Job Description

Deputy Head of Corporate Services

Directorate: National Probation Service - East of England

Band: Band 6

Location: Regional Headquarters (Stevenage) BASED TO BE DECIDED PENDING DISCUSSIONS WITH RPD

Reports to: Head of Corporate Services

Role Purpose

The Deputy Head of Corporate Services supports the Head of Corporate Services in the leadership, governance and delivery of high-quality corporate services across the East of England region.

The post holder will provide senior operational leadership, strengthen governance and assurance arrangements, and ensure effective delivery across a broad and complex corporate portfolio supporting 16 business units and approximately 2,200 staff.

The role is critical in providing capacity, resilience and continuity at senior level, enabling the Head of Corporate Services to focus on strategic leadership, Regional Probation Director assurance and national engagement.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Support and Governance

• Deputise for the Head of Corporate Services as required, providing senior leadership and continuity of decision-making

• Support delivery of the Regional Business Plan and contribute to short, medium and long-term planning activity

• Lead on the implementation, monitoring and assurance of corporate governance frameworks

• Prepare high-quality briefings, reports and assurance papers for senior leadership and governance forums

• Identify, manage and escalate corporate risks and issues appropriately

Operational Delivery and Programme Oversight

• Provide senior oversight of key corporate portfolios including estates, facilities management, security assurance, audit coordination and regional programmes

• Lead the coordination of audit activity, assurance returns and responses to inspection findings

• Oversee delivery of complex projects and programmes, ensuring milestones, risks and dependencies are actively managed

• Act as a senior escalation point for operational issues within Corporate Services

Workforce, Recruitment and Resource Management

• Provide senior oversight of recruitment pipelines, workforce planning activity and liaison with HR and central teams

• Ensure recruitment activity is timely, compliant and aligned to operational priorities

• Support Business Managers and corporate staff in resolving complex workforce and resourcing matters

Financial and Procurement Governance

• Exercise delegated financial authority in line with regional schemes of delegation

• Support effective budget management, expenditure control and procurement governance

• Ensure compliance with MoJ financial regulations and internal control requirements

Leadership and Line Management

• May have direct line management responsibility for staff within Corporate Services, including Corporate Hub staff, project leads or middle managers

• Provide professional leadership and guidance across the Corporate Services function

• Promote a culture of inclusion, equality, wellbeing and high performance

• Ensure effective application of HR policies including performance management, attendance and staff development

Behaviours (Success Profile)

• Leadership

• Communicating and Influencing

• Managing a Quality Service

• Delivering at Pace

• Working Together

• Changing and Improving

Experience and Skills

• Significant experience of delivering corporate services in a complex public sector or operational environment

• Strong understanding of governance, assurance and risk management frameworks

• Experience of managing programmes, projects or portfolios with competing priorities

• Proven ability to work at senior level, influencing stakeholders and providing authoritative advice

• Working knowledge of finance, HR, estates, security and compliance functions

Additional Information

The duties and responsibilities listed are not exhaustive. The post holder will be expected to undertake other reasonable duties commensurate with the role and grade.