required to speak authoritatively for the organisation, both internally and externally, in this area, and occasionally more widely.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day strategic leadership, motivating and developing a team of crime specialists, and taking a wider strategic leadership role as a member of the Development Directorate leadership team.
• Building, maintaining and managing relationships with key stakeholders (internal and external), influencing and driving change, and continuous improvement.
• Work in close collaboration with MoJ policy, and wider HMCTS to ensure HMCTS service and operational requirements are fully understood and considered in policy development and by ministers and providing support and input into policy development.
• Support the successful implementation of national changes, ensuring they are focused on improving criminal court service delivery and that they are aligned with changes across the criminal courts and criminal justice system.
• Lead the team to oversee the implementation of all current and future service reforms arising from the agreed package of reforms that follow the Independent Review of Criminal Courts (Leveson Review) and ensure service requirements are developed and delivered across all aspects of reform project and programme work in HMCTS.
• Coordinate and oversee HMCTS contributions to any requests required to support the development of legislation, and progression of bills throughout the entire legislative passage process.
• Provide subject matter expertise to senior officials and ministers to support agency and departmental responses relating to criminal court services and reforms.
• Act as Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for key criminal court reform projects to ensure these meet their business case and any wider programme objectives.

The focus of any Service Owner role is dynamic, reflecting the continual evolution of operational business and policy implementation priorities.

Essential Experience:

• A strong track record of leading and delivering at a strategic level in a complex organisation.
• An excellent understanding/experience of developing, having responsibility for operating models or leading operational improvement.
• Experience of successfully leading business transformation (preferably using digital solutions)
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to motivate, inspire and develop a diverse and high performing team
• Excellent stakeholder relationship skills with the ability to successfully influence, challenge and negotiate to gain the confidence of a diverse, complex and senior stakeholder group.
• Ability to think and act in response to immediate needs as well as strategically identifying and working towards longer term outcomes

Desirable Experience:

In addition, knowledge of criminal courts or experience of another court/tribunal jurisdiction, and experience of working with ministers, the judiciary and with policy functions to support the delivery of large-scale reform programmes at pace are desirable (but not essential) characteristics.