Job Description

The Security Industry Authority is looking to appoint a Head of Legal Services and Policy on a permanent basis.

The SIA is the organisation responsible for the regulation of private security. It is an independent, arm\'s length body (ALB) of the Home Office, reporting to the Home Secretary, under the terms of the Private Security Industry Act 2001. The SIA\'s purpose protecting the public through effective regulation of the private security industry and working with partners to raise standards across the sector. Its regulatory remit covers the whole of the United Kingdom.

The SIA has two main duties: the compulsory licensing of individuals undertaking designated activities within the private security industry and the management of a voluntary Approved Contractor Scheme, which measures private security suppliers against independently assessed criteria.

As the most senior legal advisor to the SIA on all aspects of its role as a prosecutory, regulatory, corporate and public body, and as a member of the Senior Leadership Team (SLT), to:

• Take ownership of legal areas including SIA criminal prosecutions, regulatory appeals and challenges, judicial review and inquests, commercial contracts, data protection and corporate governance matters, and regulatory policy matters, facilitating delivery of proficient and proactive expert advice to inform organisational decision making and risk management at all levels.
• Lead on the handling of significant or high risk legal and policy matters personally.
• Inspire the Legal Services and Policy Team at the SIA in their contribution to organisational objectives, enabling effective and efficient delivery of legal and policy services to all clients.
• Act as professional lead for the Legal profession at the SIA, as the most senior legal professional in the organisation, building the required legal and policy capability for the future.

Relevant qualifications, skills and experience

• Applicants must be qualified to practise as a Solicitor, Barrister or Chartered Legal Executive in England and Wales and must hold a valid Practising Certificate for England and Wales or have full exemption from the relevant professional regulatory body (either the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Bar Standards Board).
• A strong track record of providing authoritative expert legal advice in a UK regulatory context, with significant practice experience in at least one of each of the following two areas:
• criminal investigation or enforcement, civil litigation, public law or regulatory law (such as judicial reviews and/or regulatory appeals); participation in and/or responding to inquests and/or public inquiries.
• commercial contracts; information law matters (such as data protection freedom of information, record management); corporate governance matters; regulatory policy matters.
• A high intellectual capacity and the ability to move between strategic thinking and technical detail across a broad range of complex legal and policy subject areas/projects.
• Significant senior management experience gained in a law firm or in house environment, with experience of leading well-respected teams.
• The ability to deliver in a demanding environment at pace, exercising sound judgment and a high level of personal integrity in providing timely legal and policy advice and constructive challenge.
• An experienced communicator and influencer, with the ability to proactively manage a variety of stakeholders up to and including board level, to ensure good relationships are maintained and successful organisational outcomes achieved.
• Evidence of sound management of resources and budgets to achieve high performing, value for money service delivery.
• Inclusive leadership skills, with a demonstrable commitment to developing and nurturing a high performing, diverse, inclusive, and talented team that delivers results and innovates within their specialisms.

A comprehensive candidate pack is available for this vacancy, where you will find further information on the SIA and the role.

How to apply:

To apply for this post, you will need to submit the following documentation to us by Sunday 15th October 2023 to

• A CV (in Word format) setting out your career history, with key responsibilities and achievements. Please ensure you have provided reasons for any gaps within the last two years;
• A statement of suitability (no longer than 1,250 words) explaining how you consider your personal skills, qualities and experience make you suitable for the role, with particular reference to the criteria set out in the Personal Specification.
• A completed Mandatory Diversity Monitoring Form. All monitoring data will be treated in the strictest confidence and will not affect your application in any way.

Allen Lane