The Crown Prosecution Service is recruiting for two new senior leadership positions in a shake-up of its management structure.
The positions – chief operating officer and director general for legal delivery – will jointly share executive responsibility for the strategic management of the CPS, its 7,000-plus workforce, its performance, and its £890m budget, alongside their own individual responsibilities.
Working in close partnership with the director of public prosections – who heads up the CPS – “they will provide visible leadership and direction to shape, develop and deliver the CPS’s vision and strategic priorities”, the adverts state.
Both roles offer a salary of £127,000, with more on offer “for an exceptional candidate”, subject to the agreement of ministers. Both sit on the CPS Board, its Executive Group, and its Ministerial Strategic Board. The new DGs will also be asked to continue to build the new executive-director structure.
In forewords to each job advert, DPP Stephen Parkinson described the roles as “exciting and fast-paced…with a real opportunity to make a difference”.
‘Confident, resilient and energetic’ leader sought for COO position
The CPS is seeking an “experienced corporate leader who has held a visible role in a large, complex organisation” for the COO role.
The COO will have specific responsibility for the day-to-day operational management of the Corporate Services directorate, its workforce of around 800 people, its performance and its £270m budget.
They will drive the organisation’s change and transformation portfolio and set the organisational frameworks for the corporate functions: digital, people, finance and corporate strategy.
The COO will need to “collaborate effectively with stakeholders across Whitehall, in particular the Cabinet Office and Treasury, to lead and direct significant change across the criminal justice system and wider civil service reform priorities”.
They will also “ensure high standards” of resource management, corporate governance and risk management.
“Confident, resilient and energetic, you will be adept at managing professional/technical experts from different professions and you will evidence the ability to achieve significant efficiencies, whilst retaining optimum operational delivery in a diversified, unionised organisation,” the job advert states.
“You will demonstrate the ability to operate effectively in a political environment at pace and you will bring a positive focus to leading transformation and continuous improvement across governance and operations,” it adds.
Legal delivery DG will need ‘professional credibility’ to deputise for DPP
For the legal-delivery role, the CPS is seeking an “experienced” and “outstanding” lawyer who “brings the professional credibility to deputise for the director of public prosecutions on legal matters”.
The DG for legal delivery will oversee the day-to-day operational management of legal services and operations, and is responsible for its performance, 6,000-plus workforce and £610m budget.
They will be required to have 10 years post-qualified experience as a solicitor or barrister who is entitled to practise in England and Wales, with “proven experience of providing legal advice, input and decision-making into complex and sensitive cases”.
They must also demonstrate “the ability to operate under pressure and scrutiny” and a “track record of operational leadership in a complex, delivery focused organisation”.
“With responsibility for setting and assuring the professional legal standards, ethics, and application of the Code for Crown Prosecutors, and making complex and high-profile decisions on legal cases, this role will ensure the operational performance of legal services and delivery of high-quality casework,” the advert states.
They will also have “excellent interpersonal skills to secure effective relationships with operational and legal partners across the criminal justice system to lead and direct significant change”.
Both jobs are open to applications until 26 April.