Legal Delivery Manager UK Covid19 Inquiry Team

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 Legal Delivery Manager 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., 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., We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
+ Leadership
+ Making Effective Decisions
+ Changing and Improving
+ Developing Self and Others, + 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.
Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the Statement of Suitability.
Candidates who pass the initial sift may be progressed to a full sift, or progressed straight to assessment/interview
Selection Process:
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. 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 30th September 2024
Expected interview date/s –w/c 14th October 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 CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years UK residency prior to commencing. 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.
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.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record check.
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements
This job is broadly open to the following groups:
+ UK nationals
+ nationals of the Republic of Ireland
+ nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
+ nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
+ individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
+ Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service
Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
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).
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.
The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).
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+ Experience of leading and managing a high performing team of legal professionals (experience managing a large paralegal team would be an advantage).
+ Experience of engaging and communicating with legal stakeholders effectively, with confidence to do so at all levels.
+ Experience managing a large scale disclosure project.
+ 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 (e.g. via relevant, demonstrable experience and results achieved for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE, Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)
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., 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 (e.g. via relevant, demonstrable experience and results achieved for the Graduate Diploma in Law (GDL)/CPE, Legal Practice Course (LPC), Bar Professional Training Course (BPTC)

Alongside your salary of £44,500, Cabinet Office contributes £12,891 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides.
+ 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 average 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.