Director Legal

This is a high-profile role at the heart of the NCA's Senior Leadership Team, operating at board level and actively contributing to wider policy developments across Whitehall.

The Director Legal provides independent, accurate, timely and high-quality legal advice to the Director General NCA and the Board on the business of the Agency.

The job holder is expected to be an active member of the Agency Command team, proactively spotting risks and leading cross Agency work on strategic issues.

Key Responsibilities:

• Advising the Director General and the Board on all legal matters relating to the Agency's business, including governance and exercise of its powers, litigation, contract and employment law, and the management of strategic legal risks relevant to the NCA's work;
• Leading and managing the NCA's internal team comprising circa 70 - 80 generalist and specialist lawyers, paralegals and a business support function and managing a budget of circa £11m;
• Lead a multidisciplinary legal function, setting strategic direction and ensuring legal advice supports the NCA's operational priorities and corporate objectives;
• Lead the modernisation of legal services and drive digital transformation including the adoption of AI enabled tools;
• Working with operational colleagues, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and their specialist prosecutors to maximize the probability of successful prosecutions, or other legal interventions;
• Advising on relevant EU and international legal developments;
• Managing external legal contacts for specialist advice as required and maintaining excellent relations with the legal profession generally;
• Representing the Agency across Whitehall on all aspects of legal developments and proposals for legislative change affecting the Agency, and in respect of matters relevant to the wider law enforcement and intelligence communities;
• Build organisational capability by developing future legal leaders, strengthening succession planning and creating an inclusive, high-performing culture;
• Active member of the NCA's senior leadership team and, as such, takes on leadership activities beyond their specific role;
• As a lawyer in the NCA you will be a member of the Government Legal Profession.

Person Specification:

• Inclusive leadership skills – comfortable operating in a complex operational environment, and able to manage political and operational risks, with a demonstrable commitment to lead, develop and nurture a highly performing, diverse and talented workforce based in the UK;
• Ability to advise on, and deal calmly and decisively with, complex and sensitive legal issues;
• Experience of articulating vision and strategy for a large organisation or system, influencing up and out to ensure support, and translating this into operational delivery;
• Experience of building effective partnerships across a wide range of organisations;
• The ability to lead and deliver change, with a track record of delivering substantial improvements to increase operational effectiveness and value for money;
• Experience of working in, and building networks in, the law enforcement environment;
• Experience of delivering interventions that ensure that Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) is embedded in the organisation's way of working;
• Experience with a wide range of complex cases and/or issues in public law fields relevant to the NCA's work and jurisdiction;
• Applicants must be qualified to practice as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales.

Benefits:

• Salary of £105,000 - £149,999 per year;
• National Crime Agency contributes £30,418 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme;
• 25 days annual leave on entry (plus one privilege day for the King's Birthday), plus 8 Bank Holidays, increasing to 30 days after reaching 5 years continuous service (plus one privilege day for the King's Birthday), plus 8 Bank Holidays;
• Family friendly policies including paid maternity, adoption, paternity and shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks;
• Flexible working arrangements allowing you to split your work between the office and home;
• Access to a range of learning and development activities, and opportunities to support career progression;
• Occupational sick pay and access to occupational health services;
• Interest-free loans allowing you to spread the cost of an annual travel season ticket;
• Access to a wide range of discounts, offers and gift cards with a number of high street and online retailers through the Blue light Scheme and EdenRed.