Associate Director of Legal Services

The Disclosure and Barring Service is now hiring for a

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF LEGAL SERVICES

Directorate: Finance & Corporate Services Grade: Grade 6
Location: National (contractual base Darlington/Liverpool)
Reports to: Director of Legal Services.
Security Basic Salary: £71,212 - £77,868

About the Department:

DBS operates in the complex world of safeguarding, protecting people’s health, wellbeing and human rights, and enabling them to live free from harm, abuse and neglect.

We provide a service that enables organisations in the public, private and voluntary sectors to make better informed, safer recruitment and other decisions.

Job Purpose:

As one of two Associate Directors in the Legal Services Team, you will report to the Director of Legal Services. You will work closely with the Director and Associate Director in leading and developing the growing Legal Services Team, ensuring that the DBS meets all statutory and regulatory requirements.

You will provide proactive and solution-focused advice in relation to a broad range of legal matters, including civil litigation, projects, data protection, and public and administrative law. You will identify risks and opportunities, and oversee the legal support provided to the DBS to enable it to make effective and timely decisions against a complex statutory framework.

A key focus of the role will be leading a team of solicitors and paralegals in relation to barring appeal applications to the Upper Tribunal made by individuals in respect of DBS barring decisions. You will be the client’s lead contact in respect of this large body of complex litigation. You will also coordinate and manage the input of external law firms and counsel.

The role will also support the Director of Legal Services in advising the Board and the Strategic Leadership Team. You will deputise for the Director as required. As a leader of the Legal Services Team, you will work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure that customer/stakeholder needs are met, along with public accountability expectations, legislation, and professional standards. Financial and contract management, including the preparation and oversight of the legal budget, is another important aspect of this role.

As the DBS is a member of the Home Office family, you will work closely with other members of the Home Office legal community. Building relationships with colleagues in the Home Office will be key to ensuring the DBS and Home Office expectations, systems, and processes are aligned.

Essential Criteria:

Ability

1. A solicitor or barrister qualified to practice in England and Wales with demonstrable post-qualification experience.
2. Ability to demonstrate sound and respected judgement with the ability to review complex issues and present high-quality advice effectively.
3. Intellectual and analytical rigour and eye for detail, coupled with the ability to see the bigger picture in complex situations and to identify pragmatic solutions.
4. Excellent written and oral skills with the ability to communicate effectively with non-legal colleagues on complex legal issues.
5. Strong relationship building skills, including the ability to influence effectively senior stakeholders.
6. Excellent leadership skills and personal qualities to support, motivate, and develop lawyers and contribute to the DBS’ corporate leadership.

Experience

1. Leading and developing a legal team in an organisation of comparable scale or complexity.
2. Leading a legal team in conducting complex litigation coupled with significant personal experience of practising litigation.
3. Providing high level, solution focused, legal advice and support, including public law and corporate governance, up to Board level or equivalent.
4. Managing contractual relationships with external law firms and/or counsel.
5. Planning, overseeing, and administering a legal budget.

Desirable Criteria

Experience

1. Operating in a regulatory agency or non-departmental public body (NDPB)
2. Influencing and advising in relation to legislative change

For more information and to view the full advert, please click the apply button.

The closing date for applications is 12:00pm on 10th March