12440 - Head of Office, Darlington
| Posting date: | 22 December 2025 |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £58,511 to £65,329 per year |
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 19 January 2026 |
| Location: | DL1 4WB |
| Remote working: | Hybrid - work remotely up to 2 days per week |
| Company: | Ministry of Justice |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | 12440 |
Summary
Job Title: Head of Office
Contract Type: Permanent
Grade: 7
Salary range: £58,511 - £65,329
Location: PDS Offices
Directorate/Team: Public Defender Service
Working Pattern: The post is supported by the MOJ flexible working policy and includes colleagues who work flexibly, remotely, part time or as part of a job share etc.
Closing date for applications : 12/01/2026
The Public Defender Service
The Public Defender Service (PDS) is a department of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) that operates alongside private providers delivering a full range of quality, value for money services within the criminal defence market.
Informed by its participation in the market, PDS contributes credible and expert advice to the government on service and policy development affecting the sector and acts as a test-bed for innovation and quality improvements.
PDS operations provide a critical safeguard against market failure across England and Wales, thereby ensuring the LAA fulfils its statutory responsibility to ensure continuous access to justice.
Job Summary
Key Responsibilities:
The role holder is responsible for the leadership and management of performance of the PDS in the office(s) for which they are accountable, including:
• managing key business processes;
• managing the performance of the team, including using management information to improve service delivery;
• legal supervision of direct reports and the wider team;
• management of resources to ensure an efficient, cost-effective service;
• ensuring delivery of a quality cost-effective service;
• business development activities;
• health and safety and business continuity for the team;
• implementing the strategic PDS direction as set out by the Senior Management Team.
The Office Head will also maintain a legal caseload including:
• provision of advice, assistance and representation to individuals subject to investigation or prosecution of a criminal offence;
• equal participation on the office out of hours rota.
The Office Head will also:
• use their legal expertise and experience to contribute to the development of policy and practice that will improve the quality and efficiency of the criminal defence market in England and Wales;
• provide input as and when required to various projects within the LAA and wider Government.
Essential Criteria:
• Leadership experience and willingness to develop management competence by attending management training courses and working with management coach.
• Communication skills and personal presence that enable rapport-building with all stakeholders, line reports and teams.
• Financial and operational management skills including budget preparation, budget and performance profiling, execution, monitoring and review.
• Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX with 5-7 years PQE, fully qualified to practice as a Solicitor in England and Wales with excellent practical knowledge of criminal law, evidence and procedure.
• Excellent advocacy skills and experience in preparing a range of cases to trial in both the Magistrates and Crown Courts.
• Excellent practical knowledge of current Criminal law, evidence and procedure.
• Ability to supervise the legal work and legal service delivery by applying the components of the PDS quality assurance framework.
• Personal resilience with a commitment to personal care, to maintain mental and physical wellbeing of self and line reports in a working environment that may present emotional and other challenges.
• Commitment to the wider aims of the PDS to become an exemplar of best practice in criminal litigation and advocacy and its remit to act as a test-bed for innovation, increased efficiencies and quality improvements for the benefit of the wider criminal defence community.
• Sound IT hardware and Microsoft Office software skills, particularly in Word and Excel, and the ability and willingness to operate in a self-sufficient, efficient manner in the creation of high quality documentation and other business information and the flexibility to work unsociable hours.
• Possession of a full driving licence and access to a motor vehicle, together with flexibility and preparedness to travel to cover cases across England and Wales if required.
Assessment approach
Application and Assessment Process
The following behaviours will be assessed at the sift stage and must be demonstrated at level 4 – grade 7.
Managing a Quality Service
Demonstrate positive customer service by understanding the complexity and diversity of customer needs and expectations. Deliver a high quality, efficient and cost effective service by considering a broad range of methods for delivery. Ensure full consideration of new technologies, accessibility and costings. Make clear, practical and manageable plans for service delivery. Ensure adherence to legal, regulatory and security requirements in service delivery. Proactively manage risks and identify solutions. Establish how the business area compares to industry best practice. Create regular opportunities for colleagues, stakeholders, delivery partners and customers to help improve the quality of service.
