Legal Delivery Manager UK Covid19 Inquiry Team
Cabinet Office
Apply before 11:55 pm on Wednesday 6th November 2024
Details
Reference number
Salary
Job grade
Contract type
Loan
Secondment
Length of employment
Business area
Type of role
Other
Working pattern
Number of jobs available
Contents
Location
About the job
Job summary
In December 2021 Baroness Heather Hallett, a retired Appeal Court judge, was appointed by the Prime Minister as Chair of the independent public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic.
The UK Covid-19 Inquiry was formally established with full powers under the Inquiries Act 2005 in June 2022. The Inquiry sits independently of the Government with the Cabinet Office acting as the sponsoring department.
Following an initial set up phase the Inquiry began hearing evidence in May 2023. We are now looking for an energetic and collaborative senior leader to join the excellent team that is delivering the Inquiry.
This is an exciting role, offering the opportunity to lead an innovative team, in fast moving circumstances, to ensure lessons are learned from the UK response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Further information about the Inquiry can be found on the UK Covid-19 Inquiry website.
Conflicts of interest
Please note that candidates invited to interview will be invited to declare any actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interests which could affect the independence of the Inquiry, in confidence, to the senior conflicts of interest recruiting manager. This may include current or prior work undertaken on the COVID-19 pandemic response. Decisions on any potential conflict of interest will be made before an appointment to the role is confirmed.
Job description
The Legal Team which comprises Counsel and Solicitor to the Inquiry is an integral part of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, providing advice to the Chair and secretariat to support the effective delivery of the Inquiry. The Paralegal team supports the Solicitor to the Inquiry and his team to deliver their work to fulfil the Inquiry’s terms of reference. This involves the review, redaction and disclosure of large volumes of evidence and hearing delivery.
Working to the Head of Paralegal Team, the SEO Legal Delivery Manager (LDM) will work closely with an additional LDM and the Solicitors team to oversee the delivery of a large paralegal team. The LDM will be responsible for collaborating with the Paralegal Management Team to devise initiatives, strategies and communications to maintain a high performing paralegal team. In addition, the LDM will be responsible for directly managing 3 HEO Lead Paralegals and supporting them with the management of their respective paralegal teams. The LDM will frequently liaise with legal stakeholders including solicitor and counsel teams to communicate updates such as on Inquiry disclosure processes and resources, as well as managing expectations.
The role is a hybrid opportunity with a minimum of 2 days required in the London based office. Frequent in person attendance may be required throughout busy hearing periods.
Some of the key responsibilities include and are not limited to:
- Lead and support a team of Lead Paralegals to ensure high quality output and delivery at pace.
- Communicate effectively with legal stakeholders regularly, including solicitor and counsel teams, to monitor overall progress of delivery and manage expectations.
- Planning the management of resource across the paralegal team to adequately support disclosure and hearing delivery in the line with the Inquiry’s timetable.
- Develop and deliver a programme of continuous training to the Inquiry Legal Team, including paralegal, solicitor and counsel teams.
- Support with recruitment activity, and onboard new team members.
- Collaborate with other internal Inquiry teams, with a focus on disclosure progress and processes.
- Promote an inclusive and supportive working environment.
- Line manage a team of Lead Paralegals and conduct regular performance reviews and discussions to encourage professional development.
Person specification
The ideal candidate for this role would have the following key skills and experience:
Essential Requirements:
- Experience of leading and managing teams, with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Experience of engaging and communicating with stakeholders effectively, with confidence to do so at all levels.
- Degree at 2:1 or above. Where an applicant holds an overseas degree qualification this should be equivalent to a 2:1 degree. We will ONLY consider applicants who do not have a 2:1 degree in very exceptional circumstances and where satisfactory evidence of equivalent high level academic and/or professional achievement can be provided.
Desirable Skills:
- Previous experience working on a public inquiry or other similar large scale investigations.
- Experience working with an Electronic Management System (EMS).
- Experience of performance management
Qualifications
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
- Changing and Improving
- Developing Self and Others
We only ask for evidence of these behaviours on your application form:
- Leadership
- Making Effective Decisions
Benefits
- Learning and development tailored to your role.
- An environment with flexible working options.
- A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
- A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
- A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.
Things you need to know
Selection process details
- A CV setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you provide employment history that relates to the essential and desirable criteria, and that any gaps in employment history within the last 2 years are explained. The CV should not exceed more than 2 x A4 pages.
- A Statement of Suitability (max 500 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience provide evidence of your suitability for the role in reference to the essential requirements highlighted. You may also choose to reference the desirable skills listed.
- A 250-word Behaviour Statement on Leadership
- A 250-word Behaviour Statement on Making Effective Decisions
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the lead Behaviour, Leadership
If you are successful in securing an interview you will be asked questions on the behaviours listed within the advert and about your relevant experience and you may also be asked to deliver a short presentation, the details of which will be shared ahead of the interview.
Expected timeline (subject to change)
Expected sift date – w/c 11th November 2024
Expected interview date/s – w/c 18th November 2024
Interview location - Your interview will either be conducted face to face or by video. You will be notified of the location if you are selected for interview.
Reasonable adjustments
If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.
If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:
- Contact Government Recruitment Services via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs
- Complete the assistance required section in the 'Additional requirements' page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the recruitment process. For instance, you may need a wheelchair access at interview, or if you are deaf, a language service professional.
Further information
If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.
Please note that this role requires SC clearance, which would normally need 5 years UK residency in the past 5 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.
For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the following page https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/demystifying-vetting
Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.
Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare. Determine your eligibility at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.
A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.
If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.
In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.
However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.
New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.
Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant’s details held on the IFD will be refused employment.
A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.
Existing Civil Servants and applicants from accredited NDPBs are eligible to apply, but will only be considered on loan basis (Civil Servants) or secondment (accredited NDPBs). Prior agreement to be released on a loan basis must be obtained before commencing the application process. In the case of Civil Servants, the terms of the loan will be agreed between the home and host department and the Civil Servant. This includes grade on return.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Nationality requirements
Working for the Civil Service
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).
Diversity and Inclusion
Apply and further information
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
- Name : Joshua Terry
- Email : joshua.terry1@covid19.public-inquiry.uk
Recruitment team
- Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
Further information
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles. and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk.
