Deputy Director Service Prosecutions

The Service Prosecuting Authority (SPA) is the principal prosecuting authority within the Service Justice System and is responsible for the consideration and, where necessary, prosecution of service offences before the Service Courts, which include, the Court Martial, the Court Martial Appeal Court, the Service Civilian Court and the Summary Appeal Court. The SPA provides for the independent, fair and efficient consideration of criminal cases and offences contrary to service discipline within its jurisdiction, working effectively with the police, and ensuring prosecution witnesses and victims of crime are treated with care and sensitivity.

As the Deputy Director Service Prosecutions, you will play a pivotal role in helping the authority improve its business practices and adapt to the changes brought about by legislative and policy development; ensuring the efficient and consistent consideration of offences and the management of all cases, advices and compliance and that all decisions taken by the Authority are justifiable and in accordance with all appropriate policies.

We are looking for a first-class lawyer who has the leadership skills to develop and realise the potential of a mix of military and civilian prosecuting officers, this post is open to civilian and military lawyers. Military lawyers can take this post up in uniform.

Current responsibilities of the role include:

• Leading three prosecution teams, through the Managing Prosecutors, in the operational delivery of the SPA’s output, ensuring suitable operational support through the Practice Manager.
• Conducting your own caseload.
• Playing a leading role in the quality assurance of advice, charging decisions, case preparation and advocacy.
• Direct management of senior SPA staff and a general oversight of all other support staff, taking the lead on projects affecting the current and future architecture of procedures and policies that affect how the SPA operates within the Service Justice System.
• Coordinating and managing the SPA’s support to the Service police forces (SPF) in their investigation of offences, including allegations of overseas offending in the context of armed conflict.
• Ensuring that legal advice concerning the investigation of offences is provided to the SPF in a timely manner.
• Ensuring that reviews under the SPA Victims’ Right of Review (VRR) Policy are appropriately allocated and conducted in accordance with the policy.
• Liaising with and providing information on the Authority’s work as required to other Service Justice System stakeholders, including Ministers, the Information Commissioner’s Office, the House of Commons Defence Committee and the Office of the Judge Advocate General.
• Ensuring appropriate representation of the Authority in the appellate courts and the High Court and appearing personally as appropriate.
• Monitoring the Service Prosecuting Authority’s KPI’s and other performance measures to identify risks and issues, and putting countermeasures in place when required.
• Performing the functions of the Director Service Prosecutions in their absence.
• Taking ownership of all budgetary matters, where delegated.

You must be able to demonstrate your experience and skills against the following essential criteria:

• Satisfies the legal requirements to be appointed a prosecuting officer (see s.365(2) of the Armed Forces Act 2006).
• In-depth knowledge and experience of practice in at least one of the following areas: criminal law, service law, operational law, including experience of advocacy and case management in both the courts of first instance and the appellate courts.
• Excellent leadership skills and a proven track record of motivating, empowering and getting consistently good results from a diverse team, often under pressure.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and previous experience of managing key senior relationships with an ability to engage and influence a range of internal and external stakeholders across a complex, multilateral environment.
• Experience in making difficult decisions using sound judgement, evidence and knowledge to provide accurate, expert and professional advice and to defend it when challenged by senior stakeholders.
• Possession of, or an ability quickly to acquire, an understanding of service law, in particular those parts of the Armed Forces Act 2006 that create the various Service offences and govern the powers of Commanding Officers, the Service Police and Director of Service Prosecutions.

• Learning and development tailored to your role
• An environment with flexible working options
• A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity
• A Civil Service pension with an average employer contribution of 27%

As part of accepting this role you will be agreeing to the expected assignment duration set out above.
This will not result in a contractual change to your terms and conditions.
Please note this is an expectation only, it is not something which is written into your terms and
conditions or indeed which the employing organisation or you are bound by. It will depend on your
personal circumstances at a particular time and business needs, for example, would not preclude any
absence like family friendly leave. It is nonetheless an important expectation, which is why we ask you
to confirm you agree to the assignment duration set out above.

Job contact :

• Name : SCS Management Team
• Email : People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk

Recruitment team

• Email : People-CivHR-SCSCandidateSupport@mod.gov.uk