Contract Type: Permanent
Grade: 7
Salary range: £58,511 - £65,329
Location: PDS Offices
Directorate/Team: Public Defender Service
Working Pattern: The post is supported by the MOJ flexible working policy and includes colleagues who work flexibly, remotely, part time or as part of a job share etc.
Closing date for applications : 12/01/2026
The Public Defender Service
The Public Defender Service (PDS) is a department of the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) that operates alongside private providers delivering a full range of quality, value for money services within the criminal defence market.
Informed by its participation in the market, PDS contributes credible and expert advice to the government on service and policy development affecting the sector and acts as a test-bed for innovation and quality improvements.
PDS operations provide a critical safeguard against market failure across England and Wales, thereby ensuring the LAA fulfils its statutory responsibility to ensure continuous access to justice.
Job Summary
Key Responsibilities:
The role holder is responsible for the leadership and management of performance of the PDS in the office(s) for which they are accountable, including:
• managing key business processes;
• managing the performance of the team, including using management information to improve service delivery;
• legal supervision of direct reports and the wider team;
• management of resources to ensure an efficient, cost-effective service;
• ensuring delivery of a quality cost-effective service;
• business development activities;
• health and safety and business continuity for the team;
• implementing the strategic PDS direction as set out by the Senior Management Team.
The Office Head will also maintain a legal caseload including:
• provision of advice, assistance and representation to individuals subject to investigation or prosecution of a criminal offence;
• equal participation on the office out of hours rota.
The Office Head will also:
• use their legal expertise and experience to contribute to the development of policy and practice that will improve the quality and efficiency of the criminal defence market in England and Wales;
• provide input as and when required to various projects within the LAA and wider Government.
Essential Criteria:
• Leadership experience and willingness to develop management competence by attending management training courses and working with management coach.
• Communication skills and personal presence that enable rapport-building with all stakeholders, line reports and teams.
• Financial and operational management skills including budget preparation, budget and performance profiling, execution, monitoring and review.
• Solicitor, Barrister or CILEX with 5-7 years PQE, fully qualified to practice as a Solicitor in England and Wales with excellent practical knowledge of criminal law, evidence and procedure.
• Excellent advocacy skills and experience in preparing a range of cases to trial in both the Magistrates and Crown Courts.
• Excellent practical knowledge of current Criminal law, evidence and procedure.
• Ability to supervise the legal work and legal service delivery by applying the components of the PDS quality assurance framework.
• Personal resilience with a commitment to personal care, to maintain mental and physical wellbeing of self and line reports in a working environment that may present emotional and other challenges.
• Commitment to the wider aims of the PDS to become an exemplar of best practice in criminal litigation and advocacy and its remit to act as a test-bed for innovation, increased efficiencies and quality improvements for the benefit of the wider criminal defence community.
• Sound IT hardware and Microsoft Office software skills, particularly in Word and Excel, and the ability and willingness to operate in a self-sufficient, efficient manner in the creation of high quality documentation and other business information and the flexibility to work unsociable hours.
• Possession of a full driving licence and access to a motor vehicle, together with flexibility and preparedness to travel to cover cases across England and Wales if required.
Assessment approach
Application and Assessment Process
The following behaviours will be assessed at the sift stage and must be demonstrated at level 4 – grade 7.
Managing a Quality Service
Demonstrate positive customer service by understanding the complexity and diversity of customer needs and expectations. Deliver a high quality, efficient and cost effective service by considering a broad range of methods for delivery. Ensure full consideration of new technologies, accessibility and costings. Make clear, practical and manageable plans for service delivery. Ensure adherence to legal, regulatory and security requirements in service delivery. Proactively manage risks and identify solutions. Establish how the business area compares to industry best practice. Create regular opportunities for colleagues, stakeholders, delivery partners and customers to help improve the quality of service.